A. Which gender takes a leadership role over the church, what roles do women have in the life of the church, and which activities may women not pursue? (See 1 Tim 2:8-15; 3:1-13; 4:13-16; 5:17; Titus 2:3-5.)

Originally there was no intention of there being a real “leader” or face of the church as Paul expected Christ to come back soon. As that soon never came, the churches themselves developed a hierarchy of a bishop (overseer), presbyter (elder) and finally the deacons (ministers). Furthermore, people from Paul’s churches were charismatic groups, which were believed to have been endowed with God’s spirits in the form of teachers, prophets, evangelists, healers, and tongues speakers/interpreters etc. Men are to lead and to be humble, women to dress modestly and be fully submissive to their husband (man) and not teach or have authority over man. 1 Timothy 2:13 references how Adam, man was formed first at the beginning of time and Eve, woman was formed second. Eve was deceived and fell into temptation by eating the forbidden fruit first, which makes her the weaker link. Both implying the superiority of man over woman. Again, men must be honorable and well respected with ability to manage his household first and to do so very well so that he can manage a church at all. Man must continue teachings and read scripture publicly and to have persistence in doing so. This idea may be hard however since Paul’s churches existed within homes, not large synagogues or buildings which were a custom of Christian Jews. Men who become true leaders, who become models and lead well, are to be considered worthy of double honor for their works in God. Women should be mature and encourage younger women to love their husbands, to be self controlled, managers of the household and to be submissive to their husbands so that the word of God may not be discredited. Women must not seek roles outside of their homes as public duty is made for man, not seeking the position to teach or to have authority over man.

B. What advice does 1 Timothy give for handling widows (5:3-16)? How do these teachings compare with the views of the historical Paul? Specifically, what can we deduce from Paul’s letters about his views on women leadership (see Phil 4:2-3; Philemon 2; Rom 16:1, 3, 7, 12, 15) and women assuming prominent spiritual roles (1 Cor 11:5a; Gal 3:28)?

It becomes easier to recognize how even though Paul is accredited to writing 1, 2 Timothy and Titus, he most likely did not write them at all because of the recognizable differences to the letters known to be written by Paul. Rather, they came along later to serve context dependent issues at the time but to be well heard and known by being accredited to Paul. In Philippians, Paul says to help Euodia and Syntyche as they are of the same mind in the Lord. In Romans he commends Phoebe, a deacon of the church to the people. To greet Priscilla and Aquila who are co-workers in Jesus Christ. To greet Andronicus and Junia who were also imprisoned with Paul, even saved according to faith before Paul himself. To greet Tryphena and Tryphosa whom work hard in the Lord. Galatians 3:27-28 is based on equality, how there’s no difference between man or woman, Jew or gentile. All this concludes how woman used the view of equality to be empowered and lead. The author of the letters to Timothy and Titus had a different agenda in regards to the view of woman. In my mind, Paul doesn’t believe that man is proffered over woman in the eyes of God, nor is man more important than woman. Rather that they must fulfil their natural roles, that a woman must pray and prophesize with her head veiled. Its not that she can’t pray or prophesize at all, but rather under the natural conditions of a woman. A woman must be submissive to her husband (man), but not serve as a doormat. The role of man is to lead the woman. Woman could lead, but not in the image as a man, she must fulfil her natural roles and fulfil her natural duties. I see Paul’s view of man and woman as a magnet with a positive and negative side. Its not that one is more valuable than the other, rather that they simply serve different purposes.