One of God's Unpopular Prohibitions
God has told us not to do certain things. Our response to His
prohibitions is part of the total demonstration of our attitude toward Him and
our faith in Him.
God has said, "DO NOT LIE!" There may be circumstances where I may be convinced
(based on my evaluation of things) that the only thing to do is lie. Everybody
around me may see nothing wrong with an occasional lie. Some today have said it
is all right to lie about certain things, like sex. From a carnal standpoint, I
may be able to give reasons that sound good; why it would be fine to go ahead
and lie. But I ultimately and personally deal with God, and He has said not to
lie. Faith restrains my behavior through His prohibitions, regardless of my
evaluation of circumstances.
God's Word is filled with prohibitions; things we are forbidden to do. These
prohibitions may be moral in nature; they may have to do with attitude or
relationships; some have to do with the local church or the assembly. Whatever
the context; whatever behavior is forbidden - divine prohibitions test our
faith. And it should be obvious to every fair-minded person, when God says not
to do something, my duty is to refrain from anything He has prohibited. I know
it is in my best spiritual and practical interests to respect God's
prohibitions.
In the instructions Paul gave when he wrote to Timothy, there are prohibitions;
things we are told NOT TO DO. There are some things we must not allow, because
God's Word says "NO ... don't do this; don't let this happen!" These pro-hibitions
were not given to punish us, but to help us and better us. And even when we may
not understand the purpose behind some of God's prohibitions, faith demands our
restraint because He said not to do it. As we respect these prohibitions - we
please the God who gave them, and we put ourselves in the best position to carry
out His holy will.
Here is one of God's prohibitions: Here is 1 Tim. 2:11,12 (KJV): "Let the woman
learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." In the NAS: "Let a woman
quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a
woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." In the
NIV: "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a
woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." In one of
the latest modern versions, it remains substantially the same.] NRSV: "Let a
woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to
have authority over a man; she is to keep silent."
I suppose it occurs to you that there are a number of people in our society who
do not care for what this passage teaches. And there are many who acknowledge
the value of respecting God's prohibitions generally, but not this one!
In reaction to this passage you will hear folks suggests that Paul was really a
victim of male prejudice; he was a partisan who entertained an subordinate
opinion of women and this statement only reflects the distorted view of one
narrow-minded man. Christians cannot jump onto that bandwagon, because before we
come to this text, we've already decided something: We have decided to follow
God's commandments, including the prohibitions given through those men who were
apostles according to His will.
Look back at the first verse of First Timothy where it says that Paul was "an
apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God..." We believe in
the inspiration of the Scriptures. Our conviction is, Paul was inspired by the
Holy Spirit, and he wrote this not from his own distorted values, BUT BY
INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. He wrote, he gave instructions and revealed
prohibitions as an apostle of Jesus Christ. And so the typical worldly reaction
to this teaching has no influence with God's people, because we regard Paul as
an certified apostle of Christ, writing by inspiration. Isn't this right?
So here it is; we have to face God, right here in His Word and deal with this
prohibition: "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not
permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent."
What Does This Mean?
IT DOES NOT MEAN that women are not as good as men; that they are insignificant.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN that women cannot learn, or cannot teach -- it says they must
learn in quietness, with full submission; and, they are not to teach with
authority over a man.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN women cannot ask a question...
THIS DOES NOT MEAN women cannot correct a man in error, if she does it in a
proper manner...
THIS DOES NOT MEAN a woman cannot participate in a class discussion led by a
man.
This is about the role of women in subjection to men and this statement
prohibits her from teaching with authority over man. This is a prohibition, with
as much validity and force now as when it was first written. In the King James,
in the NAS, the NIV or in any English translation - - the prohibitive nature of
the statement cannot be avoided: "I suffer not..." "I do not allow ... a woman
to teach over a man..." "I do not permit... ."
And the religious feminists expected the NRSV to accomodate their view, but
guess what it says: "Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit
no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent."
In view of this, what do you think Timothy's reaction would have been?
Knowing what you do of this young evangelist; aware of his unfeigned faith...
What do you think Timothy's reaction would have been -- if one day, a sister
came to him and said: "Bro. Timothy, you are not the only one around here who
knows the Scriptures; I'M GOING TO PREACH TODAY! It is time for the women to
assert their rights -- in fact, it is past time... so I will address the
assembly today"? What do you suppose Timothy would have said? "Let a woman learn
in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority
over a man..."
Anytime there is controversy or questions or intruding trouble regarding gender
issues, the first thing we have to do is to deal with this text seriously! We
cannot be tossed to and fro by the fads and opinions of society or the popular
movements promoted by the media. We cannot take a reactionary stance, imitating
the Pharisees. We cannot pervert Scripture to degrade women. None of this is
proper. Our obligation is to deal seriously and objectively with the text --
remembering that GOD HAS PROHIBITED SOMETHING.
"I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man..." Women are not to
teach with authority over a man. The text is prohibitive! Either we will follow
this prohibition, or ignore it.
By Warren E. Berkley
The Front Page
From Expository Files 6.5; May 1999
