The Scriptural prohibition of women preaching or teaching the church – 1 Timothy 2:9-12 & 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Introduction

If you’re looking to purchase touch-up paint for your vehicle. You can use your make, model, the general color (i.e., blue), and VIN number to identify your perfect match by a color code. Even if your make offers 20 shades of blue. And the same with finding the right color at a paint store for your home improvement. You can bring a paint chip to them, or they’ll send you home with a paint swatch (color chart).

Similarly, but sinfully, this many shades, levels, or variations of feminism (egalitarianism) has crept into most churches. And one of the biggest deceptions today is those who deny they’re egalitarian but are. They are either deceived or the deceivers. Nonetheless, similar to leaven, a little egalitarianism egalitarians the whole loaf. Hence, every shade needs to be purged out.

Since I’ll be using the eight-letter ‘F’ word, feminist, a lot, let me first define what a feminist is. A feminist is a woman who claims to be equal to men. Egalitarianism and feminism are synonymous. A female egalitarian is a feminist, and a feminist is an egalitarian. They are two of the same.

In this post, I’m not addressing full-on obvious intentional feminists. I’m addressing those who claim to have a Biblical anthropology, but do not, while muddying the waters with their many shades of grey. They have what I call a bisexual or transgender anthropology.

Though they rightfully believe females should not be pastors/elders, they wrongfully claim they can preach and teach the Bible, doctrine, and/or Theology to anyone elsewhere. They twist the Scriptures that prohibit females from preaching, teaching, or demonstrating authority in, or among the church.

There are many verses that prohibit women from the above, but for the purposes of this article, we’re going to look at two passages: 1 Timothy 2:9-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.

1 Timothy 2:9-12 says,

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

I’m not going to do a thorough exposition of the entire passage, but let’s break some of this this down, concentrating on the words I have in bold.

Verse 9-10 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

The Scriptures command Christian women to be modest. Immodesty is a sin. But for more on that, I recommend the sermon ‘Ladies, Does How You Dress Cause Men to Lust,’ by the late Al Martin (passed away 04/07/2026). It is an excellent plea for Biblical modesty.

This “shamefacedness” is the Greek word aidōs (Strong’s #127), which means a Godly woman who displays downcast eyes, bashfulness, especially towards men. It displays modesty and respect, and reverence, or awe towards God. It is also a woman who demonstrates a sense of shame or honour. She might even blush.

But instead, today, so many are celebrating women who demonstrate an opposite character. Since I’m a Republican, I will use a couple of well-known Republican women as an example. Women like Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who consistently demonstrate the opposite of what this verse demands of a woman. Their feminism, arrogance, pride, and foul mouths are repulsive. The most notable incident (in my opinion) was how they arrogantly stood and loudly touted President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address. And their beta boy fans sure congratulated them.

While I’m adamantly opposed to Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (also Feminists), sitting behind him. I am also opposed to Greene and Boebert, who are subject to a greater judgment by the church, because they allege to be Christian. They are sinister feminists.

And then of course there’s professing Christian women today who might appear to be more modest outwardly, but inwardly they are egalitarians to the core. Women like Allie Beth Stuckey, Beth Moore, Erika Kirk, Joyce Meyer, Julie Roys, Megan Basham, Paula White, Rosaria Butterfield, and the list goes on and on.

These verses are not grey, shady areas as prefaced in my introduction. The Lord has set clear boundaries and limitations for women.

Verses 11-12 say, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

As with many passages, we have another positive followed by a negative command. Or, a passage with ‘to-dos,’ and then the don’ts.  A side note. Over the decades I’ve heard many pastors unbiblically say, “The Bible’s not full of dos and don’ts!” That’s a lie from the pit of darkness.

Verse 11 says, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.”

Here’s a positive, or a ‘to do.’

This verse does not tell a woman to teach; it tells her to learn, to learn in silence, and with all subjection. We will further examine the word ‘silence” in the next verse.  

This subjection is the Greek word hupotagē (Strong’s #5292). It is a noun feminine which means to be a subordinate, in subordination, or in subjection. It is to be in the act of subjecting or obedience.

Next is a negative, a don’t, or a what not to do.

Verse 12 says, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

It’s atrocious to watch how these feminists argue with men on the internet. They are everything but what God demands in this verse. They are contra Scriptura. Some of the Christian men who espouse patriarchy theology (as I do) are viciously attacked (in comments) by feminists who allege to be Christians. They ad hominem attack them, they taunt them, they slander them, they argue with them; and they’ll do anything in an attempt to discredit them.

I appreciate these commentaries.

“Neither is a woman to have authority over a man. That means that she must not have dominion over a man, but is to be in silence or quietness. Perhaps we should add that the latter part of this verse is by no means limited to the local assembly. It is a fundamental principle in God’s dealings with mankind that man has been given the headship and that woman is in the place of subjection. This does not mean that she is inferior; that is certainly not true. But it does mean that it is contrary to God’s will that the woman should have authority or dominion over the man.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2084.

“They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Tit. 2:3. They are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nor is the law or doctrine of a mother to be forsaken, any more than the instruction of a father; see Prov. 1:8 and 31:1, 2, 3, 4. Timothy, no doubt, received much advantage, from the private teachings and instructions of his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois; but then women are not to teach in the church; for that is an act of power and authority, and supposes the persons that teach to be of a superior degree, and in a superior office, and to have superior abilities to those who are taught by them: nor to usurp authority over the man; as not in civil and political things, or in things relating to civil government; and in things domestic, or the affairs of the family; so not in things ecclesiastical, or what relate to the church and government of it; for one part of rule is to feed the church with knowledge and understanding; and for a woman to take upon her to do this, is to usurp an authority over the man: this therefore she ought not to do, but to be in silence; to sit and hear quietly and silently, and learn, and not teach, as in ver. 11.”

John Gill, An Exposition of the New Testament, vol. 3, The Baptist Commentary Series (London: Mathews and Leigh, 1809), 286.

Again, this verse has no grey, shady areas. God makes it clear that Christian women are not to teach the church, nor usurp authority over men, but are to be silent. God means what He says and says what He means.

This prohibiting a woman to teach is self-explanatory, but we’ll examine it closer.

This teach is the Greek word didaskō (Strong’s #1321). It means to teach, to hold discourse with others, to instruct them, to deliver didactic discourses, to impart instruction, and/or to instill doctrine into another.

This usurp authority over men is the Greek word authenteō (Strong’s #831). It is a verb and a hapax legomenon, which means to act of oneself, to dominate (figuratively), to usurp authority over, to govern.

This silence is the Greek word hēsuchia (Strong’s #2271). It is a noun feminine which means to demonstrate a stillness, or a desistance from bustle or language, to display a quietness or silence. A woman who does not meddle with the affairs of others.

Young men, these Biblical feminine attributes are what you should look for in a lady before marrying her.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Feminists and their emasculated pastors wrongfully claim the Scriptures are speaking solely of the building where the church meets on the Lord’s Day. But that is not true. The authority of Scripture does not cease to exist when leaving the doors of the building we wrongfully call “church.” For example, look at this one of many passages.

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

This keep silence is the Greek word sigaō (Strong’s #4601). It is a verb which means to keep silent (transitively or intransitively), to keep close (secret or silence), to hold peace. To be kept in silence, to be concealed.

Churches. Again, this “churches” (or “church”) is not specifically speaking of the building or meeting place Christians attend on Sundays. And certainly not just the sanctuary. It has a broader meaning and application.

I don’t know one professing Christian who does not know the Greek word for church. But I know many who could care less about doctrine, obedience, hermeneutics, orthodoxy, and orthopraxy. But when we demonstrate proper hermeneutics of what the “church” is, we can clearly see the prohibition on women.

This churches (or church) in 1 Corinthians 14 is the Greek word ekklēsia (Strong’s #1577). This church in the Greek means a calling out, a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation, an assembly, or church.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this word means (in part):

“A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. An assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating. Any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously. An assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting. Those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body. The whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth.”

My BDAG Lexicon defines this “church” as (a paraphrase):

“A regularly summoned legislative body, an assembly. A casual gathering of people, an assemblage, gathering. People with shared belief, community, congregation. The congregation or church as the totality of Christians living and meeting in a particular locality or larger geographical area, but not necessarily limited to one meeting place. The global community of Christians, (universal) church.”

I also reviewed Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary on this church and the Greek word ekklēsia. As expected, it complements the aforementioned.

So you see, when we understand what this “church” means in the Greek, and broader application and obedience, we’re on our way to a Biblical anthropology.

In summary, the church means a gathering, a calling out, a meeting, a congregation, or an assembly of saints wherever they gather. Any gathering anywhere, “but not necessarily limited to one meeting place.”

Therefore, according to the Scriptures, women are prohibited from preaching, teaching the Scriptures, teaching doctrine, or demonstrating authority in the local church or a church abroad. Not from the pulpit, not in a local church classroom, not in these unbiblical gender-segregated women’s ministries, nor in Sunday school. Nor in public gatherings, a public teaching ministry, a conference, nor a legislative body. Not to a public audience via a microphone, a podcast, discernment blogs, or the internet. Nor an assembly of Christians elsewhere.

But they are wonderfully created to teach their children, and to enjoy fellowship and discipleship with other ladies in a private setting. Or, in rare, isolated incidents as seen in Acts 18:24-26, both Aquila and his wife Priscilla invited Apollos into their home, where the two of them privately mentored him. There was no public assembly, no gathering of other saints, no broadcasting for others to read or hear. It was not broadcast to an audience, assembly, or the World Wide Web. Using the internet today to rebuke, argue, or teach is no different than doing so in public.

That might sound too much like the judicial language seen in a restraining order. But it is a Theological restraint ordered by Almighty God.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Most professing Christians would agree the implementation and practice of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is destroying America. Although we can expect that in the world. But DEI has entered many churches.

Diversity. There is a diversity that is good. And there is a diversity that is bad. It is good that the Lord saves a diverse populace of people. In the context of justification, we see them diversified in Galatians 3:27-28.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Again, the context of the above passage is salvation, in whom the Lord saves. Not equal rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Nor equal roles or opportunities.

And we see the diverse populace of God’s elect in John 3:16. They are a diverse populace of people from countries and nations across the world. They are whom God so loved.

But the world’s DEI that is creeping into churches is bad. That diversity equals perversity.

Equity. This equity claiming that men and women are equal is contra Scriptura. It’s a sin against God and His divine order of creation. For an excellent sermon on ‘The Damnable Doctrine of Equality – Women in Government,’ by Elder Samuel Ashwood, listen here.

Inclusion. This inclusion is what the women’s liberation movement demands. As we see in the above Scriptures, as well as other Scriptures throughout the Bible, the church is to exclude women in certain areas, not include them.

A rebuke of emasculated males and pastors

My article isn’t anti-women rhetoric as feminists will claim. I’m more anti-men, or anti-pastors who capitulate to this sin and lawlessness. Though they might be against same-sex marriages, they are sinfully for same-sex pulpits and same-sex microphones, as they share microphones with women. Or as they share the same platforms on stage or on podcasts. As another described egalitarian or complementarian husbands, they are a “woman of both sexes.” These emasculated beta boys must be exposed for what they are.

Some will say I have majored on the minors, but where there’s smoke there’s fire. What happens when we don’t address the small fires? From this point on, I am going beyond the Scriptures. These are my personal convictions, and I believe they are wisdom that men should consider, especially when it comes to fathers teaching their boys to be men.

Over several decades, we’ve seen an increase of men going to unisex hair salons to get their “hair done,” rather than a men’s barbershop with a manly bloody barber pole. Frankly, I’d rather be caught in a saloon than a salon.

We’re seeing an increase of men getting their “nails done.” I’m aware of some who said they went on a date with their wife to get their nails done together (hands and feet). I understand that in some cases a man might have a foot disease that might require a pedicure. But do it for medicinal purposes, not because you’re allowing your wife to emasculate you. At least try to avoid the appearance of…, well, you know.

We’re seeing an increase of men sitting like women. Just watch these Q&A panels at Christian conferences. Where pastors sit on the stage with their legs crossed like a female. And yes, we’re seeing an increase of women sitting like men. If you want to take a man-sitting test, click on this chart here. The #3 style is a resounding no. Let’s make man-sitting great again.

We’re seeing an increase of pastors co-laboring with women at conferences (DEI).

America and the church are enduring a masculinity crisis, a castrated Christendom. Where many pastors and laymen have been spiritually neutered.

And the answer to DEI in the church is repent, not repeat. Repent and make a public confession of your gender dysphoria. And if you don’t, or won’t, then do step down before you bring your church into further disrepute. But then again, if your local church is egalitarian, they deserve you.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Though I was never egalitarian. By God’s grace, He has revealed to me through His Word that my former complementarianism was unbiblical. And I made my public confession of that error. Only by the grace of God so go I.

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