1Tim 2:11 Women to Learn in Silent Submission

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Women to Learn in Silent Submission

1Tim 2:11  Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

This verse is probably best understood in light of the verses which follow it. There Paul not only gives a particular application of this idea but also defends it with scripture, of which I will deal with in the next few days.

What Paul means by this verse is much the same as he meant in 1Cor 14:34 "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says." That is, it is not appropriate for women to exercise authority over men - one of the main exercises of authority in the Christian community being that of teaching (Explaining the Word of God) or prophecy (speaking applications of the Word of God), the context of 1Cor 14:34 being that of public prophesying. And the verse which follows 1Cor 14:34 also says, "And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church." Here we see the allusion to teaching as well. But interesting to note his saying that "it is shameful for women to speak in church." This is much along the lines of what he was saying in 1Tim concerning women these last few verses - dealing with dress, for example. These all allude to the issue of appropriateness.

To be yet dealt with in the next few verses is whether the appropriateness or shamefulness had to just do with the culture back then, or whether Paul is speaking of a more universal principle which applies even today.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources