SPELLING EDITED L-10. WHAT DOES 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-14 TRULY MEAN? 1 Timothy 2:11-14. “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14. And Adam was NOT deceived, BUT the WOMAN being deceived was in the transgression.” Some Christians use this passage of Scripture to say that since the Apostle Paul teaches us that we are to NOT ALLOW women to teach it was BECAUSE Adam was created FIRST and THEN Eve was formed out from Adam. And they use this verse to argue that it was the WOMAN who sinned and NOT the man who sinned, then women must SUBMIT themselves to the husband in ALL things. But what those Christians FAIL to see is that these are NOT Paul’s words, as in, this is NOT what the Apostle Paul is TEACHING. Let me explain what I mean by this by asking you a simple question. Would Paul CONTRADICT himself? NO! Absolutely NOT! So why do I even ask that question? Pay close attention to what verse 14 is saying. It is saying that it is the WOMAN’S FAULT that they got kicked out of the Garden of Eden so how can we even think to ALLOW WOMEN to teach MEN! Now please read Romans 5:14. “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's TRANSGRESSION, who is the figure of him that was to come.” This is what the Apostle Paul teaches and NOT that it was after the similitude of EVE's transgression like it says in 1Timothy 2:14. “And Adam was NOT deceived, BUT the WOMAN being deceived was in the transgression” Paul’s teaching in Romans 5:14 directly opposes and CONTRADICTS the words in 1 Timothy 2:14. And do you know WHY? Is the Bible itself contradicting itself? NO! Absolutely NOT! For you see, in 1 Timothy 2:14, Paul is CORRECTLY those who wrote to him in a letter asking questions, giving Paul their own opinionated comments, and even EXAMINING the Apostle Paul as to whether or not Paul is a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ. I will explain why I say this in a moment but first, I what you to read one more verse of WHO actually transgressed in the garden of Eden, as in, who the Apostle Paul teaches as the one being at FAULT. 1 Corinthians 15:22. “For as in ADAM all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive.” Notice that Paul did NOT say that in EVE all died. So Paul’s ACTUAL teachings contradict the words in 1 Timothy 2:14 and here is WHY. The words in 1 Timothy 11-15 are NOT Paul’s words. But rather, Paul is simply repeating what was written TO him in a letter much like what I do sometimes when I quote back what my readers write to me to refresh their memory as to the questions and comments that they wrote to me first. But at other times, I simply address their questions and comment without repeating what they wrote to me. And that is what the Apostle Paul is doing in 1 Corinthians and as well as in 1 Timothy 2:11-14. Please read 1 Corinthians 7:1. “Now CONCERNING the THINGS whereof YOU WROTE TO ME: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”
Now, we do not know exactly what the Judaizing Jewish Christians wrote in their letter to the Apostle Paul on everything that they wrote, sometimes Paul REPEATS what they wrote to him. Other times he summarizes what they wrote to him which I believe Paul is doing in the words AFTER the colon in this particular subject. And other times it is hard to distinguish Paul’s words from THEIR words that they wrote to him. Now, it is my own opinion that Paul had preached to them before on this subject that Paul feels that it is BETTER, for the sake of the gospel, that every Christians be SINGLE as he is because the man will be distracted by his wife and the wife will be distracted by her husband. So to me, Paul is writing back to them to explain what he truly means by it being good for married men to be AS THOUGH they were single which would imply that men should not have sex with their wives. And I can see why they would QUESTION Paul if that is how they understood Paul’s word in 1 Corinthians 7:7,8 which I personally believe they heard Paul preach before their writing to him their letter. So Paul is CORRECTING them. Let us go ahead and read 1 Corinthians 7:7,8 so you can see their concerns, especially, if they were married or they were thinking about getting married. 1 Corinthians 7:7,8. “For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” They were QUESTIONING Paul’s teaching because they did not understand what Paul was saying to them. They misunderstood Paul to be saying that men should divorce their wives and never touch another woman. So Paul is ANSWERING their concerns on what THEY WROTE to HIM in 1 Corinthians 7:1 to the end of the book of 1 Corinthians. Now, I already cover 1 Corinthians 7:1 through chapter 16 but I believe it is well worth covering it again in this study on 1 Timothy 2:11-15 so you can see that everything that Paul WROTE in his LETTERS is not necessarily every word that Paul actually TEACHES even though he wrote those words. That is why I write the comments of OTHERS in a DIFFERENT font style in my Bible teachings so that MY words will NOT be confused with the words of OTHERS. Have you not ever read an article where you cannot tell WHAT the person was teaching because it seemed like he or she was contradicting themselves? So that is why I feel that I should cover this subject again so you can see that some things that Paul WROTE were NOT his OWN words even though it may SEEM like they are until you UNDERSTAND that he was answering THEIR LETTER. Let us go back to 1 Corinthians 7:1 so you can see how that King James Bible structures the questions and COMMENTS or ACCUSATIONS that were written in a letter to the Apostle Paul. And then you can understand that some of the Jewish Christians were not speaking or teaching the same things that Paul was teaching to the Gentile Christians. Now, we do not know for sure who wrote to Paul asking these questions and giving these COMMENTS but we can discern BY the questions and COMMENTS that THEY were NOT in agreement with the Apostle Paul. You will see what I mean by this as you continue reading this study in God’s word. But even in these two verses in 1 Corinthians 14:34,35, we can see the wording, as also says the law, which tells me that the letter to the Apostle Paul was written by JUDAIZING Jewish Christians. Also, I would like to point out that the law here is NOT the Law of Moses but rather the Jewish law or Jewish CUSTOMS. 1 Corinthians 7:1. “Now CONCERNING the things whereof YOU WROTE UNTO ME: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” First of all, we can clearly see that at the starting of chapter 7, Paul is addressing the questions and comments that Christians wrote to him in a letter. What they wrote to Paul are things that they heard Paul preach but they did not understand what he meant. And there are things with which they disagreed. There are things concerning the Law of Moses contained in ordinances that are being kept by some of the Jewish Christians who are subverting others to keep the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. There are things written in Jewish CUSTOMS. And some things are outright accusations against the Apostle Paul as to whether or not Paul is a true Apostle of Jesus Christ. So CLEARLY, the Apostle Paul is CORRECTING the Corinthian church, and thus, not every word in 1 Corinthians is a teaching of the Apostle Paul or Jesus Christ because Jesus taught Paul what to teach. Secondly, I want you to notice the colon highlighted in green. The part BEFORE the colon is what someone WROTE TO Paul that may or may not be specifically stated. For example, when I answer an email I sometimes REPEAT the question or comment that was written to me while at other times I simply answer the question and address the comment because the one who wrote to me already knows what they wrote to me. So that is what is happening before the colon. And what follows the colon is usually what THEY stated in THEIR letter TO Paul and Paul is simply REPEATING their words back to them. In other words, Paul could have written verse1 as follows: “Now CONCERNING the things whereof YOU WROTE unto me. The first thing you asked me was about what I preached concerning that it is better for the sake of the gospel that a man considers himself as IF he was not married. And here is what YOU wrote to me concerning my teaching on it is better for BOTH men and women to be single for the SAKE of the GOSPEL which you totally misunderstood what I am teaching. YOU said in your letter to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2. And here is MY ANSWER….” Please understand that the punctuation of the colon does not always mean that the colon designates a question or comment. Sometimes Paul uses words like “Now CONCERNING” to let us know that he is answering a question or comment that was asked of him in the letter sent to him. Now that you understand what Paul is doing in 1 Corinthians and even some of his other writings, let us take a look at how Paul ANSWERS the second question which is found in 1 Corinthians 7:25 concerning virgins. 1 Corinthians 7:25. “Now CONCERNING virgins I have no commandment OF THE Lord: yet I give my judgment, (Or while I have no specific commandment or instruction directly from the Lord I can tell you what I have concluded from the knowledge that God has given to me) as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.” And then Paul answers their question concerning virgins in the remainder of chapter 7. In other words, Paul is simply giving his OWN personal but yet godly OPINION concerning VIRGINS in 1 Corinthians chapter SEVEN. Paul’s third question is addressed in 1 Corinthians 8:1 concerning things sacrificed to idols. 1 Corinthians 8:1. “Now AS TOUCHING things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.” Then Paul answers all of their questions concerning idols in the remainder of chapter 8. But I would like to point out verse 1 here where Paul says that knowledge puffs up because it will help you understand the TRUE meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34,35. Paul is saying that they have the knowledge and that he himself has knowledge BUT their knowledge DISAGREES with the knowledge of Paul. In other words, Paul is saying the SAME thing that he says in 1 Corinthians 14:36-38 only in different words. Paul is saying, do you think that you ONLY have heard from God? Yes, we all have knowledge of what the Law of Moses contained in ordinances teaches. And we all know what the Jewish CUSTOMS teach but THAT knowledge brings BOASTING. However, the knowledge that the Lord has given to me to walk in love does NOT puff up and bring pride and boasting. Now, in chapter 9, we can clearly see Paul DEFENDING his apostleship. It SEEMS like something right out of the blue so to speak IF you do not understand that Paul is addressing things that were written in a LETTER TO him and that Paul is CORRECTING what THEY WROTE to him. 1 Corinthians 9:1-3. “Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2. If I am not an apostle unto OTHERS, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are you in the Lord. 3. Mine ANSWER to THEM that do EXAMINE me is this,” By the context of the whole letter of 1 Corinthians, we can clearly see that there were DIVISIONS in the church at Corinth. We can see that even some of his own Gentile converts were being SUBVERTED by the Judaizing Jewish Christians. Again, keep in mind that Paul already knows that what was written in the letter to him BY those who DISAGREED with Paul even to the point of CLAIMLY that Paul was NOT a true Apostle of Jesus Christ. So it is not always crystal clear that Paul is CORRECTING what was written to him in a letter. In other words, Paul does not always REPEAT what was written to him in the letter. But if you notice the words unto OTHERS we can clearly see that those OTHERS were saying to the gentile Christians that Paul was NOT a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ. And that FALSE accusation that Paul is not a true Apostle was being used to subvert the Christians that Paul himself taught to be a disciple. So in the remainder of chapter 9, Paul is defending his Apostleship because he knows that OTHERS in the Corinthian church are subverting the Christians that he has led to Jesus. And we can see two main points that Paul addresses in chapter 9 in verses 4 and 5. 1 Corinthians 9:4,5. “Have we not power to eat and to drink? (The first point or Paul’s answer to the ACCUSATION in the letter he received is concerning the receiving of offering and gifts from those to whom Paul is preaching. But then Paul adds that even though he has every right to receiving living expenses for his preaching the gospel he does NOT exploit that liberty. Rather he works to support his own living) 5. Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as OTHER apostles, AND as the BRETHREN of the Lord, and Cephas?” The second accusation is about WOMEN in the ministry which Paul does not specifically address in chapter 9 but does so later on in chapter 14. Paul already addressed some issues about women in chapters 7 and 8 which we will cover more in the following chapters. Here in verse 5, Paul is defending himself as a true Apostle of Jesus Christ and his having women in the ministry by saying that Cephas or Peter has a wife who sometimes travels with him so why are you accusing me of doing wrong because I have Aquila and Priscilla traveling with me in my ministry. You see Aquila and Priscilla were a husband and wife TEAM who held church meetings in their home. And, as husband and wife, they worked together to disciple and teach other Christians in their home. They were co-pastors or overseers of a church gathering in their home and Paul was being EXAMINED by Jewish Judaizing Christians on this matter of ALLOWING women to teach the word of God in the church, seeing that it was NOT allowed under the Law of Moses contained in ordinances, or more precisely, it was not allowed in the Jewish CUSTOMS. Please read Romans 16:3-5. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise, greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.” So again, Paul was being EXAMINED by those who considered Paul to NOT be a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ concerning his allowing women to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul expounds some more on idols and the eating of meat sacrificed unto idols. And in chapter 11 Paul starts out by saying to those who do indeed believe that Paul is a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ to follow him and to obey the ordinances that he taught to them which Jesus taught to him. In other words, Paul is teaching the Gentile Christians to NOT FOLLOW what the Jewish Christians were teaching them but rather to follow him and he followed Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2. “Be you, followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (Remember that Paul just got through defending his TRUE Apostleship so he was NOT seeking others to follow him so that he could have his own church “denomination”. But rather Paul desires that we all speak the SAME things as the ONE TRUE church of Jesus Christ) 2. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” Now, keep in mind what we just learned about Paul being EXAMINED by the Jewish Judaizing Christians as we continue to read that Paul is NOT teaching that women must wear head coverings at all times in the church and out in public. Please understand that Paul is ANSWERING the matter that was written to him in a letter by the Jewish Judaizing Christians of whether or not Christian women must wear head coverings or not wear head coverings. We know with absolute certainty that Paul is still yet addressing the issues in the letter that were written to him because Paul CLOSES what he believes and teaches in verse 16 to settle the contention and strife between the Jewish Judaizing Christians and the Gentile Christians. 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. “But I would have YOU know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. (In other words, here is what I believe and teach from what I have learned from Jesus. The head over every man is covered all the time because Jesus Christ is the head over every man. And the head of the woman is always covered all the time because the man is the head or the covering of his wife. And a single woman's head who is IN the Lord is always covered all the time by Jesus being her covering. BUT here is what YOU wrote to me examining me and what I teach in your letter to me because of what you were taught under the Law of Moses contained in ordinances and as your Jewish CUSTOM to follow and obey which you wrongly teach and SUBVERT others that they must be kept in the church. Here is what you wrote to me that is Jewish CUSTOM) 4. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5. But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6. For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10. For this cause, ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. (In verses 7-10 we can see Paul saying, yes, I understand all of what you wrote to me about the woman coming from the man and how woman are not to have authority over their husband because of the fallen angels) 11. NEVERTHELESS, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, IN the Lord. (In other words, it is DIFFERENT under the New Covenant than it was under the Old Covenant and Jewish CUSTOM. And under the New Covenant, there is no longer MALE and FEMALE. Men and women are EQUAL in the eyes of God under the New Covenant) 12. For as the woman is of the man, even so, is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13. Judge, in yourselves (Paul has spoken what he believes and teaches in verse 1 and then repeats it in verse 11 and 12. Then BEFORE the colon here in verse 13, Paul says this is something that you must work out between you and God. Then AFTER the colon Paul repeats what THEY wrote in the letter to him): is it comely that a woman prays unto God uncovered? (Then Paul ANSWERS their EXAMINING of him in the letter that they wrote to him by using the analogy of a woman’s HAIR already being a COVERING for her head) 14. Does not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15. But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. (Then in the next verse Paul plainly states that the church has NO SUCH custom or ordinance that women must wear head coverings) 16. But if any man seems to be contentious, we have NO SUCH custom, neither the churches of God.” In other words, Paul is NOT teaching that women should never cut their hair and that men must never grow their hair long. Paul is simply saying that a woman's hair NATURALLY grows long and men's hair does not naturally grow long. Personally, I believe that Paul is giving his own personal opinion in verses 14 and 15, and thus, to HIM, he thinks that long hair on men is a shame. And he thinks that women look better in long hair than they look in short hair. But the main point is in verse 16 where Paul specifically states as a FACT with NO interpretation needed to understand that in the church there is NO SUCH custom for women to wear head coverings. And, according to the CONTEXT, there is also no such custom in the church teaching that women MUST have LONG hair, and men MUST have short hair. Then in the remainder of chapter 11, Paul moves on to yet another issue in the Corinthians church concerning the taking of communion. And in chapter 12 the subject changes to the things concerning spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:1. “Now CONCERNING spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” Now, without getting into long in-depth teaching on the subject that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were NOT just given to MEN ONLY, I want to appeal to your COMMON SENSE by asking you a very simple question. Are WOMEN a part of the body of Jesus Christ? If your answer is a NO then you are ignorant of the word of God because you are saying that women can NOT be saved. And if you say yes then the Bible ITSELF teaches us that it is the Holy Spirit who is the one who gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit as HE WILLS. 1 Corinthians 12:11. “But all these (Speaking of the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit) works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man (Or every person IN the BODY of Jesus Christ, the CHURCH) severally as HE will.” And we know from other verses in the Bible that it is indeed God’s WILL to give the gifts of the Holy Spirit EVEN to WOMEN in the body of Jesus Christ. It is even written in prophecy that DAUGHTERS and young maidens would PROPHESY. But again, I do not want to get into a long in-depth subject on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how God is NO RESPECTER of persons. I simply want to point out a few verses that will HELP Christian women living in FEAR due to FALSE teaching. I desire that Christian women, who are being lorded over by pompous men in the church, to know the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God which is that those men are wrongly teaching that men are superior to women and that women must keep SILENT in the church. Please notice in verse 22 that Paul is CORRECTING the misunderstanding about women keeping silent in the church. 1 Corinthians 12:22. “Nay, much MORE those members of the body, which SEEM to be more feeble, are NECESSARY:” Paul is correcting those Christian men who lord over their wives as being the weaker vessel and therefore they must keep silent in the church. Paul is saying that the church NEEDS WOMEN being used by God in the church. The women are NECESSARY for the church and it is the Holy Spirit who places women in the body of Jesus as HE sees fit. Then in chapter 13, Paul is teaching us that walking in LOVE must be our first priority because the gifts of the Holy Spirit do not work the way God intends them to work WITHOUT LOVE. Then in chapter 14, Paul begins to put things back into the right order and how the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be operating in the churches. And evidently, there were some Christians in the Corinthian church who were FORBIDDING Christians from speaking in other tongues in the church altogether. And by the context, we can discern that it was the WOMEN who were being forbidden to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So let us now read those two controversial verses in their CONTEXT after learning about how Paul is CORRECTING his being EXAMINED by those who wrote him that letter wrongly accusing Paul as NOT being a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:28-40. “But if there be no interpreter, let him (Or her) keep silence in the church; and let him (Or her) speak to himself (Or herself), and to God. 29. Let the prophets (BOTH male AND FEMALE) speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30. If anything is revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. 31. For you may ALL prophesy one by one, that ALL may learn, and ALL may be comforted. (Now, according to 1 Corinthians 12:2-31 we know that not ALL Christians are prophets, in that, we are ALL given the gift of prophecy and therefore the ALL in this verse must be speaking about BOTH the men AND the WOMEN) 32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in ALL churches of the saints. (Paul is teaching that what we JEWS used to teach in the Jews CUSTOM about women being the weaker vessel was wrong. God is now showing us that we NEED our women. That is what the Apostle Paul teaches. Jesus had many women followers who were his disciples. And that did NOT happen in the Jewish religion. Then in verse 34 and verse 35 Paul REPEATS what was written to him in the letter by those EXAMINING what Paul teaches. And here is what THEY are saying to the Gentile Christians and in the letter, the Judaizing Jewish Christians wrote to Paul. They were DEMANDING that Paul obey them and their Jewish CUSTOM saying to Paul in their letter to him) 34. Let your women (Or Paul we command you to make YOUR women who you are teaching to) keep silence in the churches: for (Our Jewish CUSTOM teaches us that) it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law. 35. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (And in the verses that follow, the Apostle Paul gives his answer to their EXAMINING of him of what he himself teaching his women disciples) 36. WHAT? Came the word of God out from YOU? Or came it unto you ONLY? 37. If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I WRITE unto you ARE the commandments of the Lord. 38. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39. Wherefore, brethren, (Or for this very reason that there are some among you who choose to be IGNORANT to forbid women to speak in tongues and to prophesy in the church, I want you to stop listening to THEM and listen to me. For I teach that ALL the members of the body of Jesus Christ, BOTH men and WOMEN that they ALL should) covet to prophesy and FORBID NOT to speak with tongues. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order.” In other words, Paul is speaking to the WOMEN who were being FORBIDDEN by the Jewish Judaizing Christians who were KEEPING the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. In other words, it was the Jewish Judaizing Christians who wanted the women to STOP speaking in other tongues, to STOP giving an interpretation in other tongues, to STOP prophesying in the church, to be SILENT, and not teach MEN in the church. To say this another way, it was NOT the Apostle Paul who was teaching for the WOMEN to STOP prophesying and speaking in other tongues. But rather, Paul is teaching the women to STOP being DECEIVED by those false teachers who are compelling women to keep silent in the church and to listen to what Jesus told him to teach to the Gentiles in the church. Now, we know that Paul is teaching us to NOT keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES because in chapter 15 Paul warns us about keeping in memory what he has taught us lest we have believed in VAIN. And this is that SAME kind of warning Paul gives to us in the book of Galatians to NOT keep the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. And since Acts 15:24 CLEARLY teaches us that we are NOT to keep the Law of Moses then HOW can anyone believe that Paul is now teaching that WOMEN must keep the Jewish CUSTOMS that are not even in the Law of Moses contained in ordinances? Again, Paul tells us what they wrote in a letter to him about the women keeping silent in the church and then Paul responds back saying WHAT? Are you trying to tell me what to teach and what not to teach? Did the word of the Lord come ONLY to YOU? Jesus has appeared to me many times to teach me what I am to teach to the Gentiles AND to you Jewish Christians as well. BUT if you want to remain IGNORANT then that is between you and the Lord. Can you not see that this whole letter to the Corinthians church is about CORRECTING the question and EXAMINING comment in the letter that was sent to him? Can you not see that later on the Apostle Peter WARNS the other Jewish Apostles and the Jewish Judaizing Christians that Paul has some HARD things for us Jewish Christians to bear but he is RIGHT. We have been TWISTING his teaching to our OWN DESTRUCTION. Jesus told his disciples that he had many more things to teach them but he could not do so because they would NOT have been able to BEAR those teachings. So the all Jewish church was yet LEARNING things that were HARD for them to RECEIVE at first. But thanks be to God that He gave the Apostle Paul the wisdom to get through their thick Jewish skulls that we as Christians are NOT to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES and neither are we to keep the Jewish CUSTOMS. In the next chapter, Paul addresses the false teaching of the resurrection being already past and that there is not going to be any future resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12. “Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” It is like Paul is saying to them, Do you not believe what I have taught you? You KNOW that I have preached that Jesus was resurrected from the dead so HOW is it that some of you are overthrowing the faith of others by FALSELY teaching that there is no resurrection for the dead? Then Paul spends the remainder of chapter 15:12-59 CORRECTING their FALSE teaching concerning this matter on the resurrection. And in 1 Corinthians 15:29, I believe that Paul is also correcting them about their standing in proxy to be baptized for the dead. This is the only verse in the New Testament under the New Covenant that even mentions being baptized for the dead. And no church doctrine should be built upon one verse of Scripture. And in the LIGHT of everything else that Paul is CORRECTING in the letter that was written to him, to me, the standing in proxy to be baptized for the unsaved dead is NOT the teaching of the Apostle Paul. But rather it is a teaching that Paul is saying that is WRONG and that we should NOT get baptized for the unsaved dead for them to be saved like the Mormons wrongly teach. Let us go ahead and read 1 Corinthians 15:29. “Else (Or seeing that) what shall THEY do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are THEY then baptized for the dead?” Notice that Paul does NOT say what shall WE do which are baptized for the dead, but rather, Paul says what shall THEY do which are baptized for the dead. Then in chapter 16, Paul reminds them to have the collection for the saints ready when he comes and then Paul ends the letter or his correction to the letter that was written to him. So once again, Paul writes what THEY wrote to him, and then Paul CORRECTS what THEY wrote to him. And that is the SOUND Biblical meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 when those two verses are LEFT IN their CONTEXT. Paul is NOT teaching us that women must keep silent in the churches. Paul is NOT teaching us that women cannot be teachers and preachers. Paul is NOT teaching us that women cannot PROPHESY in the church. Paul is NOT teaching us that women cannot speak in other tongues. Paul teaches us that IN the LORD both males and females are ONE. In other words, God sees no DIFFERENCE between male Christians and female Christians when it comes to teaching and preaching the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26-28. “For you are ALL the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as having been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.” Now that you understand that Paul was CORRECTING FALSE teaching in 1 Corinthians I pray that you can see that Paul is doing the SAME thing in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. It is NOT the Apostle Paul who is saying that Adam was NOT deceived and that it was EVE who transgressed because that contradicts Paul’s actual words in Romans 5:7 and 1 Corinthians that it was ADAMS fault just as much as it was Eve’s fault. And even MORE SO, in my own opinion, because Adam was right there when Eve was being tempted so he could have PREVENTED Eve from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So we know without a doubt that the words in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 are NOT the words of the Apostle Paul. But rather, Paul was answering the LETTER that was written to him by the Judaizing Jewish Christians who were EXAMINING Paul as to whether or not he is a TRUE Apostle of Jesus Christ. Let us dig a little deep into the TRUE meaning of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 by reading a broader context so you can see that Paul told Timothy to remain at the Ephesian church in Ephesus to CORRECT their false doctrine. Please read 1 Timothy 1:3-7. “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, 4. Neither (That THEY) give heed to fables (Speaking of the CUSTOMS of the pagan Gentiles) and (That THEY should not give heed to) endless genealogies, (Speaking of the Jewish CUSTOMS) which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (Or make sure that they do not reject sound Biblical teaching which is IN the TRUE FAITH of Jesus Christ that I have taught to you, Timothy) 5. Now the end (Or the GOAL) of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (Speaking of the GOAL of the commandment of Jesus to walk in LOVE and thereby FULFIL the keeping of the law of God must be the FOCUS of every Christian) 6. From which some having swerved, having turned aside unto vain jangling; 7. Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” So the CORE issue of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is that there were SOME in the church in Ephesus who were desiring to be teachers of the LAW and the CUSTOMS of the Jews and the Apostle Paul was CORRECTING those Judaizing Jewish Christians that BLAMED WOMEN for all their problems. Now, verse 15 along with 1 Timothy 2:8-10 is dealing with the GENTILE CUSTOMS. Let me explain why I say this in another study called “WHAT DOES 1 TIMOTHY 2:9,10,15 TRULY MEAN?” But for now, please know that the pagan society of the Ephesians and ALL of Asia were FEMALE goddess worshipers to the CORE. The WOMEN were accustomed to DOMINATING OVER their men. So when the Ephesian women became Christians they naturally kept on domineering over the men and Paul was addressing this problem at the SAME time that he was addressing the OTHER EXTREME of the Jewish CUSTOM of the men DOMINEERING OVER their women. To put it in simple terms, Paul was killing two birds with one stone so to speak. Paul was correcting TWO problems at the same time with one teaching. Paul taught what Jesus teaches which is that Christians, BOTH men, and women, are NOT to lord over each other. But rather we are to SUBMIT to each other. The men are to SUBMIT to female Christians and the women are to SUBMIT to male Christians. NOT to everything they say but rather submit yourselves to the SOUND Biblical TEACHING which the WHOLE word of God TEACHES. And I have heard many women teaching SOUND Biblical teaching on some subjects. And I have heard many men teaching FALSE doctrines on some subjects. So the core of what Paul was correcting is FALSE doctrine. And Satan has used men to TWIST the true meaning of Paul’s words to have the false teaching of lording over each other rise up again in these last days. And it has caused some churches to divide. I mean that some churches are VEHEMENTLY against women teaching in churches so much so that they have made it their job to rebuke and verbally attack other churches for SIMPLY allowing Almighty God himself to USE WOMEN to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And to ME, the FORBIDDING of WOMEN to teach in their churches is like QUENCHING the Holy Spirit who is the one stirring up the hearts of women all over the world to PREACH and teach the gospel to ALL people, both men and women despite their being persecuted by some men for teaching in the church. I will end with us reading 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24. “Quench NOT the Spirit. 20. Despise NOT PROPHESYINGS (Including WOMEN prophesying, But sadly some churches that forbid women to teach in their church do not have the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation in their churches) 21. Prove all things; (Which also means to ALLOW, APPROVE whatsoever and WHOSOEVER) hold fast that which is good. (And it is GOOD to NOT lord over each other. It is GOOD to NOT hinder the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ by FORBIDDING close to HALF of all Christians to PREACH and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ) 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. (So decide in yourself if it is evil to lord over women and to hinder the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ by forbidding women to be teachers in the church?) 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24. Faithful is he that CALLS you, who also will do it.” So if any of you women feel that God is calling you to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ then I speak God’s PEACE to you right now in the mighty name of Jesus. Go to where the Holy Spirit leads you and obey what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. Thanks for reading and I pray that you will continue to read all the studies that I have on this subject 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 family's misguided beliefs and, therefore, they are faced with LOSING their family. Twisted Scripture - 1 Timothy 2:12. And below are some more video teachings by others. May God bless you richly as you continue seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT 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. |
|
|