Copyright © 2004, Josh Creel

Question: “I have read many opinions and doctrines on the silence of women in church and many argue as to the appropriate time to speak even an ‘amen’. Please direct us to Scriptures relevant.

 

Answer: We know from Scripture that God is not a respecter of persons, Romans 2:11, and that in God’s eyes all Christians are of equal value, Galatians 3:26-29. However, while men and women are of equal value in God’s eyes, they are to fill different roles in the Lord’s church, just as men and women fill different roles in the marriage relationship.

            When it comes to the public worship of the church, God has declared in His word that the men of the congregation are to exercise leadership, while the women were to be in submission. This is confirmed in both I Corinthians 14:34-35 and I Timothy 2:8-15. For further understanding, let’s consider Paul’s words in I Timothy 2:8-15.

¨      Paul states in vs. 8, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere…” We sometimes read the word “men” and understand that it includes both men and women. Yet, that is not the case in this passage. The Greek word used is aner, which always refers to males and never to females. If Paul were referring to both men and women he would have used the word anthropos. Paul’s instructions were that male Christians were to pray “everywhere”, in every congregation, in every public situation, as opposed to women. Yet, not every man could pray, but only those “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;” meaning that a man leading in prayer must be of a certain moral character.

¨      Now let’s move to vs. 11-12: “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” Just as vs. 8 ruled out women praying in a public way, vs. 11-12 forbids women from teaching in a way that would place her in a position of authority over a man. This is not to say that a woman cannot teach in any way. Titus 2:3-5 gives instructions to older women to be teachers of the younger women. You also have the example of Priscilla who teamed with her husband, Aquila, to teach a man named Apollos the true gospel of Christ, Acts 18:24-26. These things can be done without a woman usurping the authority of the man, but a woman cannot pray or teach in a public way when male Christians are present who should be carrying out those responsibilities.

¨      Why has God placed men and women in these different roles in the church? This is answered in vs. 13-14: “For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” While God is not a respecter of persons, He created man first, showing His intent that man occupy the position of authority. The sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden was in part due to their failure to occupy their proper positions. Eve took authority on herself when she was persuaded by the serpent and did not consult with Adam, the head of the family. Thus, she was deceived and not Adam. Adam gave up his authority when Eve gave the fruit to him and he ate.

¨      However, there is hope. Paul states in vs. 15, “Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” There are two ways one might view this verse. First, while woman was deceived by the serpent, it would be through her that the Savior of the world would come, Genesis 3:14; Galatians 4:4. Second, since woman sinned by violating God’s pattern of authority, she can be saved by living by His authority and taking the submissive role in the home that God has given her.

In regards to women saying “amen” in the assembly, I find no reason that a woman could not give her approval to what has been said through an amen. She is not usurping the authority of a man, but is making known that she is in agreement with what has been said and that the prayer that has gone up to God is her prayer as well. However, both men and women need to remember that all things in the assembly must be done “decently and in order”, I Corinthians 14:40. Thus, to disturb the assembly through constant, voracious “amen”s is not proper for either men or women.