Page 33 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

Study Section 5: I Timothy 2 – A Call or Order

5.1 Connect

There is a lot of controversy today over the role of women in the church. Roman
Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons, and the Orthodox Church in America do not allow
women to be ordained to be preachers nor allow them to lead congregations. On the
other hand, the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, and Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, United Methodist Church, and Presbyterian Church USA do ordain
women into leadership roles to become pastors of their churches. The same denominations that
espouse women pastors most always endorse same sex marriage. So obviously, their theology is not
based on a strict interpretation of God’s Word in either situation.

It is OK for a woman to teach a Sunday School class of couples which includes both men and women?
Can a woman teach only other women, or can they teach both men and women? And if they can,
what is the difference between preaching a sermon and teaching a lesson or Bible study?

Let’s see what the apostle Paul has to say about this controversy! Let’s dig in….

5.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain how a woman is to relate to a teaching ministry
within the church.

2. The student should be able to define the various ministries of the church where women are
encouraged to be involved.

5.3 A Call to Order

1 Timothy 2:8-15.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger
or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety,
adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive
clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship
God.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a
woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam
was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the
woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved
through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

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