What Are You Saying Paul Said? - 32
A case study
So why did Paul write, “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”? (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
Was he simply instructing a first century church how to operate with social etiquette at a time when women were treated with less liberty than men? Was he trying to tap the brakes of the church vehicle knowing women would need time to catch up educationally? Or was Paul really a male chauvinist pig, as the older woman in my congregation seemed to think?
I suggest we don’t put words into Paul’s mouth, but that we allow the Apostle to provide his own reasons, if he has some.
Also, let me open up the text to expose more context. Here is what it says:
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 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. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
It is interesting, if you noticed, Paul actually uses the word “For” to begin the sentence following the text we’ve been looking at. It is the Greek word, γὰρ, (gar). It is a conjunction used to express cause, give an explanation, and infer.
In other words, Paul is about to tell you WHY a woman should learn quietly with all submissiveness, rather than teach and exercise authority over a man.
He appears to give three reasons:
1. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
2. Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
3. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Now whether you, the reader, understand why Paul mentions these three points is something that can be examined and discussed. However, the thing you should immediately notice is that all three reasons are rooted in the beginning of time – back at the Garden of Eden.
The thing you cannot argue is that Paul gave his instruction, about women, based upon the culture of his day. He based his instruction upon things occurring at the beginning of human history.