1 Timothy 2:11, 12 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
Traditionally evangelical Christians have taken the view that only men should be preachers. In more recent years the sight of women preachers has become more and more common. 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 is a classic verse on the subject. Paul makes two statements there, one more positive and one more negative. The first statement is that A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. Our eye today, in the west, immediately goes to the quietness and submission but for others the striking thing would be the A woman should learn. She must be a disciple. Some still deny the right of women to learn. Paul will have none of it. They are to learn. All are to be encouraged to learn the truth, men and women alike. The quietness and full submission leads into the more negative - I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. The assuming of authority over a man is banned (in light of creation and the fall; see verses 13, 14) alongside the teaching. The word used suggests something like self-assertion. The ban presumably is not on all teaching but teaching where men would be under the woman's authority. It is conceivable, therefore, that a woman may pray or read Scripture or give a report when men are present but preaching by a woman to a mixed congregation is clearly outlawed by this statement. All the members of a church should be learners. As many as possible should be teachers but no woman must teach a man or assume authority over him. It is important for ministers to facilitate this.
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