Some conclude from 1 Timothy 2 that women should never pray or teach. Biblical instructions should never be taken out of their context. Bible facts are not isolated pieces of information that have little to do with the rest of the Scriptures. Any word or sentence in a writing is like a puzzle piece. By itself its meaning may not be clear. But fit it into the whole, and the picture become clearer.
WOMEN PRAY
People who say, “Women should never pray” are not keeping the context of 1 Timothy in mind. They immediately run into problems, for in the same letter, Christian women are portrayed favorably as being in constant prayer (1 Timothy 5:5). Many other passages of the Bible show that women can and should pray (Luke 18:1-8; Acts 1:14; 12:5, 12; 21:5; 1 Corinthians 11:5). Yes, Acts 1:14 and Acts 12:5, 12 even show that women pray with men. That is different from saying they lead the men, but both genders are together in prayer.
WOMEN TEACH
People who say, “Women should never teach” prove how little they know. Paul himself instructs Timothy,
What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).
In 2 Timothy 2:2, that word “men” in the Greek language is anthropois, meaning people generally, not just males. This broad word shows that God wants men and women to be trained so that they can teach others. Many other passages show that women teach (Acts 2:17; 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15), and women are commanded to teach (2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3-4). So, people who isolate Paul’s wording and apply it to situations different from Paul’s intention, find themselves fighting against the will of God.
It is when people forget the context that they become confused. By keeping the passage in its setting within 1 Timothy and within the Bible, we can better understand Paul’s meaning and intended application.
ASSEMBLY
In line with Paul’s stated purpose (1 Timothy 3:15), his instructions tend to deal with the church-family as it works and worships together. Comparison with the similar passage, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, indicates that Paul is telling Timothy who should pray and teach in “every place” where the church meets. Certainly, 1 Corinthians sets the rules for order in the public assembly of the whole church (1 Corinthians 11:18, 33-34; 14:19, 23, 26, 28, 34-35). He makes it clear that it is in this public gathering for worship that the women are not to take the lead (1 Corinthians 14:35). The teaching in Corinth applies also in other churches (1 Corinthians 4:17; 7:17; 14:33-34). Thus, 1 Timothy 2 appears to be where Paul is giving the same basic teaching to Timothy for church assemblies in Ephesus and its region. 1 Timothy 2:8 then is saying that it must be the men—and only good men—who lead in public prayers. The women are not to take the lead in public prayers or by teaching in public gatherings. Their place in such meetings is to learn quietly (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
Paul does not appear to be talking about what is done outside such public situations. When Priscilla helps in teaching Apollos, it is in a private or semiprivate setting. This woman and her husband “took him aside” rather than teach him in the public synagogue of the Jews (Acts 18:26). When women teach women, even in large classes, this is obviously not the kind of public meeting Paul has in mind, for there are no men for the women to teach or lead. Neither is Paul talking about gatherings of women and children. Nor is Paul addressing what happens within a family.
DIFFICULTIES
There are, of course, the difficulties faced by all who try to be conscientious. When do boys turn into “men”? When exactly do private groups—such as that where Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos—grow sufficiently to turn “officially” into public gatherings? What about gatherings that are not the usual worship assemblies of the church? God knows that His people face situations across a wide spectrum of what people consider “private” or “public.” He knows that there are different viewpoints and different types of get-togethers with every possible mix of gender, age and teaching ability.
Yet, in God’s great wisdom, He feels no need to give a separate rule for each and every situation. He does not go to great length to define what is a proper assembly and what is not, what is private and what is not. Instead of many detailed definitions and rules, God gives us clear principles on which to base decisions and practices. These principles have to do with male spiritual leadership. They have to do with authority and submission. They have to do with male public voices speaking to and for the church. God must feel that His principles are clear enough for godly people to make the right choices in most cases and that His abundant grace is more than able to cover our most difficult decisions.