Women Teaching Over Men at Franklin Church of Christ

Last Friday, July 25, Guy Langston, the preacher at the Franklin Church of Christ in Franklin, Indiana, confirmed to me that the church there was using women to teach Bible classes in which men were present. Also, he admitted that he did not believe that it was a sin to use instrumental music in worship to God. Though the church there has not to my knowledge brought the instrument into their worship, that loose attitude toward the authority of the Scripture will lead, in time, to the instrument’s being brought into the worship.

I argued with him concerning these matters. I pointed out that the use of women to teach men in a Bible classes, or in special workshops was a violation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12, which reads, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:11-12.) He, of course, did not see it that way. I told him that he needed to get out of preaching until he learned the truth on the role of women in the church. Too, I told him the church there is not following the teachings of Christ; thus, they needed to change their sign. They are guilty of false advertising.

Brother Langston assured me that the “elders and staff” at the Franklin Church of Christ are united on the role of women in the church. However, unity is worse than worthless; it is harmful, if it is unity in error. The devil and his advocates are united, but are wrong. Ananias and Sapphira were united, but wrong. There are many denominations that are ecumenical, but they are wrong. Men can be united in robbing a bank, but that does not make them right.

Unity is good, right and pleasant only if it is based upon the word of God. Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21.)

On the subject of women teaching men, I cannot improve on what W. L. Totty wrote in The Informer over thirty years ago.

ARE WOMEN PERMITTED TO TEACH?

What may women scripturally do in the worship and work of the church? This is a question over which there has been much contention. There are some who say that a woman has no place in the active role of teaching in the church while others go to the opposite extreme and say there are no limitations on the woman’s work in the church. But the question is: What does the Bible teach?

There was confusion in the church at Corinth and Paul wrote to correct it. He admonished the prophets to speak by two or three, and that by course, whereas, they apparently had been all speaking at one time and causing confusion; and the brethren were forbidden to speak in tongues which the audience did not know unless they had an interpreter, for Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14: 33.) In reference to the women in the church at Corinth, Paul said, “Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak: but they are commanded to be under obediencee, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.” (1 Cor. 14:34-35.) Apparently they were asking questions during the worship, also causing confusion. Paul told them if they would learn anything to ask their husbands at home.

In Paul’s instructions relative to women in the church at Corinth, he said, “But they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” He referred to the Old Testament law that women, as a result of Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden, would be ruled over by her husband. However, women were permitted to teach in certain capacities under the Old Testament law, but not over the man. Moses’ sister, Miriam, was a prophetess (teacher) (Ex. 15:20); but when she tried to usurp authority over Moses, she was smitten by God of leprosy; not because she was teaching, but because she usurped authority over the man (Num. 12:1-2).

In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul discussed the question of women’s teaching.

He said, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Over the man modifies both infinitives, to teach and to usurp. She cannot teach over the man; she cannot usurp authority over the man. We might illustrate it this way. An officer of the law, placed at a bridge which was needing repair, would tell a motorist; I don’t allow you to drive nor to tow a car over the bridge. Would the motorist assume that he could not drive the car anywhere? Of course not. He would readily understand that over the bridge modified his driving.

We know that the apostle did not forbid women’s teaching in every capacity, for they did teach. Philip “had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” (Acts 21:9). Those daughters of Philip were teachers of the word of God. But the Bible forbids women to usurp authority over the men. That does not mean they cannot teach a man, for Priscilla helped her husband teach Apollos, a mighty man in the scriptures.

Women have a scriptural right and a duty to help in the work of the church in teaching children and other women. But their teaching must be in subjection to the elders and they must not usurp authority over the men. Let us not try to deprive them of their scriptural rights.

The Informer

February 20, 1972

Elders do not have authority to violate 1 Timothy 2:11-12 by putting women into teaching positions which would allow them to teach over men. Elders are to see that things done by others under their watchcare are done right. Therefore, if elders allow a woman to teach over a man or allow the mechanical instrument to be brought into the worship assembly, they are in the wrong.