An open Bible on an empty pulpit in a traditional Baptist sanctuary, looking out toward the pews and the open doors at the rear.

Some churches get around their Statement of Faith and the plain teaching of Scripture by putting women in leadership and refusing to call them pastors. The woman stands up in front of the congregation and teaches them out of the Bible. She just will not call it a sermon. She calls it a Bible study. When you press her on it, she says she is not a pastor and she is not preaching. That is deception. Paul does not leave any room for it.

Paul grounded the command in the first man and the first woman. The grounds do not move.

Paul Speaks Directly to the Woman

A woman must learn in quietness, in all submission. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into trespass. 1 Timothy 2:11–14 (LSB)

The woman is the subject of these verses. Paul tells her to learn in quietness, and he does not permit her to teach or exercise authority over a man. He gives his reason, and the reason is not Ephesian culture but the order of creation. Adam was formed first, then Eve, and it was Eve who was deceived. Paul builds the whole command on those two truths.

She cannot wave Paul aside as a man writing to one church in one century. Paul grounded the command in the first man and the first woman, and the grounds do not move.

Paul Speaks to the Church About Her

The same apostle wrote a similar command to the Corinthian church.

The women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 (LSB)

The setting is the gathered church, and the instruction is plain. She is to keep silent there, and she is not permitted to speak. If she desires to learn anything, she is to ask her husband at home. Paul calls it disgraceful for her to speak in church.

Renaming the meeting does not move her out of that setting. If the church is gathered and she is in any position to teach a mixed assembly, the verse is about her.

The Office Was Never Hers

Even before the question of teaching comes up, the office itself is closed to her at the very front door of the qualifications.

It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 1 Timothy 3:1–2 (LSB)

Paul writes the qualifications in two letters, and both lists begin in the same place.

namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of dissipation, or rebellious. Titus 1:6 (LSB)

Two phrases govern both lists. If any man aspires. The husband of one wife. The qualifications were never written for a woman to meet. She does not become qualified by adopting the title pastor, and she does not become disqualified by refusing it. The office is what it always was, and it is not hers to hold.

Her Gifts Do Not Override His Word

A woman may be a gifted speaker. She may be well studied in her theology. None of that matters. The Holy Spirit will never lead anyone contrary to the Scripture He Himself inspired. A gift exercised outside its God-given place is not a gift being used. It is a gift being misused.

If a woman is teaching a mixed congregation under the authority of the church (or the assumed authority of a church), she is preaching, and the church that puts her up there is in rebellion against Jesus Christ and the Word of God. God has spoken. He has spoken clearly on this.

All Scripture, Not Just the Red Letters

When I first came to Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, I remember hearing that Brother Reggie Moore, our church's first pastor (now with the Lord), preferred Bibles that were not red-letter editions. I understand why. The red ink separates the words of Jesus from everything else, and a reader can start to feel, almost without realizing it, that what Jesus said carries more weight than what Paul wrote. It does not. Whether it is Paul writing or Jesus speaking, it is still God's Word. Too many have forgotten that, but the Bible is clear.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (LSB)

When Paul wrote what he wrote about women in the church, God breathed it out. To brush Paul aside is to brush God aside.

If you do not have a church home, we would love to have you visit us at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Brunswick, Georgia. You can find our service times and location at sgbcbrunswick.com/services, or contact us with any questions.