herrschen – to domineer, to govern, to have mastery over, to usurp authority (Greek αὐθεντέω – authenteó)[1]
1. Timotheus 2,12 Ich erlaube aber einem Weibe nicht, zu lehren, noch über den Mann zu herrschen, sondern still zu sein,
1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Let’s look now at verse 12.
In the very first post in the series, I discussed what it meant to be in silence.
This verse makes it clear what being in silence entails.
Quietness is the opposite of exercising (“usurping”) authority over men.
The authority that is mentioned here is the authority of elders.
Elders are charged with the leadership and instruction (“teaching”) in the church.
In essence, Paul is not permitting women to fill the office of elder in the church.
But it is important to take a look at what elder authority should look like. (The elders, in the Bible, are basically today’s pastors.)
There are many instances where those in power have used and abused it for their own benefit as leaders, instead of for the good of others.
The Bible makes it clear that the elders are, firstly, to exercise servant leadership:
Lukas 22,26 Ihr aber nicht also; sondern der Größte unter euch sei wie der Jüngste, und der Leiter wie der Dienende.
Luke 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
They are also not supposed to lord over others.
1. Petrus 5,3 nicht als die da herrschen über ihre Besitztümer, sondern indem ihr Vorbilder der Herde seid
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
As John Piper aptly puts it, it’s a calling that leads by persuasion, that is, teaching. And it is still subordinate to the Bible. Therefore, teaching is the primary instrument of leadership in the church.
By the way, although this passage was addressing women, it does not mean that it does not apply to men. Remember last week’s post about submission?
Brothers and sisters in Christ are supposed to submit to one another.
Those men who are not called to be pastors in the church are to submit to the church leadership as well.
This is part of series of words taken from 1 Timothy 2:11-15. I recently studied these verses in detail as they were something that I shared during Sunday School just a few weeks ago. I thought I could do something slightly different.
Many of the ideas were taken from the messages by John Piper on these verses: Manhood, Womanhood, and the Freedom to Minister and Affirming the Goodness of Manhood and Womanhood in All of Life, as well as the article How Are Women Saved Through Childbearing?.
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