Let women learn in tranquility in all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach males, but to be tranquil (1 Timothy 2:11–12).
The word often rendered “silent” does not mean to abstain from speaking. It refers to a quiet or tranquil life (2 Thessalonians 3:12). Peter encourages the women not to let their outward appearance be their only adornment. Instead, they are to adorn themselves with the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of an objective and tranquil spirit, which is precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:3–4). All Christians are to supplicate, worship, intercede, and give thanks for all men, for kings and those in authority, that they may live a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:1–2).
When Paul instructs women to learn in silence, he is not restricting them from speaking; rather, he encourages them to have a tranquil spirit and not seek to usurp the male’s position in the assembly. A woman is not to teach males because she is susceptible to being thoroughly deceived. When Satan spoke with Eve through the serpent in the garden, he thoroughly deceived her. However, Adam was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14).
Satan first asked if Eve was permitted to eat from all of the trees in the garden. She affirms his statement, except for the one tree in the midst of the garden. She was not even to touch that tree, or she would die (Genesis 3:1–3). God instructed Adam about this tree. He was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. On the day he ate from it, dying he would die (Genesis 2:17). Adam passed on these instructions to Eve, adding that she was not even to touch it. Satan used this to thoroughly deceive Eve into partaking of the tree.
Satan persuades Eve to eat by contradicting her statement, saying she will not die, because God knows that in the day you eat of the tree you will be like gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4–5). This caused Eve to look at the tree and see that it was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make he wise (Genesis 3:6). Although Satan was speaking to Eve, Adam was present. However, it was Eve who ate from the fruit of the tree because of Satan’s words. She then gave the fruit to Adam, who was with her (Genesis 3:6–7).
Eve transgressed, whereas Adam both trespassed and sinned. He determined in his mind to violate God’s law, causing a spiritual separation from him and God (Romans 5:17). He then sinned by taking the fruit from Eve’s hands and partaking, in a direct, willful violation of God’s word, causing physical death to come upon all men (Romans 5:12).
Because of the woman’s propensity to be thoroughly deceived, she is to remain in a position in the Church where she does not usurp the duties of the males for her own safety and spiritual wellness. As Adam was formed first, then Eve, so women are to submit for the benefit in tranquility that comes from a pastor who rightly divides God’s word and seeks the best for the assembly as he shepherds them in righteousness. She is not to desire to place herself as head or usurp a male’s position. Instead, the woman is to focus on raising children so she can abide in faith, love, and holiness with a saved frame of mind (1 Timothy 2:15).
