26 min
Complementarianism | 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7 Cornerstone Congregational Church Sermon Podcast
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- Christianity
Today in our Women in the Kingdom series we’re diving into the text so many go to when deciding the role of women in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12 says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man…” We look at that verse, we equate teaching with preaching and holding authority with being an elder. That is one way to interpret the text, and it’s called complementarianism.
For the next three weeks, including today, we’re going to examine this position and two other perspectives, egalitarianism and a hybrid view. Andy gave us a great chart defining the differences that I want to review and expand on today.
So today, we’re looking at 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7. Next week we’re coming back to this text but also looking at Galatians 3:28 and Egalitarianism. And the third week, we’re doing the same thing, but also going to 1 Peter 3:1-7 and looking at a hybrid view of women in the church and home. But first, I want to say this:
How we believe matters.
As typical evangelical Christians, we like to jump right to our statement of faith, directly to our doctrine and beliefs. What we believe matters! But it also matters how we believe. God cares about our doctrine, but also our posture. This is especially important with this issue because…
A. This is a second-tier issue.
This is not a primary doctrine of the church. In other words, it’s not the protein of our faith. It’s not equal to what we believe about the Trinity, or Jesus, or salvation from sin. Those doctrines, which you can find in our Articles of Faith, are so essential; if you don’t believe them, your salvation is at stake. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t an important topic. It’s not as frivolous as your favorite ice cream flavor. It matters, yet good Christians and pastors may disagree. So, as we talk through these three views today, let’s hold our positions with a loose grip. This is a second-tier issue.
B. Let’s open up space for grace and humility.
One way I could address this topic is to just tell you one position, the one I hold and tell you why it’s correct. But instead of doing that, I want to show you how all three interpretations are biblical, have strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately encourage us to hold our positions with grace and humility. It’s my prayer that the complementarians would follow their convictions but also open up room for others to follow their biblical convictions. So honestly, I am probably going to critique complementarianism a bit harder than the other positions, but that’s because it’s the one most of us are probably the most comfortable with and have held the longest. But I still want to do so out of love and respect. I need grace and humility. Let’s go:
Complementarian – Male-Only Teaching & Leadership
Complementarians believe God made men and women equal in value and dignity and worth, but different in their gender roles, different in what God has called each to do. They complement one another with their different roles. Our text, 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7, is the foundational passage complementarians go to when explaining why women cannot be allowed to preach, teach, or be elders in the local church. Complementarians generally argue that it is not that hard to interpret 1 Timothy 2:8-14 (notice I didn’t say verse 15 because pretty much everyone struggles with that verse). Here’s their basic understanding:
A) Paul is explaining how men and women should behave in the church. (v8-10)
Men need to lift up their hands in worship and stop fighting because apparently, there was fighting in this church. I think it might also be a call for guys to bring their hearts to worship. And women are supposed to dress modestly, be quiet and do good deeds.
B) Paul exerts his apostolic authority to permanently prohibit women from teaching, preaching, or holding the office of elder/pastor in the local church. (v11-12)
When Paul says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a
Today in our Women in the Kingdom series we’re diving into the text so many go to when deciding the role of women in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12 says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man…” We look at that verse, we equate teaching with preaching and holding authority with being an elder. That is one way to interpret the text, and it’s called complementarianism.
For the next three weeks, including today, we’re going to examine this position and two other perspectives, egalitarianism and a hybrid view. Andy gave us a great chart defining the differences that I want to review and expand on today.
So today, we’re looking at 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7. Next week we’re coming back to this text but also looking at Galatians 3:28 and Egalitarianism. And the third week, we’re doing the same thing, but also going to 1 Peter 3:1-7 and looking at a hybrid view of women in the church and home. But first, I want to say this:
How we believe matters.
As typical evangelical Christians, we like to jump right to our statement of faith, directly to our doctrine and beliefs. What we believe matters! But it also matters how we believe. God cares about our doctrine, but also our posture. This is especially important with this issue because…
A. This is a second-tier issue.
This is not a primary doctrine of the church. In other words, it’s not the protein of our faith. It’s not equal to what we believe about the Trinity, or Jesus, or salvation from sin. Those doctrines, which you can find in our Articles of Faith, are so essential; if you don’t believe them, your salvation is at stake. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t an important topic. It’s not as frivolous as your favorite ice cream flavor. It matters, yet good Christians and pastors may disagree. So, as we talk through these three views today, let’s hold our positions with a loose grip. This is a second-tier issue.
B. Let’s open up space for grace and humility.
One way I could address this topic is to just tell you one position, the one I hold and tell you why it’s correct. But instead of doing that, I want to show you how all three interpretations are biblical, have strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately encourage us to hold our positions with grace and humility. It’s my prayer that the complementarians would follow their convictions but also open up room for others to follow their biblical convictions. So honestly, I am probably going to critique complementarianism a bit harder than the other positions, but that’s because it’s the one most of us are probably the most comfortable with and have held the longest. But I still want to do so out of love and respect. I need grace and humility. Let’s go:
Complementarian – Male-Only Teaching & Leadership
Complementarians believe God made men and women equal in value and dignity and worth, but different in their gender roles, different in what God has called each to do. They complement one another with their different roles. Our text, 1 Timothy 2:8-3:7, is the foundational passage complementarians go to when explaining why women cannot be allowed to preach, teach, or be elders in the local church. Complementarians generally argue that it is not that hard to interpret 1 Timothy 2:8-14 (notice I didn’t say verse 15 because pretty much everyone struggles with that verse). Here’s their basic understanding:
A) Paul is explaining how men and women should behave in the church. (v8-10)
Men need to lift up their hands in worship and stop fighting because apparently, there was fighting in this church. I think it might also be a call for guys to bring their hearts to worship. And women are supposed to dress modestly, be quiet and do good deeds.
B) Paul exerts his apostolic authority to permanently prohibit women from teaching, preaching, or holding the office of elder/pastor in the local church. (v11-12)
When Paul says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a
26 min