I’m doing this study because there is a false teaching going on in some of our churches today. I have heard that women should stay silent and not teach. This is not only a good way to start an argument with a spouse, but hurts both women and little girls. Think for a moment, being a little girl and hearing “you can’t teach what you have learned, especially to boys”. This lie will chase God’s child from him and the church. Then their sin is greater than their ignorance. Now let’s nip this in the bud. They come to this misunderstanding in 1Tim.2:11-12, and we will begin there.
1Tim.2:11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
This word silence in this verse should have been translated “Chatter”. I won’t let anyone chatter while God’s word is being taught in the church. But catch that she is still learning, and if a man be unlearned then let him keep silent also. Now this next verse gives a different subject.
1Tim.2:12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Did this say teach in church, no it said over the man. Meaning they are married, and “If” the man is a man of God, then he is Bishop of his house. Remember, the two are one flesh in marriage. If the man doesn’t know the word of God, then it is the woman’s job to teach the children. With that in mind, there was a man named Philip, he was chosen with Steven as one of the seven sent, made apostles. After he was sent by God and led to a certain man in a chariot, taught him and baptized him on the way, he went through Gaza of today and stopped in Caesarea teaching along the way. That was in Acts 8, now let’s pick it up in Acts 21:8 and it reads.
Acts 21:8] And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
[9] And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Philip had four virgin daughters that prophesied, meaning they were teachers. Philip and his daughters were all teachers in the area. And had done many good works for the Lord. Now let’s learn a little of the Old Testament. King Josiah was a righteous king of Judah, son of king Amon. King Amon went not after God, but idols. King Josiah asked for the temple to be cleansed, since it had not been used for the LORD in many years. Let’s pick it up in 2King 22:8 and it reads.
2Kings 22:8] And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
The high priest found the book of the law of Moses, which hasn’t been seen even by him for many years.
2Kings 22:9] And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
King Josiah instructed that any money found would go to rebuild the house of the LORD.
2Kings 22:10] And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
[11] And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
I have done a study titled “Blessings and Cursing’s” that you can find in topical teachings. After hearing of God’s cursing’s for idolatry, king Josiah rent his clothes, being told of the wrath of God to come.
2Kings 22:12] And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
[13] Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
They use to go to the temple and required of the LORD from the high priest. Where will they go now?
2Kings 22:14] So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
They had to go to a woman named Huldah, a prophetess or a teacher. She worked and kept the college, that was where all the priests and scribes went to learn and be educated.
2Kings 22:15] And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
[16] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
[17] Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
Now Huldah the prophetess just prophesied to them of what will happen to Judah in the future.
2Kings 22:18] But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
[19] Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
[20] Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
Josiah heard that he would be blessed because he was righteous in the sight of the LORD. Josiah was indeed a righteous king of Judah, one of only a few. But let’s not overlook where the men went when they needed help with scriptures, they went to a woman. Huldah, a very wise woman from the bible that should help us today with this study. After hearing how Josiah rent his clothes, and this study being on whether a woman should be silenced, let’s go to Ecc.3:7 and it reads.
Ecc.3:7] A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Let’s focus on keeping silent or to speak. When in church and someone is speaking from the pulpit, keep quiet. Both men, women and children should always be disciplined and respectful while in church. So then when is it time to speak, I’m talking about spiritually. Let’s go to Isaiah and read 62:6-7.
Isa.62:6] I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
When speaking of the LORD to others, talking of his Word (Logos) Jesus Christ, he says keep not silence, but speak.
Isa.62:7] And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
We do this today, all men and women, we are watchmen (no gender) and as watchmen we watch, and give warning to those when we see his signs. Now to show that both men and women should keep their silence in church let’s go to Acts 15:12 and it reads.
Acts 15:12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
All as in all the people. And another example we find in Acts 21:40 and it reads.
Acts 21:40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
And again, it is spoken just a few verses later in Acts 22:2 it reads.
Acts 22:2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
Now I am not taking anything out of context, but just showing when a man or woman speaks in the church, everyone should be silent. Only the one speaking should be heard, no chatter among women and children or even men. But only the one at the pulpit, and nowhere will you find “not for women” in God’s word. But, on the contrary I will show you both will prophesy in these end times. Let’s finish this lesson with Joel 2:27-29 and it reads.
Joel 2:27] And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
[28] 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:
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
So, you see in these end times God will pour out his Spirit on both men and women and both shall prophesy, that is teach. Don’t ever think God is not fair, or won’t use his children, all of his children, in these end times. And to those who teach falsely, beware, it said in 1Pet.2:15.
1Pet.2:15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Women aren’t the only ones told to keep silent, but we must “study to show ourselves approved”, making sure we teach the Word of God with all humbleness and prayer. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible