What may women Scripturally do in the worship and work of the church? This question over which there has been much contention. There are some who say that a woman has no place in the active role of teaching in the church while others go to the opposite extreme and say there are no limitations on the women’s work in the church. But the question is: What does the Bible teach?
There was confusion in the church at Corinth, and Paul wrote to correct it. He admonished the prophets to speak by two or three, and that by course, whereas, they apparently had been all speaking at one time and causing confusion; and the brethren were forbidden to speak in tongues which the audience did not know unless they had an interpreter, for Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (I Corinthians 14:33). In reference to the women in the church at Corinth, Paul said, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church” (I Corinthians 14:34-35). Apparently they were asking questions during the worship, also causing confusion. Paul told them if they would learn anything to ask their husbands at home.
In Paul’s instructions relative to women in the church at Corinth, he said, “But they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” He referred to the Old Testament law that women, as a result of Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden, would be ruled over her husband. However, women were permitted to teach in certain capacities under the Old Testament law, but not over the man. Moses’ sister, Miriam, was a prophetess (teacher) (Exodus 15:20); but when she tried to usurp authority over Moses, she was smitten by God of leprosy; not because she was teaching, but because she usurped authority over the man (Numbers 12:1-2).
In I Timothy 2:12, Paul discussed the question of women’s teaching. He said, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Over the man modifies both infinitives, to teach and to usurp. She cannot teach over the man; she cannot usurp authority over the man. We might illustrate it this way: An officer of the law, placed at a bridge which was needing repair, would tell a motorist, “I don’t allow you to drive nor to tow a car over the bridge.” Would the motorist assume that he could not drive the car anywhere? Of course not. He would readily understand that over the bridge modified his driving.
We know that the apostle did not forbid women’s teaching in every capacity, for they did teach. Philip “had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” (Acts 21:9). Those daughters of Philip were teachers of the Word of God. But the Bible forbids women to usurp authority over men. That does not mean they cannot teach man, for Priscilla helped her husband teach Apollos, a mighty man in the Scriptures.
Women have a Scriptural right and duty to help in the work of the church in teaching children and women. But their teaching must be in subjection to the elders, and they must not usurp authority over the men. Let us not try to deprive them of their Scriptural rights.
W. L. Totty
February 20, 1972