1 Timothy 2:11-13

[Aureole]

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve…”

Anyone here know the Catholic interpretation for this passage? At first glance it sounds like Paul is telling woman to keep quiet, to learn, and never to teach or rule men. All this because Adam was formed first? Hm, I’m quite curious now.

 

[Todd_Easton]

A homily by St. John Chrysostom on these verses is available here.

 

[puzzleannie]

In practical terms today, something which one of the bishops stressed in the televised USCCB proceedings yesterday, is that when women do teach in the Church, in Catholic schools and universities, in RE programs etc. whether they are consecrated religious or not, they are laypersons, and as all laypersons, men or women, including theologians, they teach only through the authority of the bishop, and only after being commissioned by him, or his delegate such as the pastor or catechetical office, to teach, and only after being properly formed and taught themselves.

whew, what a long sentence. the point is that this and similar verses are often used to justify the view that women should never open their mouths or teach at all, which is not the case. Mothers, as parents, should always be the primary teachers of their own children, for instance, a shared duty of parents. Women who are gifted with the charism of prophesy and teaching, who include some of greatest saints such as Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avili and Therese of Lisieux who are Doctors of the Church, exercise those charisms only through the authority of the bishops, and the hallmark of all authentic teachers (and saints) is humble obedience and submission to the bishops.

 

[Aureole]

Thanks much for the explanation and link. I thought that was what St. Paul was trying to get across, I couldn’t really put it into words though. I’ll pass the information on to the person who asked.

 

[BibleReader]

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve…”

Anyone here know the Catholic interpretation for this passage? At first glance it sounds like Paul is telling woman to keep quiet, to learn, and never to teach or rule men. All this because Adam was formed first? Hm, I’m quite curious now.

Looking at the verses cited is not enough. To understand the verses, the larger context must be apprehended.

If one reads 1 Timothy 1, one apprehends that Paul is writing to Timothy about ordered evangelization. This section is about teaching the Faith! It’s not about all aspects of life.

So, when Paul says to Timothy…

11 A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet.

…he means, RELIGIOUS instruction, RELIGIOUS teaching, RELIGIOUS authority. Being “quiet” in RELIGIOUS matters.

Paul, in oither words, is articulating the seminal principle that finally fully emerged as the all-male priesthood.

The all-male priesthood, in my opinion, is REQUIRED by Scripture, and our brother congregations in the Protestant churches who squarely violate this rule by permitting women ministers and women priests mark themselves as being false faiths.

 

[Aureole]

BibleReader:

Looking at the verses cited is not enough. To understand the verses, the larger context must be apprehended.

If one reads 1 Timothy 1, one apprehends that Paul is writing to Timothy about ordered evangelization. This section is about teaching the Faith! It’s not about all aspects of life.

So, when Paul says to Timothy…

11 A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet.

…he means, RELIGIOUS instruction, RELIGIOUS teaching, RELIGIOUS authority. Being “quiet” in RELIGIOUS matters.

Paul, in oither words, is articulating the seminal principle that finally fully emerged as the all-male priesthood.

The all-male priesthood, in my opinion, is REQUIRED by Scripture, and our brother congregations in the Protestant churches who squarely violate this rule by permitting women ministers and women priests mark themselves as being false faiths.

Thank you, I understand the specific passages perfectly now.