Should women remain silent in the modern church?
(1 Timothy 2:11-12)
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.
In the modern church, we can see women actively engage themselves in the ministry. Also, we can see even the Lord is moving through women equally as He does through men in the ministry. However, can a woman take the leadership in the church based on the above scripture?
There was a very clear reason for Apostle Paul to make the above statement (1Timothy 2:11-12), for the women in the first century church. This reason is well stated by Apostle Paul right in the next two verses.
(1 Timothy 2:13-14)
For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Yes, the reason is DECEPTION. The women in the first century church were more vulnerable to demonic deception as they had less opportunities (compared to men) to gain the knowledge of the Word of God. However, with the expansion of the first century church, this situation was gradually changed. How did this happen?
Truly, the movement of the Holy Spirit has changed as the church reaches maturity. Look at the below scripture.
(Joel 2:28-29)
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
The first century church could not experience the movement of the Holy Spirit stated in the above passage because it was ordained to take place during the latter days of the church. The knowledge of God is ordained to increase in both men and women during the latter days. This revival is also known as the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. Under this revival, God is using whoever is willing to serve Him irrespective of their gender.
If God is working through a woman to bring salvation to the unsaved, who can stand against it?
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.
In the modern church, we can see women actively engage themselves in the ministry. Also, we can see even the Lord is moving through women equally as He does through men in the ministry. However, can a woman take the leadership in the church based on the above scripture?
There was a very clear reason for Apostle Paul to make the above statement (1Timothy 2:11-12), for the women in the first century church. This reason is well stated by Apostle Paul right in the next two verses.
(1 Timothy 2:13-14)
For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Yes, the reason is DECEPTION. The women in the first century church were more vulnerable to demonic deception as they had less opportunities (compared to men) to gain the knowledge of the Word of God. However, with the expansion of the first century church, this situation was gradually changed. How did this happen?
Truly, the movement of the Holy Spirit has changed as the church reaches maturity. Look at the below scripture.
(Joel 2:28-29)
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
The first century church could not experience the movement of the Holy Spirit stated in the above passage because it was ordained to take place during the latter days of the church. The knowledge of God is ordained to increase in both men and women during the latter days. This revival is also known as the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. Under this revival, God is using whoever is willing to serve Him irrespective of their gender.
If God is working through a woman to bring salvation to the unsaved, who can stand against it?
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