“1 Timothy 2”
Submissive Instruction
1 Timothy 2:11
11 A woman must quietly receive
instruction with entire submissiveness.
What does it mean to quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness? One example of this is with the relationship between a professor and a student. The student is in a subordinate position to the professor who has been placed in that position by a higher authority. As the professor teaches the assigned curriculum, the student listens and learns. The student does not attempt to dictate what the professor teaches or how the professor gives instruction.
In this verse, is Paul commanding
that women should have absolutely nothing to say in the church? Not at all.
When we approach the scriptures, there are three practices that we need
to apply to properly interpret what is written:
1. We need to understand the context
of what was written. 2. We need to be
familiar with the culture of
the people being discussed. 3. We need
to be able to cross reference
that text with other related text.
To understand the context of a text, we need to
understand how the statement is being used.
If you ever want to get a clear understanding of the importance of context,
record yourself reading the Bible, send the recording to a news station, and
watch what they do with it. The media is
famous for taking things OUT of context by means of using sound bites. We run the risk of misunderstanding the Bible
or incorrectly teaching when we separate a portion of Scripture from other
passages that provide meaning to it.
It is also important to understand
the culture of the time period
of the scriptures being read or used because if you don’t, you won’t understand
the actions of the people being referenced.
For example, in Abraham’s day, it was acceptable for a wife who was
unable to conceive, to allow her husband to impregnate her servant. In doing so, this allowed the wife to lay
claim to the child. While many today
would frown on this type of practice, this early form of surrogacy was
acceptable during that time.
The use of cross reference is also necessary because it allows us, in
many cases, to gain a greater understanding of the message that is being
conveyed in one passage by referencing another passage of Scripture. For instance, 1 Timothy 2:12, disqualifies
women from teaching men, but in Acts 18:26 the Bible reveals that Priscilla,
along with her husband Aquila, gave Apollos a better understanding of the way
of God. Since her name is placed before
her husband’s name, it stands to reason that Priscilla may have been the
primary teacher in this case. A more in-depth
study of both scriptures allows us to understand that First Timothy 2 is
referring to a position of authority in which direction and instruction
are given; while Acts 18 is primarily dealing with expounding on Scripture or providing knowledge of a given
subject.
Cross referencing 1 Corinthians 11:5 with 1 Timothy 2:11 allows us to understand that Paul is not restricting women from praying and prophesying publicly. He presents guidelines for how women are to perform these services.
As we conclude, the lesson to take
away from this verse of Scripture is that order is essential to the success of
the Church. Although societies change
over time, the Bible remains constant.
Scripture will always provide us with consistency and stability. Obedience to the instruction of God’s word
gives us a secure foundation even when it conflicts with the cultural norms
that we have been taught or have come to embrace.
