One of the more divisive questions about leadership in God’s Church is this: “Can a woman lead or teach a man?” It seems obvious at first glance, because Scripture says, “No.”
I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:12-14 ESV)
My first introduction to this passage came from a discussion with a woman who found out I was going to Seminary (many years ago). She had concerns, not because of the women teaching men topic, but because of the next line in her Bible.
But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15 NIV84)
Her question to me was this: “I can’t have children. Does that mean I can’t be saved?” At that moment, I made it clear that I was in my first Semester in Seminary and hadn’t come across this topic yet. However, I couldn’t imagine that could be the case knowing what I knew so far about God’s plan of salvation. I did, however, promise to check into it…and I did.
The question went on a list of questions I had as I was going through school. Each class would give me a little more insight into the topic. Theology classes showed me how the command against women teaching men goes back to creation order. Eve was formed second and was deceived first, so women today cannot teach men. It was taught as an eternal command. The childbearing verse was interpreted wildly different from one scholar to the next, across the departments in school. Studying it as a “problem passage” in Exegesis class didn’t help much either. It was in Greek class that I had my first breakthrough.
When studying the Greek, I found that my translation was not accurately rendering the original language. In the Greek, the verse in question reads more like this:
Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:15 ESV – Emphasis Mine)
The sentence was clearly in the singular for the first segment and then the plural for the second segment. In the context of Paul’s explanation to Timothy, it only makes sense that she is Eve and they are women. This was good news for the woman who asked me the question. Women are not saved through childbearing. Eve is saved (redeemed, restored) through childbearing when women live in faith, love, holiness, and propriety. In other words, something about Eve changes when women walk together with God. This is not an eternal command as I had been taught. This is a problem that has existed since Eve and now, through the lifestyle of women, can be changed.
In searching for an answer to a question about childbirth and salvation, I stumbled upon a solution to this “problem passage.” The solution goes something like this:
Paul does not allow women to teach or have authority over men. This is because women are considered second-class citizens since Eve was formed second and deceived first. (We still make jokes about it today!) But Eve will be restored (to equal status) when women live in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Do I think all women should teach or have authority over men? No. I don’t think all men should teach or have authority over men. That’s because leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics. It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same. Women, when you walk with God you will have a double-benefit. First, your walk will give you what you need to help others do the same. Secondly, though, it will shut down your detractors. You will not need to argue to convince them that you have authority from God. They will see it in your life and, eventually, have nothing negative to say. It will work in much the same way as Paul’s instruction to Titus.
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8 NIV)
Leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics. It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.
How about you? Do you walk with God and help others do the same? Do you build Christ’s Body…together?
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