1 Timothy 2:8-15 - Women are not to teach or exercise authority over men. JM is out of order.
Instructions for Believers
8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and dispute. 9 Likewise,
I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, [
g]modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. 11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For
it was Adam
who was first [
h]created,
and then Eve. 14 And
it was not Adam
who was deceived, but the woman was [
i]deceived and [
j]became a wrongdoer. 15 But [
k]women will be [
l]preserved through [
m]childbirth—if they continue in faith, love, and sanctity, with moderation.
(1) The Apostle Paul said, when “
the whole church comes together … if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while
everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin …. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming ‘God is really among you!’” (1 Corinthians 14:23-25;
see also 1 Cor 11:5, 14:6, 20)
(2) Paul said, when “
brothers and sisters … come together,
each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. …” (1 Cor 14:26) (see first question in the comment section below on why some form translations say “brothers” or “brethren” in v. 26 and on the general recognition that they encompass males and females)
(3) Paul said “you can
all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Cor 14:31;
see also 14:23-25, 26, 39-40; 11:5; 1:1-2)
Women (included in “one another”) told to speak to, teach to, and admonish men (and women) with scripture (psalms), etc., in a mixed assembly; women given authority over men, to admonish men and speak to and teach them with scripture, etc., in a mixed assembly:
(4) Paul said, to women and men, “… be filled with the Spirit, speaking to
one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord ….” (Ephesians 5:18-20)
(5) Paul said, to women and men, “… teach and admonish
one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God ….” (Colossians 3:16;
see also Luke 24:44; Colossians 1:28)
Women told by Christ to go and preach to an assembly of men — to go and tell men what the Word reveals to those women (e.g., the good news of Christ’s resurrection and more) and what the Word wants the men to know and do (e.g., about the resurrection, that God is their God, where to go, and more); women having authority over men (e.g., told to tell men what the Word wants the men to do):
(6) The first people to which Jesus, the Word (John 1), revealed the good news of Jesus’s resurrection were women,
Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary.” (John 20:16-17; Matt 28:9) He revealed his resurrection to them, spoke Mary’s name, said “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father,” and told them “Do not be afraid.” (John 20:16-17; Matthew 28:10). Jesus said to them: “’Go … to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”‘ (John 20:17) “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee ….” (Matt 28:10) Mary Magdalene went to the assembled disciples with the good news and proclaimed to them: “‘I have seen the Lord!’ …
she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:16-18; Matt 28:9-10; see also Luke 24:9, 33; John 20:10, 19)) (the Biblical meaning of preacher is herald (messenger bringing news), messenger, announcer, proclaimer, or the like).
Women and men told to teach everyone, everywhere (not just their own sex and not just outside an assembly — the Great Commission):
(7) Jesus said “Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ….” (Matt 28:19)
Women—included in “each of you” and “anyone”—told to serve all, including men, with their speaking and other gifts (no exclusion as to time, place, manner, or audience) and to speak “as one who speaks the very words of God” (who of course would not be excluded from anywhere, including a worship assembly) and to serve “with the strength God provides” (which would include their strength to stand, speak, preach, lead singing, lead prayer, teach, etc.):
(8) The Apostle Peter said, to women and men, “
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If
anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If
anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. ….” (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Example of a woman praying, prophesying, preaching, and teaching before a mixed assembly including men in the temple:
(9) Joseph and Mary “marveled at what was said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel ….’ There was also a prophet,
Anna ….
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:25-38;
see also 1 Cor 11:5, 16)
Women —included in “every one of you” and “you”— told to speak, including prophesying and praying, in a mixed assembly:
(10) Paul said, to women and men, “I would like
every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have
you prophesy … so that the church may be edified.” (1 Cor 14:5) Speaking in tongues included prayer. (
e.g., 1 Cor 14:14 (“For if I pray in a tongue ….”)) (
see also 1 Cor 1:1-2; 11:5; 14:23, 26, 39-40)
Women — included in “you” and “your” — told to lead prayer out loud in a mixed assembly (note that praying out loud “with my understanding” and “giving thanks” is praying the regular way, not in tongues):
(11) Paul, recommending his example to women and men, explains that when the whole church comes together, he would “
pray with my
understanding; …. Otherwise when
you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say
“Amen” to
your thanksgiving, since they do not know what
you are saying?
You are
giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.” (1 Cor 14:5, 12-17; see also 1:1-2; 14:6, 23, 26)
Example of a woman having authority over men and teaching an assembly of men about scripture and God’s message:
(12) The King’s men came to prophet
Huldah for instruction and prophecy about scripture: “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest [and others of his men]: ‘Go and inquire of the Lord … about what is written in this book that has been found. ….’ [They] went to speak to the prophet
Huldah, ….
She said to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me … [teaching of prophecy given, speaking for God].” (2 Kings 22:11-20; 2 Chronicles 34:14-33)
Example of women speaking, praying, and prophesying in the churches, in mixed assemblies:
(13) Paul said, “I praise you …. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every
woman who
prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head …. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? … For long hair is given to
her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have
no other practice—nor do the
churches of God.” (1 Cor 11:2, 4-5, 13-16) “In the following … I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. … I hear that when you come together as a
church, … [discussing challenges then with their practice of the Lord’s Supper in the assembly]. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. ” (1 Cor 11:17-34)
Example of a woman teaching a knowledgeable man about the way of God in a mixed assembly: