Why women aren’t allowed to teach men in Church

If you’ve been following the comments on Elspeth’s on why the Bible was penned by men, and Donal’s selected Sunday Scriptures on the verses that prohibit women from speaking and teaching in Church then you would know there is some interesting debate going down over the course of what it means to “teach” men.

I was going to comment. However, since my comment was getting long I felt that it deserved its own post, and I haven’t discussed the full nature of this topic yet before on this blog. So let’s get down to it.

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First, the verses:

1 Corinthians 14:34 the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. 35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?

1 Timothy 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. 12 I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

At first glance, the problem to me extends beyond these two passages. This is because we need to know what definitions we are using with Greek words. If we don’t understand exactly what we are talking about it is easy to make mistakes.

1. First, what is the definition of “church” setting (or rather ekklesia) in which women aren’t allowed to teach? Is it only in say mass or other Sunday services? Does that include any other type of events that the Church has including classes on catechism or the like?

G1577 — ἐκκλησία — ekklēsia — ek-klay-see’-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): – assembly, church.

It’s very difficult to discern what exactly ekklesia means because it is used in multiple different forms in the NT. The early Church which was a compilation of people meeting in houses was called the ekklesia. Likewise, the establishment of different churches within different buildings as the population has expanded is also referred to as the Church.

If we take the straigtht definition it would seem to be that in general it’s any gathering of believers. This would be my take on it. After all, Jesus Himself states that whether two or more are gathered in His name there he is with them (Matt 18:20).

2. Second, what is the definition of “teach” (didasko) compared to say “preach” (kerusso, euaggelizo) or compared to giving a testimony (matureo) and the lessons learned from it? This is much more of a gray zone because women are not allowed to “teach” but they are allowed to “preach” and spread the gospel, and they are allowed to give “testimonies.”

G1321 — διδάσκω — didaskō — did-as’-ko
A prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb δάω daō (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): – teach.

G2784 — κηρύσσω — kērussō — kay-roos’-so
Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): – preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

G2097 — εὐαγγελίζω — euaggelizō — yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo
From G2095 and G32; to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel: – declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

G3140 — μαρτυρέω — martureō — mar-too-reh’-o
From G3144; to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): – charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.

What distinguishes teaching from preaching and giving a testimony? Pure explication of the Scriptures? But where exactly is the line between teaching and sharing the gospel because the gospel will also be told using the Scriptures?

Let’s get straight to the point then. I’ve learned a lot about God from women on what some would consider teaching. For example, they’re relating their experiences me in terms of how God is working in their life supported with Scriptures to back it up. However, in my view that would mainly be considered giving a testimony — ‘here is what God is doing in my life and showing me in these Scriptures.’ Is that fact that I learned from that make it a teaching? Or is it still only a testmony?

Let’s look at all of the variations of what it means to “teach” in given in the Greek NT:

G1317 — διδακτικός — didaktikos — did-ak-tik-os’
From G1318; instructive (“didactic”): – apt to teach.

G1318 — διδακτός — didaktos — did-ak-tos’
From G1321; (subjectively) instructed or (objectively) communicated by teaching: – taught, which . . . teacheth.

G1319 — διδασκαλία — didaskalia — did-as-kal-ee’-ah
From G1320; instruction (the function or the information): – doctrine, learning, teaching.

G1320 — διδάσκαλος — didaskalos — did-as’-kal-os
From G1321; an instructor (generally or specifically): – doctor, master, teacher.

G1321 — διδάσκω — didaskō — did-as’-ko
A prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb δάω daō (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): – teach.

G1322 — διδαχή — didachē — did-akh-ay’
From G1321; instruction (the act or the matter): – doctrine, hath been taught.

Based on how the words are used, in my estimation the ban on women “teaching” men refers to women instructing men how to live. Women should not be telling men how to live because they don’t understand what it is to be a man. Not only have we seen this time and time again in the manosphere that instruction , but we see the same thing in marriage where women nag their husbands because they want him to basically tell/instruct him on how to live.

This seems to be the correct context in which the word is used. When the sinners, tax collectors, Pharisees, and even the rich young rule come to Jesus they are coming to Him for more than just teaching. They want to know how His teaching affects the way they live. For example, in a large portion of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus leads off all of His teaching with the phrasing “You have heard it said ____, but I tell you ____.” This seems to be the context of what it means to teach versus all other forms of learning — in practical application.

There is a stark difference from a woman sharing her experience about what God has been teaching her (testimony), from the experience of preaching the gospel (kerusso, euaggelion), and instructing/teaching a man about how to live their life. The difference I see in where women are giving their testimony it is first and foremost an encouragement. Secondarily, men can glean principles from that woman’s life in order to incorporate that into their own lives. However, it is not teaching where a woman is instructing men how to live.

When it crosses the line from the woman relating her own experiences (about her) to being about the men she is talking to (to instruct them) then it ceases to be a testmony and it becomes teaching.

Conclusion

edit: thanks also to jonadabtherechabite for some commentary on theology that changed the conclusion here.

Given the context of some exegesis and more research into what other theologians taught on the topic including Chrysostom, the prevailing thought is that the passage in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 hinge multiple specific matters:

• The fact that women tend to be more easily deceived means that it would be questionable to let them teach.
• Women are to keep silence in the church which is predicated on eliminating gossip thus encouraging modesty of the mouth just as earlier in Corinthians Paul other outward appearance of modesty such as veils for the hair.
• The subjection of women to men in the church (ekklesia setting) brings about order much like in the marriage relationship in Genesis.
• Chrysostom has an interesting interpretation parallel of Romans where since Adam fell into sin the mankind fell, and to where Eve fell into deception so also women. This manifests in that Adam was deceived by another human whereas Eve was deceived by a lesser, and women are banned from teaching because her salvation is not of herself yet rather of childbearing.

Overall, it seems as if the Scriptures do not ban women from sharing testimonies or spreading the gospel outside of the Church setting (e.g. Samaritan woman at the well, Mary after the resurrection, etc.), and it doesn’t seem to give a prescription on women teaching outside of the church setting. However, it would be wise to follow the Scriptures in the Church setting due to all of these reasons.

In general, I think the majority of men can tell that when they are being “lectured” or “taught” by women on how to live that uncomfortable feeling you get that signifies that something is wrong probably means it is wrong even if their message is right. It’s also possible that nudging is your conscience and/or the Holy Spirit, but I haven’t thought about it too extensively yet to make a declaration.

When women start instructing men how to live, run far far away. Unfortunately, this is what feminism tells men, and men unknowingly or knowingly accept it to their own detriment. There is a reason why single mothers cannot effectively raise men, and why it is the father’s role to discipline and instruct the children of the house.

Effectively, I would say that it is “at your own risk” for men to accept teaching on how to live from women. Feedback is always good, but implementing practical advice is haphazard at best.