I have only recently converted, and I’m unsure on what my role as a woman is. I really want to be a good Christian, and as I am now 18, I think I want to take a more active part in my faith. As a woman, am I allowed to teach and spread the faith? It appears that in 1 Timothy 2:12 this is condemned - “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet”. If I am not permitted to teach, what should I do to ensure I am an obedient believer of God? Is marriage and having a family the best option? Any replies would be greatly appreciated- I’m new to this
When God made man (plural) he said, "Let THEM have dominion .... ". That is, before the fall of man the woman was designed by God to take an equal place in His GOVERNMENT. After our Lord returns and judges the Church, those found worthy to be co-kings with Christ over cities (Lk.19:17-19) will be both men and women. In between these two grand events, we have the fall of man, and his subsequent corruption and degradation. God is a God of order. His whole creation is governed by Laws. Within the atom is an immovable order, and in the greatest galaxy there are laws that keep things running in order. So after the fall, God instituted GOVERNMENT in man's affairs. This government is not to show who is better than who. It is simply there to avoid more damage in an already damaged situation.
A prime example of this is Nebuchadnezzar - the most powerful and fearsome king ever to live. In Daniel Chapter 2 God gives Nebuchadnezzar's kingship and kingdom the symbol of gold - the same government style as God. But Nebuchadnezzar learned a brutal lesson in Chapter 4. Because of his pride God caused him to spend seven years with the beasts of the fields. When he was restored, he had this to say;
"This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men". (
Daniel 4:17)
And in Romans 13:1-7 we are commanded to submit ourselves to these
"basest of men" So, while God usually puts capable men in positions of authority, this selection does not show moral or ethical superiority in any way. So also in marriage. God, for keeping the order, makes the man the head. But this by no means makes him superior to the wife. And so also in the Church, God has TWO dealings with the believers; (1) Grace, and (2) GOVERNMENT.
In matters of grace, all are equal. God has no favorites. Christ's death applies equally to man and woman, beggar and millionaire, prime minister or street sweeper. But to maintain the order, God sets up a chain of command. If we look at the spiritual gifts that God gives to men for the building of the Church (Romans 14, 1st Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4), you will notice that ALL gifts are open to women believers EXCEPT three. They are, (1) Apostle, (2) Elder or Overseer and (3) Teacher of doctrine. That is, just like the marriage, in matters of authority, God selects the man. In ALL others, God gives the spiritual gifts according to individual ability. And the greatest gift - the one to be desired - is to be a prophet - not a teacher. Modern Christianity has blurred the definitions and the lines, because they have allowed the world to get a foothold. For instance, the Bible makes a difference between "Elder" (or Overseer) and "Pastor". An Elder carries authority to keep the meetings in order (not to choose your husband for you). A Pastor is one who brings the LORD'S sheep to safety and food. A Pastor may also be an Elder, but one is a GIFT for an OFFICE, and one is a GIFT for caring.
In a previous posting, it was pointed out that in Romans 16:7 that Junia was an Apostle. At first reading, this seems the case. But if we carefully examine both the grammar and the qualifications for an Apostle, another picture emerges. First, the word in the Greek for an "Apostle" is literally "
a sent one". So if the Bible seems to call a person an "Apostle", the context must decide if that person was "sent", or if they carried the OFFICE of Apostle. So, context is everything. But if the context is unclear, we have a test. An Apostle must fulfill THREE qualifications. (1) He must be a foundation of the Church (Eph.2:20; Rev.21:14). That means that he lived and exercised his ministry at the beginning of the Church. A man living 100 years after the beginning of the Church could not be a foundation because we know that God Himself does not lay foundations twice or more (Heb.6:1). (2) The Apostle must have seen and witnessed the risen Lord, and been trained by Him (Act.1:21-22). (3) An Apostle must have done many miracles (2nd Cor.12:12). Paul would qualifiy for this, but Junia not. Again, the grammar is against Junia being an Apostles. Junia was a servant who was NOTED by the Apostles. Nearly every literal translation says that Junia was was recognized or "noted" by the Apostles. The Amplified Bible gives the sense of the grammar the best:
"Remember me to Andronicus and Junias, my tribal kinsmen and once my fellow prisoners. They are men held in high esteem among the apostles, who also were in Christ before I was." Finally, you will note that the grammar also says
"kinsMEN" and
"MEN held in high esteem ... " Apparently the name Junia can be both male and female.
The posting is already long, and much more can be said, but in the end it is down to God's Word, and how we take it. In this case, God gives the reason why women cannot hold a position of Teacher.
1st Timothy 2:14 says; "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." This verse tells much. It first tells that Adam carries the responsibility. Second, it condemns Adam for going into the transgression with open eyes. Adam was a rebel. Then it addresses the woman and unveils two things. (1) The woman was deceived. She did not willingly and openly go against God. But (2), it also reveals the difference between man and woman in their make-up. They were made to compliment each other and so the man has certain strengths and the woman has other strengths. In her intrinsic make up, the woman is susceptible to deception. And in his intrinsic make up the man is susceptible to choosing a woman before the Lord. Adam, clear-headed, and in full knowledge, went with his wife instead of God. So did Samson, David and Solomon go with women and failed before God.
God is ever wise. He has included the woman in all things in matters of grace. He even likens Himself to a woman (Isa.66:13). But until the matter of sin is fully dealt with by the resurrection, God commands that the man take the lead - not because women are not capable - but to keep an order where each functions in their strong points.
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