Found
here. Our comments in bold.
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Ms. Lesley has written numerous articles about the role of women in the church, parsing and creating micro-doctrines about every conceivable activity a woman might engage in. This is all based on a misunderstanding of a single verse:
1 Tim. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
We should say that Ms. Lesley's interpretation of this verse, i.e., that women can't preach or be pastors, is widely held. However, even a widely-held belief isn't necessarily a biblically correct belief.
Before we consider her position, we need to establish the biblical fact that the church is not presided over by a pastor, it is led by a team of men called elders:
1Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...
Here we find Peter exhorting the elders of this church to be shepherds and overseers. That is, elders need to step up to be more than just elders, they need to pastor and oversee.
Paul instructed Timothy about elder leadership in the very same letter cited by Ms. Lesley:
1Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
There is no Bible verse that tells us that pastors lead churches. There's no verse that tells us pastors preach. There's not even a Bible verse that tells us that pastors are part of the eldership.
Elders govern the church, not a pastor.
From the belief that pastors run churches comes the idea that preaching the sermon is exercising authority. We can start to see the "chain of evidence" here. Because the pastor is in charge, and he preaches the sermon, the preaching itself is an expression of the pastor's leadership. And since women cannot teach or be in authority over men, a woman can't be a pastor or preach a sermon.
It all seems to make sense until we gain clarity about how a church is biblically governed.
Now with that clarity, let's consider the verse. Let's quote it again:
1 Tim. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
The first thing we wish to note is that Paul was not not telling Timothy about what happens in the church service. This should be obvious if we are able to remove the veil and simply accept the biblical narrative. Let's quote the whole chapter. As we read, the questions we then should ask are,
- Should prayers and intercession be made only in church?
- Should we lead tranquil lives only when in church?
- Should men pray with lifted hands only in church?
- Should women dress modestly only in church?
- Should women do good deeds only in church?
This is the ASV:
1I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; 2for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times; 7whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.
9In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; 10but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works. 11Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: 15but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.
The answers to our questions are obviously no. But for some reason we think Paul was discussing church order throughout this passage. This is not the case.
Why?
First, Paul was not telling us about what women can do, but rather, "a woman." The Greek word is singular. A woman
- should learn in quietness and submission
- cannot teach
- cannot have authority
- over "a man" (Also singular)
- must be silent
"A woman" cannot do these things regarding "a man." This is most certainly not a church service. More likely with think, Paul was discussing marriage. "A woman" is also translated "a wife," and "a man" is also translated "a husband."
We find an example of this right in text:
14and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression...
We know that "the woman" was Eve, Adam's wife. The same Greek word is found here:
Mt. 5:31 “It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
So depending on the context, the word can easily go either way.
Second, "a man" works the same way. The Greek word for man/husband is found here:
Mk. 10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Obviously the word "man" is referring to a husband.
Ok, let's apply our knowledge to the verse and create a perfectly justifiable retranslation:
1 Tim. 2:12 I do not permit a wife to teach or to have authority over [her] husband; she must be silent.
The reason Paul gave for her to do this? Not to ensure a church service is conducted properly. His reason is the prototypical marriage, Adam and Eve:
1Ti. 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
This simplifies the whole scenario and dare we say puts an end to the dispute over these verses.
So what can "a woman" do or not do in church?
She cannot be an elder or lead the church, which is reserved for men:
Tit. 1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
So if she is not among those who govern the church, everything else is available for qualified women:
- She can teach men, since teaching men is not exercising authority over her husband or leading the church
- She can be a pastor, since the pastor position is not exercising authority over her husband or leading the church
- She can lead ministries, since leading ministries is not exercising authority over her husband or leading the church
- She can speak from the pulpit, since speaking from the pulpit is not exercising authority over her husband or leading the church
We recognize that these assertions might be a stretch for some, but our appeal is from the Bible and not tradition. We hope this expands the reader's understanding.
So, Ms. Lesley's presentation is all based on false premises. Read on.
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