As a convinctional complementarian, how should it make me feel that a woman, albeit a scholar and professor at SWBTS, made a point that taught me, challenged me, and convicted me. Katie McCoy (er…Dr. McCoy) made a simple point that I found insightful. The angry Twitter bros make a LOT of 1 Timothy 2 and its injunction against women teaching men. I know there are competing interpretations and applications of that verse, and I am not here to argue those. I happen to agree that authoritative proclamation in pulpits should be a male role in churches, though I recognize that people who love Jesus disagree with my views and I do not anathematize them for that.
Volumes have been written on 1 Timothy 2:11-15, and more volumes will be written after this post. I have studied the passage and come to a view that satisfies me and my church operates in line with that view. I also recognize that churches are autonomous and that other pastors with other views lead other churches in slightly different directions.
A woman is to learn quietly with full submission. 12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.
Here’s my simple take. This is a universal (based on created order, not cultural issues) command that women should not be the authoritative preachers in churches. Not asking you to agree at this point, and I am NOT going to debate my views in comments. My only point is to say that my views are pretty much “conservative” on this issue. I am in no way an egalitarian.
However, I think Dr. McCoy made a brilliant point.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we applied 1 Tim 3 with the same rigor and precision as we do 1 Tim 2. https://t.co/nRfOwr9pg8
— Katie McCoy (@blondeorthodoxy) April 1, 2021
Here are a few Scriptures about qualifications for ministry. From 1 Timothy 3, here are some of the qualifications of an overseer (elder/pastor/etc).
An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach (2)
How many of us have deleted tweets or Facebook messages because of the fear of “reproach?”
self-controlled, sensible, respectable, (2)
Ever lose control in a social media discussion? Said something that was a little less than respectable?
not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, (3)
Now, Paul is just meddling, isn’t he?
What about Paul’s instructions to Timothy in what is believed by many to be his last book? 2 Timothy 2 contains an injunction to flee youthful lusts and then verses 23-25 say this:
But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
The SAME Bible that contains about a half dozen statements about men and women contains several dozen such commands – to love one another, to be gentle, to avoid pointless quarrels. Yet, we are brutal in our treatment of women who do not toe the line and men whose views do not conform to ours and ignore these verses entirely. One of the chief purveyors of darkness wrote an article about the “idolatry of peace.” He blasphemed the God of peace, ignored the work of the Spirit in maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and blatantly denied the Bible to call peace an evil thing – and was called a hero because he would “call out” sinners. We are SO twisted today.
We ignore the fruit of the Spirit and call it boldness. We pick and choose which Scriptures we want to obey, then trumpet our belief in the “sufficiency of Scripture.”
Dr. McCoy reminded me that if we love Jesus, we must obey him – EVERY WORD he wrote. We must have the courage to be as bold in confronting those who violate 1 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 2, just as we might 1 Timothy 2.
Hypocrisy, anger, and quarreling are not fruit of the Spirit.
