1 Timothy 2:11-15:
Paul was pointing to himself, not God.
Paul seemed to be expressing his personal reasoning. As an apostle, it did carry some weight at the time given its social environment then. However, I don't think it has to be applied universally to all women today. It was not an absolute command from the Lord.
Should a woman be a pastor of a church?
It is up to Christ, Ephesians 4:
If a woman (or a man) wants to be a pastor in a church, she should seek Christ's calling. It is possible for a woman to be a pastor, particularly in today's social environment.
The eternal word of God is not to be swayed by the changing traditions of men and of the times.
Paul's words regarding women in the church may very well have been regarding the needs and circumstances in that small, local, and otherwise only historic setting--but that is not what has placed them in the eternal word of God. Paul may have had no idea that he would be speaking a word from God for all time and eternity--but God did; and if it were not so...the words would not have come under the providence of God alone.
What then is the eternal point? The point is that
God made mankind male and female for a reason. Which is an "
image" of Him showing mankind being taken out of Him (the male in the ultimate biblical sense) and returning to Him as "One" again in the marriage of the Bride and the Bridegroom, and wisping her off to paradise.
These are all parables.
Meaning, that women being silent in church--is rather that the entire bride (male and female alike) should be silent allowing only the Spirit to speak...which was exactly how this all came from Paul, but began with Peter receiving the identity of Jesus from the Father.
Likewise, women should not lead or teach "
a man"--simply means the Bride should not be leading or teaching the Groom...as it was with Eve, who took and gave Adam food to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And this word from Paul was given to the Bride that we should not make the same mistake.
Nor should a woman be the Head of any group in the church of the Bride--a "
help mate" yes--but not the Head...because there is only One who is Head, and that is not the role which God gave to women. Yet, knowing that the Bride is made up of men and women alike--are they not equal, and equally qualified to teach or to lead? Yes, of course. And yet that is not the roles placed upon each by God. Even so, if we were all aware that we are actually equal and equally qualified...would that not make the roles and differences no longer necessary? It would--and will. But that time does not come until the last person walks into a church gathering who is seeking the Lord as He has arranged them to meet Him--"
Him"--not him or her--but "
Him."
Finish the job according to
Him who has assigned it.
