Daily Reading: 1 Timothy 1-2
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
Devotional Thought: What did Paul believe about women in ministry? Is this passage in 1 Timothy, an exception to the general rule, or is Paul laying out a hard and fast principle? Was Paul a "Know It All"? Opinions vary on this matter, but I would caution against two extremes: 1) using this passage alone to build a theology of women in ministry; and 2) ignoring this passage as antiquated and patriarchal.
To use this passage alone to build an understanding of the role of women would mean that we would have to ignore a lot of the Bible. The Bible provides ample evidence that God intended men and women to be equal, but different, partners. In the Garden of Eden, both Adam and Eve were given responsibility to rule over the earth. There are indisputable cases of women leading men throughout the Old and New Testaments – and doing so with the blessing of God. The New Testament indicates that husbands and wives should submit to one another as unto Christ. Paul himself worked with women in positions of leadership in ministry. So, when we look at this passage in 1 Timothy, we must see it in light of the entire body of biblical evidence.
To ignore this passage as antiquated, however, would be to miss the deeper truth it contains. What is the universal truth contained in this passage? Simply this: that society and families require structure and order. The Church must exist within society while at the same time remain apart from society’s values.
We can’t be counter-cultural – sharing the Kingdom – if we are not living within the culture. Missionaries have known that for generations. The gospel is always relevant to today’s culture. We must simply "Know It All".
Prayer: Lord, it is so easy to "cherry-pick" portions of scripture to form my theology and to act like a "Know It All." Help me, rather, to truly "Know It All" when it comes to the Bible... to base my opinions on the whole counsel of God. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 118:25-29
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
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