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[Bob Pickle]

59—Woman and the Church

Should women teach in the church in view of 1 Tim. 2:11, 12. "I suffer not a woman to teach or usurp authority over the man." Also 1 Cor. 14:34? L. M. D.

The latter passage is thus rendered in Weymouth's Translation: "Let married women be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place . . . and if they wish to ask questions they should ask their own husbands at home."

The Creator gave woman a subordinate place, but that subordination does not in any way interfere with worship or the service due to God. Individual responsibility is equal so far as personal responsibility is concerned before God. In matters of conference decisions and church government, that subordination is to be recognised, but in no way does Paul ever prohibit women speaking to the praise or glory of God, whether in the church or out of the church. That he does not refer to preaching or praying is evident from the directions given on that point in 1 Cor. 11:5. Here a woman is permitted both to pray and preach, when suitably dressed.

The "teaching" and "usurping authority" referred to in Timothy evidently refers to insubordinate and dictatorial methods that might be employed to secure personal advantage—suffragette plans in church government. But there is no prohibition here to teach the love of God or the Book of God. Would that all the Lord's handmaidens were teachers in this respect. Acts 2:18.

Women have taken a very prominent part in all God's work. Last at the cross and first at the tomb has been illustrative of her part all through the years. God has never closed her lips from publishing the message of salvation. "The Lord giveth the word, the women that publish the tidings are a great host." Ps. 68:11, R. V.

[Artiste]

I would say that pretty well explains the issue