December 20, 2017

Does Paul Forbid Women from Teaching?

by John A. “Jack” Crabtree

One of the more difficult interpretive challenges in the New Testament is how one should understand Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:12 which reads (in the NAS translation),  “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man… .” In this two-talk series (delivered to Reformation Fellowship on December 3 and December 10, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon), Jack Crabtree takes a fresh look at 1 Timothy 2:1–15 in the light of his recent studies in the opening chapters of Genesis. He argues that, contrary to the apparent meaning of Paul’s statement as rendered by our English translations, Paul is not saying (in 1 Timothy 2:12) that he does not allow a woman to teach. To download the audio files of these two talks, click the title for each talk below:

Click on the button below for a handout that accompanies Part Two above. The handout is the Greek text and a translation of 1 Timothy 2:11–3:1a with some accompanying notes.