Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
(1 Timothy 2:11)
LORD Jesus, we praise You, the Creator. All had been without form, dark, and empty. Then You spoke the Word and Your Creation came to be. And You are the One who has made us: man and woman, the one who should not be alone and his helper, both to become one flesh. Forgive us, O God, we pray, whenever we part from Your Word and think of our ways more highly than we should. Your Thoughts are higher than ours. Help us to hear Your Word, and enable us to understand what it is that You are saying through it. Guide us to learn in silence with all submission. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.
Even though in silence and with all submission, women need to learn and understand the Word. They are not to teach or have authority over men (we will talk about that in tomorrow’s post); however, they are encouraged to learn what is being taught in the church.
This verse is talking about women learning alongside men, yet they do so silently and in submission — with a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3) which they ought to have.
Again, there is nothing wrong with women studying the Word. We are encouraged to do so. The problem starts, though, when we have the wrong attitude toward male headship and/or the leadership in the church. We must never talk down to or discourage the men who are serving in our church.
In 1. Corinthians 14:34-35 Paul says:
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.
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.
William MacDonald clarifies:
The word here translated speak (laleo) did not mean to chatter in Koine Greek. The same word is used of God in verse 21 of this chapter, and in Heb. 1:1. It means to speak authoritatively.
But what about verse 35, where it says, “let them ask their own husbands at home?” What if there is no husband to ask, or if she cannot ask her husband at home?
Again, William MacDonald explains:
If a woman does not have a husband, she could ask her father, her brother, or one of the elders of the church. Actually, this may be translated, “Let them ask their men-folks at home.” The basic rule to be remembered is that it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Study the Word today.