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L-9. What Does 1 Timothy 2:11 TRULY MEAN?
Does the Bible ITSELF teach us that women MUST NOT speak in church? It may surprise some Christians that some church denominations FORBID their women to TEACH in the church. And in those types of churches, you will find that women are to be seen and NOT HEARD. They are taught to keep SILENT in the church because that is their understanding of 1 Timothy 2:11. Let us begin this study in God's word by reading verse 11 OUT of its CONTEXT first and then we will read the context in order to learn the TRUE meaning of verse 11 in the light of the whole word of Almighty God.
1 Timothy 2:11.
“Let the woman learn in SILENCE with ALL SUBJECTION.”
As I have said many times, a verse or verses of Scripture when viewed ALONE and apart from the REST of God’s word may SEEM to be saying something that it is NOT TRULY saying when correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
But some Christians dogmatically insist that the word silence means to keep silent and that with all subjection means with all subjection. And you cannot really argue their point on the meanings of the words with all subjection in verse 11. But what they fail to see is the INTENTION or the purpose of WHY Paul speaks these words to Timothy to teach the Ephesian church. According to 1 Timothy 1:1-3, it is believed that Timothy was the pastor over the church that was in Ephesus.
Please read 1 Timothy 1:1-3.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2. Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. As I sought for you to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that YOU might charge some that they teach no other doctrine,”
So it appears that both Paul and Timothy were at the Ephesian church and when Paul left Ephesus to go to Macedonia he besought, sought for, or beseeched Timothy to STAY at Ephesus to CORRECT the doctrine among the Ephesian Christians, as in, to correct the doctrines that they should NOT be teaching.
Now we know without a doubt that 1 Timothy 2:11 is NOT teaching that women MUST KEEP SILENT in the churches because Paul would be CONTRADICTING himself by allowing women to PROPHESY and speak in other tongues IN the church.
Please read 1 Corinthians 14:5.
“I (Paul) would that you ALL speak with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interprets, that the church may receive edifying.”
And we know that the Apostle Paul would never teach anything against the word of Almighty God or the Scriptures and Acts 2:17,18 clearly teach us that WOMEN will PROPHESY.
Acts 2:17,18.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your DAUGHTERS shall PROPHESY, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy:”
There were many WOMEN in the upper room on the day of Pentecost that were filled with the Holy Spirit who spoke in other tongues. And in Acts 21:9 we see a man who had four DAUGHTERS who did PROPHESY.
Acts 21:9.
“And the same man had four DAUGHTERS, virgins, which did PROPHESY.”
And the PURPOSE of prophesying is to EDIFY or to TEACH the church. So to interpret 1 Timothy 2:11 to mean that women are to be FORBIDDEN to teach in the church and that they must keep SILENT in the church is a direct contradiction to the rest of God’s word.
And when we take a CLOSE look at the meaning of the Greek word translated as “SILENCE” along with the root word from which it comes then you will understand that some Christians have ERROR in their interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:11 to FORBID women to TEACH in the church.
Here is what E-Sword says about the English word silence in verse 11.
G2271
ἡσυχία
hēsuchia
hay-soo-khee'-ah
Feminine of G2272; (as noun) stillness, that is, desistance from bustle or language: - quietness, silence.
Total KJV occurrences: 4
And here is what E-Sword says about Strong’s number G2272 from which comes the Greek word “hesuchia which means stillness and desistance from BUSTLE.
G2272
ἡσύχιος
hēsuchios
hay-soo'-khee-os
A prolonged form of a compound probably of a derivative of the base of G1476 and perhaps G2192; properly keeping one’s seat (sedentary), that is, (by implication) still (undisturbed, undisturbing): - peaceable, quiet.
Total KJV occurrences: 2
The word desistance means to stop OFFENDING. And the word bustle means to move in an energetic and NOISY way. So STILLNESS and desistance from bustle mean to stop offending or DISTURBING others by the noisy movement of by noisy TALKING. And when we look at the root word to KEEP in one’s SEAT to be STILL and UNDISTURBING then it is clear that the Apostle Paul was correcting a SPECIFIC problem in the church at Ephesus. Paul is definitely NOT forbidding women from speaking, teaching, prophesying, or speaking in other tongues in the church because that INTERPRETATION of women must keep SILENT in the church CONTRADICT what Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 14:39,40.
1 Corinthians 14:39.40.
“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40. Let all things be done DECENTLY and IN ORDER.”
And this word of truth includes ANYONE, MALE or FEMALE. For you see, interrupting the pastor in the middle of his preaching or teaching is NOT having an ORDERLY church service. Paul is NOT forbidding women to speak in the church in 1 Timothy 2:11 because Paul teaches us to NOT FORBID to speak in other tongues. So what Paul is teaching us is to have an ORDER in our church services and to be RESPECTFUL of each other to NOT disturb others who come to church to LEARN the word of God.
So, obviously, to ME, the Apostle Paul was CORRECTING a specific problem at the Ephesians church in Ephesus. And according to the context of 1 Timothy 2:11, it appears that the problem was MOSTLY the women who were disturbing others in the church by bustling around and talking noisily. Now, they may have been asking questions. Or they may have been DEBATING what was being taught. We will explore all the scenarios shortly. But first, I want to draw your attention to the CITY of Ephesus. For you see, you must understand what was happening at the church of Ephesus before you can know and understand the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of 1 Timothy 2:9-15.
Please read Acts 19:18-41.
“And many that BELIEVED came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.
19. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (These NEW believers at Ephesus burned all their pagan books and idols which showed they faith in Jesus was genuine)
20. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. (In other words, there were many Gentile pagan men AND WOMEN in Ephesus and in all of Asia who were becoming true sincere born-again Christians)
21. After these things were ended, (Speaking of the NEW Christians burning all of their things pertaining to their pagan gods) Paul purposed in the spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23. And the same time there arose no small stir about that WAY. (The WAY is speaking of Christianity. The Gentile pagans were stirred up against Christianity because the one’s doing the stirring up were losing money. They were idol makers and because of Christianity, their sales hit bottom so to speak. The EX-pagans who became Christians stopped buying their pagan goods)
24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; (In other words, they made a lot of money selling idols. But what I want you to notice is that the pagan Ephesians worshiped a FEMALE deity. This is very important information to understand in order to know and understand the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of 1 Timothy 3:9-15)
25. Whom he (Demetrius, a pagan idol maker) called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26. Moreover, you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom ALL Asia and the world worships.
28. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.
30. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.
32. Some, therefore, cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they have come together. (In other words, it was like a riot where most of the people were stirred up to riot but they did not know the reason of WHY they were rioting)
33. And they (Some of the Gentile pagan rioters) drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand and would have made his defense unto the people.
34. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of TWO HOURS, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35. And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, You men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly. (In other words, the town-clerk of the city of Ephesus is calming down the riot lest the rioters take the law into their own hands to do something rash that would later cause them to be put into prison)
37. For you (Rioters) have brought here these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. (In other words, there is no sound evidence YET against these men)
38. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39. But if ye enquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.”
Now, the main point of this whole passage of Scripture is for you to see how PASSIONATE the Gentile pagans were in the worship of the FEMALE goddess Diana. And when you do your own research on the female goddess Diana, the goddess OF the EPHESIANS and in ALL of Asia, you will find that the WOMEN were the LEADERS in their pagan temple to Diana who told their MEN what to do.
So when these Gentile pagan women became brand NEW Christians they knew NOTHING about NOT lording over other Christians. They were very outspoken women who were in the HABIT of ordering their MEN around. Also, the pagan women of Ephesus and throughout Asia braided their hair with fine expensive gold ornaments and pearls. That was their CUSTOM and how they dressed in their pagan temples. In other words, they dressed like they were going to the prom or a fancy high-society ballroom dance when they went to church because that is HOW they were accustomed to dressing when they went into their pagan temple in the past. Remember that they were brand NEW Christians.
So then, now that you understand that the female goddess of the Ephesians and ALL of Asia was the CORE of their society, then you should also know that their goddess Diana was considered to be the MOTHER of all. And you should know as well that the society of all of Asia was a strongly matriarchal society which means that the WOMEN were the LEADERS. Also, their goddess Diana was the goddess of CHILDBIRTH and the Gentile pagan women prayed to her for them to have EASY painless childbirth. And, again, the images of the goddess Diana often show her hair fixed on top of her head which explains why the women who worshiped her braided and plated their hair on top of their heads.
So to me, Paul was NOT trying to establish a dress code for women in the church. Rather, Paul was CORRECTING problems in the church with BOTH MEN and the women. Let us now read the CONTEXT of 1 Timothy 2:11 to learn even more of its TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning when it is correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Please read 1 Timothy 2:5-15.
“For there is ONE God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (Paul is teaching the brand NEW Gentile EX-pagan female mother goddess worshipers who just became Christians that in Christianity there is but ONE God and ONE Lord. Paul is CORRECTING their former belief in many gods who were not gods at all, according to 1 Corinthians 8:1-6 because Paul understood that NOT every person or every new Christian has this knowledge)
6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7. Whereunto I am an ordained preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. (Or in faith and TRUTH. Think about this for a moment. WHY would the Apostle Paul be DEFENDING himself as a preacher who teaches the TRUTH? It is because some of the Judaizing Jewish Christians were EXAMINING the Apostle Paul as to whether or not he is a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ. And Paul is CORRECTING those Jewish Judaizing Christians, BOTH MALE and female)
8. I will, therefore, that MEN pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (Please notice that Paul first CORRECTS the MEN who are new baby Christians as to how Christians should pray. And as well as, or simultaneously Paul also corrects the older Judaizing Jewish Christians that prayed after their Jewish CUSTOMS to CURSE others and to give thanks to God for them not being like others)
9. In like manner ALSO, (Or in the same way that I just corrected the MEN how to pray Paul is CORRECTING the women who just became new baby Christians that they should not dress like they used to dress in their pagan temples. But rather) that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10. But (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works. (I personally do not believe that Paul is forbidding women to NEVER fix their hair all fancy. But rather, that when they come to church they should dress modestly so as NOT to draw attention to themselves like they once did in their pagan temples to be adored by the MEN. Paul is saying NO! That is NOT how we do things in Christianity)
11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. (Again, Paul was correcting these new babes in Jesus Christ that in Christianity we do NOT do things like you once did in your pagan temples. Here in the church we STAY seated and we are quiet while we are learning from the teacher. We do NOT ask questions and interrupt the teaching of God’s word. Now, Paul had no NEED to CORRECT the men because it was only the EX-Pagan WOMEN who were once the LEADERS in their pagan temples that were DISTURBING the teaching. The MEN were QUIET because in BOTH cultures, the Jewish and the Gentile culture which that was their CUSTOM)
12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (This verse is again addressing a specific problem with the ex-pagan women who just became new born-again Christians that were accustomed to exercising AUTHORITY over their MEN. And Paul is simply saying NO! That is NOT how we do things in Christianity. Neither the men nor the women are to dogmatically demand that Christians must believe what we teach. We do NOT force others to believe the word of God. So I want you women who are accustomed to usurp authority over your men to NOT NOW any longer to teach in that manner)
13. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
Now, we are not told what caused these new Christian ex-pagan women who were once female goddess worshipping Gentile women to SPEAK out against what they were being taught. But from these last three verses, we can speculate that their being CORRECTED by Paul had to do with CHILDBEARING and being saved which they did NOT understand. So to me, I see that they simply QUESTIONED what they were being taught.
For you see, if you remember, these former worshipers of Diana prayed to their female goddess to DELIVER them from the PAIN of CHILDBEARING. Now, one Bible scholar that I came across in my research, said that verse 15 means that THROUGH the childbearing of the Virgin Mary we who BELIEVE are SAVED and thus we are delivered from the PAIN of death. So it may be that they heard some teaching on the Virgin birth and being SAVED. And that they simply misunderstood the teaching and began speaking out in church what they were taught to believe when they were leaders in their pagan temple. We simply do not know what prompted the DISTURBANCE in this church at Ephesus.
But what we do KNOW with absolute certainty is that the Apostle Paul is NOT forbidding women to TEACH in the church ANYWHERE in the New Testament because Paul used WOMEN in his ministry who were TEACHERS and PREACHERS of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please read the study “CAN WOMEN TEACH IN THE CHURCH?” as well as ALL the studies under the heading >>>CAN WOMEN BE PASTORS?<<< Also, here is a link to a video teaching that I came across in my research on the role of women in the church. It is titled Women in leadership! Must women keep silent? And here is another video showing how women are faced with choosing God over their families misguided beliefs and, therefore, they are faced with LOSING their family. Twisted Scripture - 1 Timothy 2:12. And below are some more video teaching by others.
Here are some links to some of the research sources that I used. Some of my readers have been asking for video teachings so I have been searching for some good sound Bible video teachings by others on the subject that I myself do not yet have video teachings on those particular subjects. And this is one of those subjects that I myself have not yet made any video teachings.
Here is the link to the article that I quoted from in some of my studies on the subject of women because it was the most in-depth and unbiased article that I found.
Junia, a Female Apostle: An Examination of the Historical Record
And here are some links to some video teachings on WOMEN in the Bible.
In this first video, there are two different men teaching. The first half is from a radio teaching and in the second half, you can see the teacher. The video is around 13 minutes long.
In this second video below, I do not agree with his teaching on the Trinity but what I do agree with is a conclusion on the subject about the abuse of Scripture when it comes to lording over women.
Ephesians 5:22 and 1 Timothy 2:11
The following video is also a short video that teaches us a little about Jewish CUSTOMS and how the Jews viewed women as basically their PROPERTY. I chose this video so that you can see that the Jewish Judaizing Christians did not agree with the teachings of the Apostle Paul and they were EXAMINING Paul as to whether or not he was a true Apostle of Jesus Christ.
Now, this next video teaching is rather long but I believe this man put a lot of research and study on 1 Corinthians 15:34,35 and the other verses that SEEM to teach that women must not be used by God to teach men in the church. Now, while I agree with his research on those verses I DISAGREE with his own personal opinion on women wearing head coverings. He simply failed to do any research on that particular subject of the Jewish CUSTOM of women wearing head coverings. Please understand that there are many good Bible teachers on PARTICULAR subjects BUT on OTHER subjects they may simply “PARROT” what they were previously taught by their church denomination WITHOUT doing their own in-depth Bible studies on those other subjects. Around 18 minutes into the video, he talks about Junia and later alludes to Junia being Joahna but I would listen to the whole video the entire context.
In the following video, I find one of the best explanations and teaching on 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 that I ever came across. But because this video is by a WOMAN I listed it toward the end. For you see, some may wrongly think that teaching about women by a woman might be biased. But in truth, this woman shows the PAIN that some women suffer needlessly because of false teaching. And to me, her teaching is SOUND Biblical teaching on this subject concerning women being used by God as teachers in the church.
In this next video, there is a list of the NAMES of all the women in the New Testament for those who want to do their own Bible study of how God uses women in the Bible.
NAMES of women in the New Testament
And this last video I just added for those want-a-be scholarly type men that like quoting the Greek just to look smart.
Xenophon of Ephesus 5 and 1 Timothy 2
Derived from Greek ξενος (xenos) meaning “foreign, strange” and φωνη (phone) meaning “voice”. That is to say, xenophone means a strange voice.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
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Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
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