The next four lessons will deal with the role of women, both married and unmarried, in the life of the church, beginning with the Book of Genesis. The study will include the meaning and use of various Greek words and their translations into English with both dictionary and contextual meanings being explored. It isn’t enough to say that a word means such and so without considering the context in which it appears. As so often is the case, the context changes the meaning and the failure to understand the obvious contextual meaning leads to the propagation of false teaching and doctrine. Also, before declaring that verse conveys a certain message, make sure that it doesn’t conflict with the same writer in other books and verses and with other writers who wrote on the respective subject.

Culture and tradition can cloud the understanding of many things and Bible subjects aren’t excluded. One among many subject to misunderstanding is the role of women in the church. Rather than looking at the Bible with an eye to understanding, age old interpretations continue to cause error. A minister of a Baptist church dismissed a lady who had taught Bible classes for 54 years. He said, 'I believe that a woman can perform any job and fulfill any responsibility that she desires to'' outside of the church, ... It is argued that first of all he doesn’t understand the meaning and definition of the word church in reference to the Lord’s body of people. One is either “in the church” (a member) or out of the church (not saved). One doesn’t jump in and out, but the preacher’s view appears to be that the church is the building and the assembly and thus when the lady isn’t in the building she is out of the church which is false. The assembly of the Lord’s people may be a group gathered in one place or they may be scattered, but no matter, they are still the people belonging to God both physically and spiritually. (See reference http: //www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-men22.html)

To support his thesis of the lady not being allowed to teach, he used the following scripture: [1 Timothy 2:12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. That verse seems to settle in the minds of many that women can’t teach men or speak up if men are present. But the interpretation is false doctrine and comes about by not knowing the contextual meaning of words and by lifting the verse out of context, as well as not understanding the role of women in the Lord’s body.

First, it is necessary to look to chapter one of Genesis. God said, [Gen 2:24] Gen 2:24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Here began the husband and wife relationship with the man given the leadership role. Why is that true?  Many think that Eve is the one who sinned and made man fall but it wasn’t her. It was Adam because God gave him the responsibility for leadership which is seen in Genesis: [Gen 2:15] And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. [Gen 2:16] And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [Gen 2:17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Adam was told not to eat of that tree, not Eve. A reading of Genesis Chapter 3 shows that she knew about the forbidden tree and it is reasonable to say that Adam told her, thus exercising the leadership God intends for the husband.  

  Many women of the Old Testament played important roles in the life of the people. There was Esther, who became the Queen of Persia, having been chosen by King Xerxes from the eligible maidens of the day to be his queen.  She exerted great influence over the king and saved her people. Ruth proposed to Boaz by lying at his feet and Boaz responded with many honor and married her. These brief glimpses show that women had a role in shaping the history of that time.

In the Book of Acts is found the story of Lydia, a seller of purple. She was a proselyte, heard the gospel from Paul, and along with her household, was baptized. Her home became the church in Philippi. Then in Philippians 4:2 we find two interesting verses: Phil 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Phil 4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life. Paul wrote of women who labored with him in the gospel which would indicate an equality in their relationship in the Lord as found in Galatians: [Gal 3:27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [Gal 3:28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

One more reference to conclude this part for the role of women of the church is found in Romans: [Rom 16:1] I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: [Rom 16:2] That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Thus it is plain that women played a vital role in the life of the church spreading the gospel. Some were married and some weren’t, and that forms the basis for the understanding I Timothy 2: 12 and the false teaching about its meaning.

© 09-22-2006 DEC

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