InterVarsity Press

Conversations: Does God Want Women Teaching Men?

Janice:

When I read about the Kroegers' interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 I thought that it made sense. If Paul was really arguing against a proto-gnostic view of men, women, sex and childbirth it even made sense of v. 15.

I allowed myself to think that maybe I could aspire to be a teacher of the Word. (Actually, I am, but to kids of junior high school age only.) But then I read an analysis of the meaning of the word "auqentein" that seems to demonstrate that the Kroegers were wrong. What I read depressed me but I eventually accepted it as the latest word on the situation. If God doesn't want women teaching men then so be it. There must be a very good reason why the male preachers I listen to are so often so ... I'm trying to find a word for it and can't. All I can think of is that most of the time they don't really teach. Most of the time they just give a speech. Too often they give a speech that, I presume, is supposed to be an exhortation but sounds more like a condemnation. I wondered if God was trying to raise up good male preachers by making some fellow(s) in the congregation get tired of listening, decide they could do better, and then go for it.

Recently I've started re-reading Women in the Maze. The things you say in there sound so biblically reasonable—despite the questions about the meaning of "auqentein"—that, once again, I'm wondering if it could be that being female doesn't disbar me from teaching adult males. I have no interest in being the bigshot person that everyone calls Pastor or Reverend and I have no gifts in that parish-leadership direction. But I do think that, over the last nearly 30 years, God has equipped me to teach—at least in some well-defined areas, chiefly apologetics—and I'd really love to have the opportunity to teach other (adult) people some of what I've learned over that time.

So what I'd like to know is what you know about the latest installments in this argument over 1 Tim 2: 12-15.

Ruth:

The debate over 1 Timothy 2—and many other passages relating to women and other topics—will continue, I'm convinced, until the Lord returns. For those who would deny women a teaching/preaching ministry, 1 Tim 2 has been a key proof text. I believe they often take it out of context, however. AND, if 1 Tim. 2 is a passage that must be interpreted "literally," what about the much longer passage on women in 1 Tim. 5 that is often passed right over, without literal application? I would encourage you to continue your teaching ministry as part of Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28) to all disciples: to teach, preach, disciple, and baptize.

Thanks for writing.