Separate Women’s Bible Study?

[Rye]

The Baptist church I visited recently had two separate Bible study groups before the main service. One room was for the men only and another room was for the women only. I have no idea if this is a common practice but it got me thinking…

1 Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Can a woman lead a Bible Study in a teaching role as long as the men aren’t present?

 

[Reynolds]

Y

The Baptist church I visited recently had two separate Bible study groups before the main service. One room was for the men only and another room was for the women only. I have no idea if this is a common practice but it got me thinking…

1 Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Can a woman lead a Bible Study in a teaching role as long as the men aren’t present?

Yes. Titus 2 tells women to teach women and Children.

 

[Rye]

Yes. Titus 2 tells women to teach women and Children.

To clarify, my understanding is that any teaching provided by a woman should be one on one, not to an assembled group of believers.

 

[Reynolds]

To clarify, my understanding is that any teaching provided by a woman should be one on one, not to an assembled group of believers.

I don't see it as a prohibition of teaching a group.

 

[canadyjd]

To clarify, my understanding is that any teaching provided by a woman should be one on one, not to an assembled group of believers.

Do you have any scripture to support that belief?

It is my belief that God’s word has done more to declare the equality of women to men than any other system of beliefs throughout history.

When it was written, women had few rights. A pious Jew would daily pray, thanking God for not causing him to be born a gentile or a woman.

The 1 Timothy passage says nothing about ability, but describes God’s decree from the beginning of male leadership in the home, and now in the church.

As noted early, women were commanded to teach other women.

Additionally, not to derail the thread, but the role of the deacon was to be a servant (literally what the word deacon means), and was clearly open to women serving in that role since they deacons had no authority over men (or women)

It is true that the male Elders were likely chosen from men that had served diligently as deacons, and pastor elders needed to be able to teach.

peace to you

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The Baptist church I visited recently had two separate Bible study groups before the main service. One room was for the men only and another room was for the women only. I have no idea if this is a common practice but it got me thinking…

1 Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Can a woman lead a Bible Study in a teaching role as long as the men aren’t present?

I can only tell you what we Old School Baptist’s do:

Primitive Baptists reject the idea of Sunday School, viewing it as unscriptural and interfering with the right of parents to give religious instruction to their children. Instead, children sit with their parents and participate in the church service just like the rest of the congregation.

 

[Rye]

Do you have any scripture to support that belief?

I have not found any examples in scripture of women teaching to a group of believers as a whole. However, I have found examples of women teaching believers individually.

Acts 18:24-26 (NKJV) - Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Notice they took him aside first and began to teach him.

It is my belief that God’s word has done more to declare the equality of women to men than any other system of beliefs throughout history.

I agree wholeheartedly. The purpose of this thread is not to suggest men are better than women and I am not trying to diminish the work that women do for the Lord. The role of a man is different from a woman and there are certain gifts and abilities women have that men do not.

 

[canadyjd]

I have not found any examples in scripture of women teaching to a group of believers as a whole. However, I have found examples of women teaching believers individually.

Acts 18:24-26 (NKJV) - Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Notice they took him aside first and began to teach him.



I agree wholeheartedly. The purpose of this thread is not to suggest men are better than women and I am not trying to diminish the work that women do for the Lord. The role of a man is different from a woman and there are certain gifts and abilities women have that men do not.

That is an argument from silence.

Scripture tells us the older women are to teach the younger. Scripture also tells us to do everything in an orderly manner.

Which would comply with the command to do everything in an orderly manner?

Only one on one teaching…. Or …. Teaching a group all at once.

Since Paul’s custom was to teach in groups, it seems reasonable that women would teach in groups as well

However, not sure why this is an issue. Do whatever your conscience demands.

peace to you

 

[Scarlett O.]

The role of a man is different from a woman and there are certain gifts and abilities women have that men do not.

I hear this a LOT. Would you mind sharing with me what exactly women are gifted to do for the LORD that men cannot other than have a baby?

I've taught so many groups of women that I can hardly count.

 

[Rye]

That is an argument from silence.

Our Presbyterian brothers and sisters would tell us that the way we baptize is an argument from silence. When we don’t have verses with clear step by step instructions then we have to piece it together by looking at the apostolic examples provided within the entirety of the NT. Just like there are no examples of baptized infants, there are no examples of churches dividing up into gendered study groups.

would comply with the command to do everything in an orderly manner

Absolutely, as long as it lines up with God's Word.

Since Paul’s custom was to teach in groups, it seems reasonable that women would teach in groups as well

Based on what the NT indicates, when a male elder is present, he is the only person in the church qualified to provide the teaching to everybody at once. Now, let's say on a Sunday morning all the male congregants and elders are absent for whatever reason. Because we are commanded first and foremost to assemble, pray, sing, teach, at that point can a woman take the lead? Should she tell everybody to go home because she is not qualified to fill the role of an elder? Scripture does not provide a specific scenario like that but perhaps it is worth discussing further.

not sure why this is an issue.

It's actually not a big issue for me and I would be happy to regularly attend a church that makes a practice of it . The purpose of the OP is to discern between scripture and tradition.

 

[Rye]

Would you mind sharing with me what exactly women are gifted to do for the LORD that men cannot other than have a baby?

Having a baby isn't exactly what I had in mind. However, there are mothers in my church that do consider it a spiritual gift. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Having a baby isn't exactly what I had in mind. However, there are mothers in my church that do consider it a spiritual gift. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

I'll be honest with you. Having babies wasn't what I was thinking either. I was just searching for an answer.

As I said, I hear what you have said about women a lot. I am just wondering what you think are the gifts women have that men do not have. I can't think of any.

 

[Rye]

I am just wondering what you think are the gifts women have that men do not have.

Women are commanded to teach younger women and children so I do believe in that situation the Holy Spirit provides guidance differently than with men, whatever those gifts may be. Each individual is different.

I know there are gifts not exclusive to a particular gender. I read somewhere that you’re a retired teacher. That probably means God specifically created you to be a patient person (especially if your students were anything like I was when I was a kid).

 

[Scarlett O.]

I know there are gifts not exclusive to a particular gender. I read somewhere that you’re a retired teacher. That probably means God specifically created you to be a patient person (especially if your students were anything like I was when I was a kid).

Of my over 40 years in education, I taught four years in a Christian school.

I was conducting chapel one day for the sixth grade and was teaching the fruit of the spirit. When we got to patience....

...one very clever young man who is now a husband and father raised his hand and said, "You know, Ms. Kim, when it comes to patience, God isn't just going to give it to you. But he will give you opportunities for things to happen so you can develop it."

He was right!

 

[Dr. Bob]

Scripture tells us the older women are to teach the younger. Scripture also tells us to do everything in an orderly manner.
Only one on one teaching…. Or …. Teaching a group all at once.

Agree. Right principle and guidelines. Man may teach men and women and children. Woman may teach women and children only, not to usurp authority/man's role.

Can almost see Miriam on the far bank of the Red Sea leading her tambourine exercise class,

 

[JonC]

I have not found any examples in scripture of women teaching to a group of believers as a whole. However, I have found examples of women teaching believers individually.

Acts 18:24-26 (NKJV) - Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Notice they took him aside first and began to teach him.



I agree wholeheartedly. The purpose of this thread is not to suggest men are better than women and I am not trying to diminish the work that women do for the Lord. The role of a man is different from a woman and there are certain gifts and abilities women have that men do not.

We can look to the role of women in the 1st century (teaching women and children individually and in a group). As far as Scripture goes, Paul doesn't use "teach a woman or child" but implies by context a more general "women and children".

In early church history Pliny the younger mentions two women who were ministers.

In Acts 18 we read of Priscilla and Aquil (a couple....Priscilla being a woman) teaching Apollos.

Priscilla is also mentioned as active in the ministry.

I personally believe that "teaching" here refers to a context of authority (like a rabi..which means "teacher"...or a pastor).

Part of the issue is that women are also commanded to proclaim the gospel, to defend their faith, and to "be Christ" to others. Those commands do not exclude women.

 

[Deacon]

Hummm, is there a way to indent a paragraph after the recent re-formating of the forum software?

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It is interesting that in the Hebrew Scriptures, wisdom is personified as a woman.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
Proverbs 1:20–26 (ESV)

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
Proverbs 31:1 (ESV 2016) ... also Prov 9:1-4...

Deborah was a leader: a prophetess and recognized as a judge over Israel (Judges 4:4), she was inspired by God to proclaim his word to God's people, (Judges 5).

In Ephesians 5, right before the verse where the wife is instructed to be submissive to her own husband, all believers are instructed to be submissive to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
Then the husbands are instructed to agape [to cherish, to love, to have a special devotion, to prove one's love to] their wives as Christ did the church. ...sounds to me a bit like submissive leadership (Gen. 2:18).
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I think a separate women's study is important for a number of reasons.
1) Women have different needs than men do.
2) Women's desires and drives differ from men's drives and desires.
3) In churches where women are instructed to be silent in church, a separate time for women allows them to more freely express themselves.
4) .......

Rob

 

[JD731]

Hummm, is there a way to indent a paragraph after the recent re-formating of the forum software?

~~~~~~~~

It is interesting that in the Hebrew Scriptures, wisdom is personified as a woman.

~~~~~~~

I think a separate women's study is important for a number of reasons.
1) Women have different needs than men do.
2) Women's desires and drives differ from men's drives and desires.
3) In churches where women are instructed to be silent in church, a separate time for women allows them to more freely express themselves.
4) .......

Rob

Even the state once understood the distinction in the roles of men and women and their necessity for a strong family and society. When I was in high school there was a class called Home Economics, Home Ec for short. This class was designed to teach them girl things in the home and family.

Somewhere along the line this was abandoned and the girls left the home and now about a third of our population is in prison, or aught to be.

We have come a long way, baby!

 

[Deacon]

Home ec would be a good thing for all students...call it "Introduction to Life Practices."
How many boy's don't know how to wash (and fold) their own clothes? ...how to organize their finances? ...how to fix a leaky faucet?

I've got three son-in-laws and only one knows such basics.

(I'm still learning how to fold clothes properly myself!)

Rob

 

[Dr. Bob]

(I'm still learning how to fold clothes properly myself!)

Please explain in detail how to fold a fitted bedsheet.

Then we can get back to the much easier Bible discussion.