by John Roy
The only thing harder than understanding the scripture is living out the words of scripture. Living this faith is a challenge. Yet, at times, making sense of scripture is even more so.
I customarily try to hit the high points that my simple mind can comprehend. Like “God so loved the world he gave his only son,” or “those who are first will be last, and the last will be first,” or “remove the log from your eye before you worry about the sawdust in your brothers.” These are ideas I can wrap my small mind around. The old timey preachers would call me a “wader” - I don’t go into the deep water.
It's not that I’m scared, it’s that when you are swimming in living water, the depth no longer matters, the shallow water is just as refreshing.
Yet, for a moment I am going to venture into the deep end of the pool. I do so because I think someone referred to me as a “false teacher.” I’ve been called worse. When I differ with another, I usually chalk it up to us not sharing the same brain. When others disagree with me they usually call me a “false teacher.”
In First Timothy the author writes, “Women are . . . (to dress) without braided hair or gold jewelry or expensive clothes” (2:9). Later it is also written, “Women ought to be quiet . . . a woman cannot teach or have authority over a man” (2:12). If logic was used in biblical interpretation, you would interpret these passages in similar fashion. After all they are three verses apart. Either you take both of them literally or you see them both bound by the culture of the 1st century. Which would mean they would need a bit of updating for application in the 21st century.
My problem is not with people who take these passages literally. Neither do I have a problem with others who see these passages bound by a first century paternal reading, in need of a more nuanced application. My issue revolves around interpreting one literally, “women ought not teach men” and interpreting the other as “cultural” and explaining it away, “women are not to braid their hair.”
I’m a simple person, but I know we can’t use the scripture like this. The Bible is not playdough we can mold into saying what we want. The same folks who oppress women with “women ought not teach” say nothing to women who wear gold rings and necklaces to church. The message sent to women is “you are here to be SEEN not HEARD. Look good but be quiet.” Such biblical gymnastics is the real false teaching.
For my part I think women should talk as much as men and I encourage them to wear whatever they can afford and are comfortable with. I don’t do this lightly. I take the Bible seriously.
The letters written to Timothy, were written while Timothy was in Ephesus. Paul knew Ephesus. Paul spent two years in Ephesus. I suspect Paul knew the names of the women he is writing about, knew their wardrobe and what they said. Paul is warning Timothy about PARTICULAR women. Paul does not call their names for the same reason we don’t call out people by name, it’s not polite and it rarely helps. Thus, Paul is concerned about particular women in Ephesus. The first rule of interpreting the scripture is “what did it mean to the original audience.”
So, I apply these verses to any people, male or female, whose words hurt the congregation or whose dress disrupts worship. Men can be as guilty as women. Anyone who is spreading rumors or sowing discontent in a church should, “be quiet.” Further anyone who is drawing attention to themselves with expensive jewelry or thousand-dollar suits, should wear those to dinner parties not worship.
I’ll go back to the shallow end of the theological pool now. Just remember to treat the scripture with respect by not using it as a weapon on others but as a light for our path.
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