The Meaning Of I Do Not Permit A Woman To Exercise Authority Over A Man

An Overview Of A Woman Exercising Authority Over A Man

Should a woman exercise authority over a man, considering 1Timothy 2:11-14 and 1Corinthians 14:34-35? This question may be difficult to some people but its answer is decipherable. As a Bible student, you are not supposed to shy away from difficult Bible portions.

Rather, your are expected to go extra mile to find out what they mean. This statement is from the book of first Timothy and I am going to explain it to you in this post. Read 1Timothy 2:11-14 and 1Corinthians 14:34-35, also, to expedite your understanding of this article. The above Bible portions say that it does not permit a woman to exercise authority over a man.

What Does It Mean For A Woman To Exercise Authority Over A Man?

To understand this topic we need to know what it means for a woman to exercise authority over a man, first. Now, a woman exercising authority over a man simply means a woman functioning as a leader of a man or group of men.

Where Is A Woman Not Permitted To Exercise Authority Over A Man?

Both 1Timothy 2:11-14 and 1Corinthians 14:34-35 are interrelated and should never be seen in isolation. Now, both of them say that women should be submissive while the latter hinted at churches. This hint from the latter of the interrelated Bible portions reveals that the context is “in the churches.“

When Is A Woman Not Permitted To Exercise Authority Over A Man?

You may be wondering if this restriction applies to all groups of people in the church. This restriction applies if only a man or group of men are involved.

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Now, if we take both “where and when” into consideration simultaneously, it becomes evident that those surprising statements applies to women only in the churches. Also, it becomes obvious that even though it applies to women in the churches, it does not mean that a woman should not be a church leader provided the church is made up of both men and women.

Evidently, it means that a woman should not be in charge of a man or a group of men in the church. For example, a committee made up of only men, in the church, should not be headed by a woman.

Conclusion About A Woman Not Being Permitted To Exercise Authority Over A Man

However, if a church or a group of people within a church is composed of both men and women but not only men, a woman can exercise authority over them as the presence of both men and women cancel each other out.

Conclusion

Outside a church, a woman can exercise authority over a man or men. Remember that to exercise authority, in this context, does not mean to dominate. It simply means to function as a leader. A woman called and empowered by God can possess superb leadership-related qualities.