Outline of the Book of I Timothy - The Floral Heights Church of Christ

accepting false teaching, fables, and endless genealogies. Such a mindset and approach to
spirituality will rather promote a reverence for sound doctrine (I Tim. 1:10).
2. Paul continues, with the context of a correct mindset and approach to spirituality in the
foreground, to discuss the woman in the church. The woman is to "learn in quietness and
subjection." The idea of "subjection" is “To place or arrange under, to post under, to subject, to
be obedient” (LS 848)... “To place or arrange under; to subordinate” (Moulton 419). The woman
is identified as a student or pupil to the man. God has ordained that she take a subordinate role of
obedience to the man in the assembly.
3. furthermore she is commanded "not to teach or have dominion over a man." The KJV uses the
term, "usurp authority over the man" and the NKJ and NASV use the phrase, "exercise authority
over a man." Teaching a man the sound doctrine of Christ in a public setting would be to "have
dominion over" that man. The word "dominion" (authentein) = "One acting by his own authority
or power, one who executes with his own hand; to have authority over, domineer” (Moulton 59)...
“To have full power over” (LS 132). “Autodikeo was the literary word for playing the master
while authenteo was the vernacular term. It comes from aut-hentes, a self-doer, a master,
autocrat. It occurs in the papyri (to domineer, authoritative) (Robertson; Vol. 4 pg. 570). “Have
authority, domineer over someone; master” (AG 121). “The public teacher of God’s people does
not only tell others what they need to know, but in the capacity of such a teacher he stands before
his audience to rule and govern it with the Word. That position and that authentein the Word
itself accords to the man and withholds from the woman, and no woman may step into the place
of the man without violating the very Word she would try to teach to both women and men. Her
effort to do so would be self-contradictory in God’s eyes despite what the world may say.” 3 “The
Greek word authentein signifies both to have and to exercise authority over another. In this
passage it is properly translated, usurp authority: Because when a woman pretends to exercise
authority over a man, she arrogates a power which does not belong to her” (MacKnight Vol. III –
IV; pg. 203). “Let a woman not enter a sphere of activity for which by dint of her very creation
she is not suited. Let not a bird try to dwell under water. Let not a fish try to live on land. Let
not a woman yearn to exercise authority over a man by lecturing him in public worship. For the
sake both of herself and of the spiritual welfare of the church such unholy tampering with divine
authority is forbidden.” 4 “The woman’s station in life demands modesty, humility, and they
should be free from the ostentation of appearing so much in public as to take part in the public
services of teaching and praying. It does not become their rank in life; it is not fulfilling the
object, which God evidently intended them to fill. He has appointed men to rule; to hold offices;
to instruct and govern the church; and it is improper that women should assume that office upon
themselves.” 5 Certainly the apostle Paul encouraged women to teach and preach, but not in the
assembly (Titus 2:3-5) (see study # 16; The Role of Women in the Church).
4. Paul then gives two reasons for said instructions:
a. Adam was formed first then Eve (the woman) (see I Cor. 11:9-10). First formed equates to
some semblance of superiority over another. Jesus was the first fruits of all resurrected to
never die again and thereby stands as one in authority (see I Cor. 15:20)
b. Secondly, "Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into
transgression." The word "transgression" (parabasei) = "to step by the side of; to deviate...
violation of the law" (Moulton 300). The woman was originally deceived by Satan not man
(see Gen. 3:1ff).
5. The subjected woman is "not to teach a man but to learn in quietness." Paul addressed this issue
at I Corinthians 14. The ultraliberal church in Corinth had many problems and apparently one
was women usurping authority over men in the assembly by publicly teaching them. Said actions
caused confusion and disorder in the assembly of the saints upon the first day of the week. Paul
consequentially charges, "Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto
3 Ibid; (Lenski on the word authentein pg. 564).
4 Hendriksen, W. New Testament Commentary over Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus pg. 109.
5 Barnes, A. Barnes Notes on I Cor. 14:34 pg. 275
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