Download or an “absolute ruler.” 1 Timothy 2

SUNDAY
BIBLE CLASS
church leadership
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Springfield, Virginia
Church of Christ
Nov. 15-16
2008
www.EdwardFudge.com
What about 1 Cor. 14:34-35?
CORINTH
1 Corinthians 14
THESE ARE HOUSE-CHURCHES,
PRACTICING MUTUAL MINISTRY
26 “. . . When you come together, each one has a
hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an
interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”
1 Corinthians 14
Paul tells three unruly groups to zip the lip.
1.
27 If any speak in a
tongue, let there
be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let
someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret,
let each of them keep silent (sigao) in church and
speak to himself and to God.
1 Corinthians 14
Paul tells three unruly groups to zip the lip.
2.
29 Let two or three prophets speak,
and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is
made to another sitting there, let the first be silent
(sigao) . . . . 33 For God is not a God of confusion but
of peace.
1 Corinthians 14
Paul tells three unruly groups to zip the lip.
3.
34 the women should keep silent
(sigao) in the churches. For they are not
permitted to speak, but should be in
submission, as the Law also says. 35 If
there is anything they desire to learn, let
them ask their husbands at home. For it is
shameful for a woman to speak in church.
What about 1 Tim. 2?
EPHESUS
1 Timothy 2:8-15
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray,
lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise
also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with
braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with
what is proper for women who profess godliness—with
good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not
deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a
transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness,
with self-control.”
1 Timothy 2 – Setting
Timothy at Ephesus to rebut false teaching (1 Tim. 1:3).
• Speculations and myths concerning the Law of Moses
(1 Tim. 1:3-7).
• Involved something “falsely called knowledge (gnosis)”
(1 Tim. 6:20-21).
• Resurrection said to be past (2 Tim. 2:17-18).
• Targeted church women (2 Tim. 3:6-7).
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
8
“I wish therefore to pray
the men in every place, raising holy hands without anger
and quarreling;
9 similarly also
women in apparel discreet, with modesty and selfcontrol to adorn themselves, not with braided hair
(ringlets and curls) and gold, or pearls or expensive
attire, 10 but with what is fitting for women professing
piety—with good works.”
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
Throughout 1 Tim. 2:8-15, the words translated “man”
(aner) and “woman” (gyne) also mean “husband” and
“wife.”
If this is the intended meaning, it narrows the scope of
what Paul is saying.
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
“11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
_______________
The startling comment here is not about quietness.
It is Paul’s statement “let a woman learn,
something unheard of among the Rabbis
but approved and practiced by Jesus as we saw
earlier.
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
“11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
_______________
The underlined words both translate a Greek word
(hesychia) which means “quietness” rather than
“silence.” Paul uses the adjective form of the same
word (hesychios) in verse 2, “. . . that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life.” See also 2 Thess. 3:11-12,
where Paul commands believers “to do their work
quietly (hesychia) and to earn their own living.”
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
“12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
_______________
The verb Paul usually uses to express the idea of
having authority is exousiazo. Here, however, Paul
uses a verb that occurs nowhere else in the New
Testament. It is a very strong verb (authenteo) that
means “to domineer,” “to overthrow, usurp authority,”
“to act as a tyrant,” “to willfully enforce for oneself.”
The noun in the same word family (authentes), meant
in classical Greek either a “murderer” or an “absolute
ruler.”
1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
“12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
_______________
Dr. Carroll Osburn (Women in the Church, 246-252),
urges that the second verb underlined above explains
the verb before it. This has Paul saying: “I do not permit
a woman to teach domineeringly over a man.” Or
perhaps, “I do not permit a wife to teach domineeringly
over a husband.” This could reflect the situation at
Ephesus, where some women/ wives reject marriage
and declare themselves totally independent of men/
husbands, based on false “knowledge” or gnosis.
Specific, local corrections -or universally binding rules?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
I urge that . . . Prayers . . . be made . . . for kings
I desire . . . Men . . . pray, lifting holy hands
Women adorn selves . . . not with braided hair
and gold . . . or pearls . . . or costly attire
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness
I do not permit a woman to teach
or to exercise authority over a man
rather, she is to remain quiet
Yet she will be saved through childbearing