| 1 Corinthians 14: | 34: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35: And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36: What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37: If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38: But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” |
Many believers will challenge this stand. It was challenged in Paul's day. The Apostle anticipated a rejection of this teaching.
| Verse 36: | “What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?” |
| Verse 37: | “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” |
| Verse 38: | “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” |
When writing to Timothy we find the Apostle saying virtually the same thing.
| 1 Timothy 2: | 11: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 13: For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
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| 2 Timothy 2: | 2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful MEN, who shall be able to teach others also.” |
Old & New Testament Examples
No one will doubt but that only men officiated as priests in the Temple services ordained of Almighty God. Had Yeshua the Messiah intended the New
Testament church to function differently he would have made that fact known by appointing at least a few women apostles. But he didn't. He chose
twelve men who, later, when selecting seven deacons also chose men instead of women for those duties. These facts have a message for the
church today. Heed it.
Bear in mind that Corinth was a city in Greece where democracy was born. But even there the Greeks had to be taught Yahweh's levels of authority, of which our misguided generation is so ignorant. The fact is: by divine command and innumerabe examples in the Scriptures, men are given more authority than women inside the Temple services and church assemblies. Men will also be held more responsible for the errors they make inside the churches. The ‘church’ incidentally is not a man-made building. The ‘church’ is the congregation that meets in a building, be it of bricks and mortar or wood.
This does not mean that men are more intelligent or able than women. They are not. We all know some folks in authority, men or women, are not always more able than those under them. Nor does it mean that women are more able than men. That also is not the case. What it does mean is that Yahweh has given the men in His church the authority and task of preaching and teaching His Word.
He has not given this authority to women, however qualified they may consider themselves to be. We repeat: it is a matter of divine authority; not personal preference, sincerity, enthusiasm, democratic expediency, intelligence or ability. It is a matter of divine authority!
Consequently the Holy Spirit will work more effectively through His authorized channels (the men) than through even the most dedicated or educated of women. Also bear in mind that we are here dealing with Yahweh’s commandments, not with the fickle fashions of a wayward and deceived generation.
What then may dedicated and able women do in church matters? There are many things dedicated women may do in the Almighty's work. We will now list areas how the women in the AVITW team are active in Yahweh's work.
