1 Tim. 2:7-15 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

These all have a grain of truth, and are often taken as absolute, but they are all flawed in their logic’. Let’s take the scripture above and demonstrate the flaws in the argument of each of the following seven reasons.

1. They are more emotional than men. Therefore they cannot be leaders of the Church:
Supposing we make this assumption . Let’s follow the logic; If we find an emotional male preacher. Should we force his retirement?

2. Their place is in the home:
This, I believe, is generally true. In a practical sense. Is it absolutely true? What if a women is a widow with no children or family? If this were an absolute ‘law’ then we would have absolute reasons; but we don’t.

3. They should not exercise any leadership:
This is counter-intuitive. Women exercises leadership in every day life, constantly. Family, business (Prov31) At least among other women.

4. God cannot use a women the way He uses men:
The scripture says the contrary. Take Deborah for instance in Judges 4:9. " And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. "

5. Women are fundamentally vulnerable to satan’s deception:
Now were getting to the point! Is this what the scripture says? No, it just says that she was the one deceived, not that she was ‘more’ vulnerable than Adam. Again, shall we pull the ordination papers of any man who has been deceived; for fear he is too effeminate?

6.Women should not teach:
Even the strictest fundamentalist will not prohibit women from teaching children in Sunday School. Therefore, this cannot be an absolute.

7. A women should not occupy a pulpit:
The Bible implies that a women may prophecy as long as her head is covered: 1 Cor 11:4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. Jud 4:4 "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." *see bottom note.

OK, Then what am I saying here?; Should women be Pastors in the Church?..... At the risk of sounding chauvinist, absolutely not!

To support our views, we must be careful not to make too many assumptions and get ourselves into a big contradictory mess. And woe to those that contradict the scripture in order to support their doctrine: Mr 7:13 "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."

If we are to properly apply our gifts in the Church, we first must understand God’s reasons for His commands. I do believe He has restrictions on women in the congregation, but not because of these common conclusions.

Though I do not believe the seven reasons listed are good logic for women to be in subjection to men, I do believe it is commanded for the reasons listed in 1Tim2. The real reasons given by Paul are simply for the sake of ‘Order and Pattern’. We have a God of order, and He is a God who has established a pattern plainly demonstrated throughout both Testaments.

Some see Paul's opposition for women in the pulpit as cultural bias; but Paul specifically takes us back to creation to make his point, essentially bypassing culture for his reasons. 1 Timothy 2:13 'For Adam was first formed, then Eve'.;1 Timothy 2:14 'And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression'. Some fume and say things like, 'how then can a women prophecy, if she is to remain silent'! People who ask such things are either mad at Paul, unbelieving of the scripture, or failing to balance what Paul said. It was Paul who made both points, therefore he must have a balance in mind. I believe when he talks of silence, he is speaking about leadership and control. This seems to me the only logical conclusion. Either that, or Paul was contradicting himself. What are the ramifications if we accept that?

Finally, Paul anticipates opposition to his stand on women in ministry as he says the following:

The common dispensational teaching says: "Now that we have the Bible, there is no longer the gift of Prophecy"; Also, "Now when the scripture talks of ‘Prophecy’ it is speaking of ‘Forth Telling’ IE, ‘Preaching in the pulpit’. The scripture above says that "daughters shall prophecy". As I see it, either we will have to allow the ‘Gift of Prophecy’ to return (in it’s classical sense), or we will have to allow women to preach in the pulpit! My vote is for the former.

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