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Here is the answer to a question that one asked us at TRGN about the position of women in the Church. I thought it might interest many.

I understand that it is sometimes a bit passionate in debating, therefore any aggressive or disrespectful comments will be deleted. This is so that everyone can talk peaceably, because the post is not here to create a controversy, but to help those who did not understand.

Women have exactly the same level and the same functions in the body of Christ. A woman may very well teach women and men.
Here are a few explanations:

Acts 16:14 (NKJV) Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God.

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
This woman was at the head of a business for the sale of fabrics. Thus, we can consider it was a person well educated and autonomous. Not like most women of the time. She was surely an exception.

More when it is said that Lydia that she heed or "listened to" the original Word has a connotation to assimilate all Paul's teaching without leave anything out. And then when it is written that God has "opened her" the heart, the original word here gives a connotation of "giving the Faculty of understanding or desire to learn".
Maybe we can think that this could be for her personal life only, but when for example Jesus opened the understanding of the Apostles in Luke 24:45

Luke 24:45 (NKJV) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Here the word "opened" is exactly the same Greek in acts 16:14.
It is the word (Dianoigo) and we know that Jesus opened them their spirit so that they can teach in others in return. This was not only for their personal edification.

In regard to Priscilla, when she taught Apollos, she simply did it. It is never a question in the new Covenant that God is ok so that a person teaches only one person at a time and not the crowds. If therefore Priscilla taught one person (a man) it is therefore that God saw no problem with this, it is that she could teach other men and women whatever their number. But I'll grant it to you that the Bible does not specify it.

You must consider the prophetesses, including Anne in Luke 2:36.
Not only has she taught but she prophesy’s that the baby Jesus was the expected Messiah. And this was under the law. Which shows us that the Jews accepted the fact of having a woman Prophet under the law. And so even more so under grace.

The Bible also says that God does not change. When He established the man and the woman He said that they would become one flesh.
Jesus take this fact in Matt 19: 5

Matthew 19:5 (NKJV) and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'

The word "only" gives one person, or one being without any distinction.
This demonstrates that the man and woman are equal in all things without any distinction, even to teach in public.
Now let’s take the passage of 1 Tim 2: 11-12.

11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

It is necessary to resume the context of this passage to understand it. Because it is exactly as if you get into a conversation of two of your friends. You hear a phrase, and your first reaction if you want to understand the sentence will be asking: "What did you talk about?". In order to have the context.

So Paul speaks to Timothy and teaches him about some problems that may arise in the work of Timothy.
This chapter 2 speaks primarily of the status of women and men and of some recommendations that Paul made in their regard.
In this context it is very easy to "skid" and misunderstand as well and draw false conclusions.

For example: Paul says that women should not dress in expensive clothes, but must dress with good works.
Does it means that a woman should not dress? Do not wear gold?
Does it say that a woman should stay naked and adorn themselves with good works instead of clothes?

This is ridiculous of course. But that is what Paul said.

It is also ridiculous that a woman should remain silent in the Church. But it is therefore what Paul said.

As it is also just as ridiculous that a woman does not teach in a church. But yet Paul also said it.

I remain that the Church is not a building, and that Paul did not speak of building here, but about all Christians in the world.

So now we'll see the context of this passage.
If Paul spoke thus to Timothy, it is in a particular context. We must be remembered that the woman at this time is considered to be second class. And the fact of introducing the Gospel has done that some men and women have gone a little too far in their actions.
When Paul says
1 Timothy 2:11 (NKJV) Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

The original Word for "silence" means "without getting into the business of others” in other words Paul says here: "I want that women listen to teaching which is given, and that they do not speak at the same time as the teacher”. It appears that some women allowed themselves during the preaching to tell other people how to do, judging them maybe, or making comments aloud. And it is in this context that Paul said this.
In the same verse the word 'submission' means here in the original Greek 'demanding' which means that Paul does not give the choice to these women than to remain silent during the preaching in order to not disturb the teaching.

Now the 2nd verse
1 Timothy 2:12 (NKJV) 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

Well, it must be remembered that this verse is the continuation of verse 11 where Paul just said that women should not speak and cut off to the preacher. When Paul says that it does not allow women to teach he said in other words "I suffer not a woman who is in the audience to teach others instead of the preacher”. Here the verb teaching in the original means "explain or expose something, have words of dictatorship”.

In this same verse the word 'authority' in Greek means "take over by force". And that is exactly what was happening there. Some women just cut off to the preacher when he was talking to others men or women and gave their own judgment. These women therefore took the words by force. When talking about men here it is not about the husbands of these women but about the man who preaches at this time there.

Then when Paul speaks at the end of this same verse that these same women must remain in silence, it is interesting to see that no preacher today prevents women from speaking in Christian gatherings. But yet Paul said it... But no one does it. People are therefore taking what suits them in the Bible!

So for this “silence” word in the original it means "Keep calm" which has nothing to do with remain without saying anything.

Paul therefore said to summarize it all: "I want women to stop cutting off the word when preaching is on by giving others their own teachings in the Assembly. But also they must respect the person who teaches, and remain calm instead of disrupting the meeting in a dictatorial manner. ยป

Bye for now...

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