i want to quickly comment on the verse about women not being permitted to teach or have "authority" over a man but to be in silence.I have researched very deeply this subject , since one of the problems that I had with watchtower org is that I always felt that sisters were spiritually abused there.
This particular verse in Timothy about women not being permitted to teach or have authority over men is misstranslated in NWT and many other bibles. The word "have authority" should be translated as "to dominate" or even as "to abusively deal with". The Greek word for this is "authentein" which does not have a conotation of just simply having "authority". The word is used in the bible only ONCE and never again. So why did Paul gave such commend?
The letter was written to Timothy as a personal letter and as an answer to the Timothy's letter to Paul. Timothy was at that time in Ephesus. Congregation in Ephesus was a troubled one. If you read the whole letter, you will understand that there were many false teachers teaching fables and false doctrines. In time of Paul women were very active leaders and teachers in Churches. Early christians really lived the Word - read galatians 3:28. Christ does not make any differrence between man or a woman, or poor person or rich, or black or white etc...
Ephesus was a place of the worship of Artemis - Diana, female god. Females were considered higher than men in that cult. The story of creation was twisted too- they taught that Eve was created before Adam, she was enlightened with a special knowledge ( gnosticism) and she was Adam's savior etc...
Now, apparently some female teachers entered the christian congregation and Timothy was complaining to Paul about this particulart "woman" teaching false stories and she was teaching in a domineering way. She was also teaching the creation story backwards...
Paul had to deal with that particular situation in Ephesus and he specifically instructed Timothy about this situation. He wanted this "woman" ( notice singular - woman, not "women") to stop teaching in a domineering way and teaching men falshood. If you keep reading on the verses in Timothy- you shall see that Paul even set the creation story right- He continued that " it was Adam who was created first and Eve the one who was in transgretion ( not enlightened as the false story taught) etc...
This verse is not a universal commend for all women at all times not to teach the doctrine to men. That is not intended by Paul , because then he wopuld have to contradict himself in case of Priscila and Phoebe. ( Priscila was an active teacher of doctrine and Phoebe was a deaconnes in Cenchrea)
This verse is just dealing with a specific situation, unique to Ephesus congregation. Many churches and of course witnesses are taking this verse and making a "doctrine" out of this against sisters. This is a man- made thing- man trying to keep women under control, certainly not a bible teaching.
It is up to us- women to study, research and defend our God given right to be using our spiritual gifts to the full in every area that God has calling us.
If you are a woman and have passion for Christ and have talent of a teacher - THAN TEACH! Spiritual gifts are not distributed based on gender. Please get some scholarly books on this. I read these following books that were very helpful and opened my eyes and freed me from the bondage:
1. What Paul really said about women by John Bristow
2. What's with Paul and women by John Zens
3. 10 lies that church tells women by Lee Grady
4. Discovering biblical equality by Groothuis
Once you read these books you will cry. You will finally understand the freedom you have in Christ. We are to be an equal partners to our husbands, this is what the bible really teaches.
