by Ashley Newton

Created on: October 02, 2009   Last Updated: October 03, 2009

Indeed, this is a touchy subject, hence the amount of articles that have been written about it. I have skimmed the previous articles and do somewhat agree with what has been mentioned. To answer this question, I will refer to I Timothy 2:12 (KJV). It states, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

In case there is any doubt, this book of the Bible was actually a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Apostle Timothy. Around the time that the letter was written, women had just received the right to learn the gospel. As a result, women that attended Timothy's church felt they had a right to teach the gospel as well, yet their knowledge of the gospel was not great enough for them to do so. Therefore, in response to Timothy's letter, Paul stated that HE would not suffer a woman to teach. This meant that PAUL would not have permitted a woman to teach at that time. This was not a commandment stating that women weren't ever supposed to teach. Nor did this mean that women have to always "take a back seat"!

I have heard from others that when a woman teaches, she usurps authority over the man. And I am coming to you today in defense of all the women out there with a calling to teach the gospel. You cannot usurp authority from someone who never had it! For some odd reason, men feel that they were put over the church, when the Bible is very clear in stating differently.

Ephesians 5:23 & 24 (KJV) - (23.) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (24.) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

When God created mankind, he made Adam and Eve to rule the earth as equals! Genesis 1:26 (KJV) Authority was not taken from Eve until she sinned. Genesis 3:1-16 (KJV) After Jesus died on the cross, the female race was redeemed. All have an equal opportunity to be saved and do whatever work God has for them to do. That includes teaching men in the church!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

If women were to forever be in silence in the church, then women should not be making noise of any kind during a church service. They shouldn't be singing. They shouldn't be clapping. They shouldn't be praying. They shouldn't be speaking in tongues. They shouldn't be on the instruments. They shouldn't take up the offering. And they sure shouldn't be over the Sunday School class....... now should they? :) :)

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