Teaching

1. Who is Paul writing to? Two main groups: The Pauline Letters to Churches Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians The Pastoral Letters 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus

2. Big ‘T’ and little ‘t’ The church letters…. ‘16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.’ Col 3: 16 ‘If your gift is teaching, then teach, and if your gift is exhortation, then exhort’ Rom 12:7-8.

‘26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.’ 1 Corinthians 14

Andrew Wilson writes: ‘The idea that the teaching ministry might be the preserve of a handful of leaders with proven character does not, in the main, come through in Paul's letters to churches. To the churches Paul is encouraging the use of the small “t”’

The Pastoral Letters… ‘3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.’ 1 Timothy 1

‘5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you — …. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.’ Titus 1

‘12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.’ 1 Tim 2: 12

Position A: Paul is speaking specifically to marriages here: wives are not to teach or to be in authority over their husbands. Answer: The argument that Paul's comments only apply to husbands and wives, when the whole of chapter 2 seems to address men and women in general and not just married people, is very improbable.

Position B: Paul’s argument is grounded in the culture of the day – In other words, that Paul is saying that he does not want women to teach or exercise authority over men in this church only. But does not see this as a restriction for the whole church, for or all time. Answer: Paul's argument is not grounded in the culture of the day in Ephesus or the lack of educated women, but in creation (2:13-14), and therefore it seems that whatever Paul is restricting, he is restricting on the basis of the way men and women were created.

Andrew Wilson: ‘Historically, it is simply not the case that all women were uneducated in the Greco- Roman world, nor that Paul was unwilling to challenge the patriarchal culture of the day to give women far more status and responsibility than they would otherwise have been granted; both of these things are apparent from the number of times women appear in key roles in Paul's letters.’

Position C: Is that Paul’s instructions continue today: Answer C-1 'To teach or have authority' refers to preaching from the Bible when the church is gathered on Sundays. Women may teach in all other areas of church life (seminars, books, conferences, downloads, articles, kids,youth, small groups, etc), but not when the whole church comes together on Sundays.

Answer C-2 'Teaching' means defining doctrine for the church: 'this is what must be believed, and this is what must be done'. Women may speak publicly (incl. Sundays), instruct, exhort, explain Scripture, preach the gospel and so on, but defining doctrine for the church, and exercising spiritual authority over the church, are for male elders.

Further Comments 1. Think Family 2. This is not a change of doctrine 3.Understanding the relationship between Teaching and teaching

‘When Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is performed, the members of the orchestra - the violinists, trombone players and so on - are interpreting the music. The music is their authority, and they are interpreting it, so that the audience can experience it. But they are interpreting it in submission to and in close dialogue with, the conductor, who knows the music even better than the orchestra and carries the can for the whole performance. You could say that the trombone player is interpreting the music, but the conductor is Interpreting it. And there is no conflict between them - far from it! - as long as the former operates in conscious submission to the latter, and as long as both seek to faithfully represent the music, and of course the composer.’

Teaching with a big T = Defining doctrine: this is what should be believed, and this is what should be done. teaching with a small t = this is quoting, explaining and applying scripture under the guidance and oversight of the elders

Further Comments 1. Think Family 2. This is not a change of doctrine 3.Understanding the relationship between Teaching and teaching 4.Going Forward