“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (NKJV).
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1. Did Paul definitively mean that women should keep silent and not teach in the congregation of GOD?

The problem with this text is not what Paul said or how he directed the congregation of GOD. The problem lies in the way the text is translated. We must remember: Scripture interprets Scripture, and it will never contradict itself. With that being said, let’s get into the text.
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First, let’s examine Paul’s view of women and their capabilities.

Notice Galatians 3:28, where Paul speaks of equality among Christians:
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“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This is a powerful statement. Here, Paul affirms that between men and women, our spiritual standing, access to GOD’s grace, and identity in Christ triumph over all earthly social, cultural, and gender hierarchies.

While women’s equality and leadership roles have grown tremendously in society, women still face disproportionate hurdles—especially in the church. Religion, in practice, has created distinct, multi‑layered barriers for women who are fully qualified for upper‑management and supervisory roles.

In many modern churches, institutional hierarchies and cultural norms have created obstacles that limit qualified women from leading or serving in pastoral roles. This is how many churches and church leaders interpret Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34. They insist that women are restricted—or even disqualified—from operating in senior pastoral offices, teaching adult men, or holding positions that allow them decision‑making authority over the congregation of GOD.
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Even when a woman becomes an ordained minister, she is often placed in roles such as Children’s Ministry, Prayer Ministry, Street Team Ministry, Associate Minister, or Christian Education, while being overlooked for senior pastoral and executive positions. These roles continue to be heavily dominated by men.

In addition to these disparities, female ministers often face significant pay inequality compared to their male counterparts. Yet statistics show that women historically perform the vast majority of congregational labor. Women are known for leading church activities such as organizing events, managing care ministries, overseeing logistics, teaching Sunday school, managing people and programs, organizing prayer meetings, and coordinating social events. And yet, they are often excluded from official elder boards, deacon bodies, or finance committees—where institutional governance decisions are made.
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In fact, modern churches often mimic traditional gender roles just as the world does today. This behavior stands in complete opposition to Paul’s point in Galatians 3:28.
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This is a good place to look at a few women who operated under Paul’s leadership. Let me restate something I said earlier: Scripture interprets Scripture, and it will never contradict itself.

Let’s discuss a few of Paul’s key co‑workers. Throughout Scripture, Paul highlights several prominent women who helped him care for and grow the congregation of GOD.

Junia— Romans 16:7 
In this verse, Paul greets Andronicus and Junia and refers to both as apostles.

SIDEBAR: An apostle in the church falls under one of the following definitions:

• A delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.
• Specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ.
• In a broader sense, applied to other eminent Christian teachers.
• An ambassador of the Gospel.
• Officially, a commissioner of Christ.

Phoebe — Romans 16:1—2
Phoebe was tasked with delivering Paul’s letter to the Romans as a deacon in the church of Cenchreae.

SIDEBAR: The word servant is the Greek word diakonos (G1249), meaning:

• One who executes another's commands.
• A deacon—one assigned to an office in the church who cares for the congregation and distributes resources for their use.

Priscilla — Acts 18:26 
Contrary to Roman custom, Paul often placed Priscilla before her husband Aquila when addressing them. This reflected her prominent role as a teacher in the Corinthian congregation. Priscilla was so effective as a Bible teacher that Paul wrote about her correcting Apollos’s theology. She and her husband took Apollos aside and “explained to him the way of GOD more accurately.”

Other Women in Ministry — Paul also praised Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis for their leading roles in ministry.

Mutual Interdependence — 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
Here, Paul points out the mutual interdependence between men and women under GOD’s creation. GOD designed men and women to rely on each other to meet needs, achieve goals, and function effectively. Neither can fully succeed or operate smoothly without the support, input, direction, guidance, or cooperation of the other. When one attempts to usurp the mutual dependence of the other, they step outside GOD’s original design.

We must remember: men and women’s outcomes are tied together according to creation. The actions of one directly impact the other.
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Simply put, both sides have something the other needs. There is no way around this according to Genesis chapters 1 and 2. When we go outside GOD’s plan, chaos occurs—as seen in Genesis chapter 3.
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Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:11–12 again:

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (NKJV).
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To interpret these verses correctly, you must review the original 5th‑century Codex Alexandrinus text and be able to read Greek.

When most people read this passage, they interpret it literally — which is an error. When reading and interpreting this scripture, one must consider the culture, the environment, and what was happening at the time the writer penned the text. Bible students must also take into account the grammatical nuances. In this verse, there is a difference between instructing a person to be quiet versus commanding them to be absolutely silent. So which is it? Is Paul telling women to be quiet, or to be completely silent? And is he speaking to a specific group of women or to all women?

Let’s look at the word silence used in verses 11 and 12:
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• Verse 11: “Let a woman learn in silence…”
• Verse 12: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence…”

When we examine the original Greek texts, we must determine the proper translation of the word silence. The Greek word used in verse 11 is hēsychia (G2271). This is the same word used in verse 2 to describe living a “quiet and peaceable life”:

“For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

This word refers to one’s posture, a quiet spirit, or tranquility, rather than absolute muteness.

Therefore, it is important to consider correct grammar, punctuation, and flow while keeping the author’s original voice and argument intact. So again: Did Paul definitively mean that women should keep silent and not teach in the congregation of GOD?

Now let’s take a closer look at verse 12. Let me rephrase the question: In 1 Timothy 2:11–12, when Paul said that women should “be in silence,” did he mean absolute silence — as in muteness — and was he speaking to all women or a specific group?

Again, the word silence in verse 12 follows the same Greek pattern as 1 Timothy 2:2. The Greek word used here is hēsychia, meaning quietness, tranquility, or a peaceable disposition, rather than absolute muteness. It does not refer to vocal silence. The Greek word for vocal silence is sigē, which is not used in this passage.

When we accurately interpret the translated text according to its original meaning, we gain the correct grammatical nuance and flow.

Therefore, it is accurate to understand that Paul was not asking all female believers to stop talking. Instead, he was instructing them to maintain harmony and avoid being disruptive during congregational gatherings.

So, was Paul addressing all women or a specific group of women? Again, Scripture interprets Scripture, and it never contradicts itself. So let’s look at another passage to understand why Paul addressed this issue in 1 Timothy 2:12. Read 1 Timothy 5:13:

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Here, Paul is speaking to Timothy—who is the overseer and young evangelist of this congregation in Ephesus—about the behaviors and qualifications of young women. The issues in this congregation centered around younger widows who had no family support.

Widows sixty years and older were placed on an official church support list to receive financial and material care, provided they met strict moral and spiritual qualifications. Paul advised Timothy not to place younger widows on this official roll. He believed that doing so would lead some of them to become idle, wandering from house to house, gossiping, and being busybodies — saying things they should not. This behavior would create division, spread rumors, and disrupt the peace of both the congregation and the wider Ephesian community.

So far, Paul is addressing younger widows of that specific era, not all women.
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The more serious concern was that such behavior would create an environment where opponents of the church could criticize it and discredit the Kingdom message.
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We must also consider the religious environment of Ephesus to understand Paul’s point in 1 Timothy 2:12 and identify which group of women he was addressing.

In Ephesus, the cult of Artemis (Diana) dominated the region. Diana was a female goddess, and women held supreme religious authority in her cult. Their pagan teachings claimed that woman was created before man — blasphemy, and a direct contradiction of Scripture and GOD’s order of creation.

This is why Paul said to the Ephesian congregation:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man…”

He was addressing the young women influenced by the Artemis cult, whose doctrine was corrupt. They were being taught false creation theology and were spreading it within the congregation.

Paul clarifies this in 1 Timothy 2:13–14:
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• Adam was formed first, then Eve.
• Adam was not deceived; the woman was deceived and fell into transgression.

This was precisely the issue in Ephesus: young women were being deceived and falling into doctrinal error. This is why Paul did not permit them to teach the men — their teachings were corrupted by the cult of Artemis. This is why Paul told these young women to “be in silence”: their doctrine and understanding were distorted.

Paul was not asserting superior value or intelligence, nor was he restricting women from holding pastoral or elder roles, nor from exercising authoritative doctrinal teaching over the congregation of GOD. Many in the modern church misunderstand this passage.

Now, through this study, we have correction and new insight into this scripture.

Paul was not mandating that women in the church be absolutely silent, nor was he speaking about all women from the first‑century church to today. The evidence throughout Scripture — including this passage — makes that clear.

Paul commended female leaders across his epistles and used them in leadership roles as apostles, pastors, deacons, prophetesses, and administrators.
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Now that we have accurate information, it is up to us to decide whether we will submit to GOD’s Word through Paul — or cling to our own pride and traditions (2 Timothy 3:16). All Scripture is inspired and given by GOD. It is not interpreted by men according to their preferences; GOD determines its meaning.

​America that we once knew is no more due to two factors.

1. Many white liberal women have been successful in helping vote into office officials who support and are pushing socialist/communist agendas through the Democratic Party and men and women of the Muslim faith. 
2. The continue silence of most church members who have not been taught from the pulpit the importance of understanding the operation of our political system and its candidates, as well as our active participation in it. Our King, Jesus Christ, operates and oversees a political government (political Kingdom) from His throne in heaven. When He returns to reestablish His government (Kingdom), what will He find? A church that has become compromised because they do not see the value of not only getting involved in politics but teaching about it from a scriptural standpoint from the pulpit.

 
Right now, we have too many members of the Church who are walking into darkness in and around the political arena because too many cannot hear accurately from GOD concerning the political agenda and affairs of the world, because too many of us have been programmed to believe there is a separation between Church and State. Therefore, we have believed the lie that Christians should not be openly involved in politics. 

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

U.S. Congressman Chip Roy of Texas said it well at a recent Lower House meeting. He spoke about other individuals with whom he stood on stage, and how many of them on that stage had worn the U.S. uniform to fight for this nation against radical Islamic members who wanted to destroy this country and Western civilization. Then he explained the difference between fighting these forces in another country and fighting them today. He stated that even though we are fighting the same war against these radicals, today it is a war within the boundaries of the United States. They are attempting to destroy our country from within.

[To watch Representative Chip Roy’s speech at the Lower House, click here].
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I won’t spend a lot of time going over the ins and outs of Sharia Law. But we do need to touch basic information for this discussion.

Sharia Law is the moral, ethical, and religious instructions that guide the lives of those who practice the Muslim faith. It covers anything from prayer, fasting, and dietary choices to business ethics, marriages, and community conduct.

Its daily guidance comes from the Quran, which Muslims believe it comes directly from the words of their god.

Why should all Americans, especially Christians, fight against the enactment of such a law? Because if implemented in the United States as national or state civil law, it would fundamentally alter America’s legal system, political environment, and daily life. The United States Constitution would no longer exist. Our First Amendment rights that prohibit the government from establishing an official religion would be overridden and repealed. Our freedom of worship would no longer be an option because we would be required to convert to the Islam faith or die. We will be required to know and live under the standards and traditions enforced by Sharia Law. The Holy Scriptures and all other religious content will not be allowed, and the Quran will become the official Bible. Freedom of speech will be eliminated because such expression would be deemed blasphemous and even apostasy. The list of laws and regulations would impact our entire life. This country will no longer be America, but a Muslim state, and all the freedoms as we know them today will be a thing of the past.
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I need to quote one scripture here, and then we need to talk about what Jesus meant when He stated those words.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
 
The part we need to focus on in this verse is, “…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

My brothers and sisters of the Christian faith, this day has arrived. We can no longer sit back idle and compromised in our faith and not respond to the political atmosphere and spiritual warfare that is occurring in our nation.

Let’s come back to Matthew. We need to look at two more scriptures—Luke 19:13 and Matthew 28:19–20. It is ideal to read the entire chapters, but for the sake of this discussion, we will only look at specific verses.

At Luke 19:13, it reads:

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come (KJV).

The New King James Version reads, “…do business till I come.” After addressing His twelve disciples, Jesus went to teach and preach in the cities. At some point, Jesus turns His attention to the multitudes present and begins to speak about John the Baptist.

When you read verses seven through thirteen, Jesus refers to the nonreligious system of John and the confrontational stand the Kingdom message of GOD makes by means of violence whenever it has to oppose human status quo.

Jesus speaks of how GOD’s Kingdom message refuses to dance to the music of society’s expectations that are often dressed up in the name of religion or dead worldly (man‑made) traditions. We have to come to the understanding and acceptance that Jesus is speaking about political and military warfare in these few verses. (Also see Matthew 10:34–39; Luke 12:49–53; and John 18:36.)

Now, let’s be clear. The upheaval of GOD’s Kingdom message spoken by Jesus is not caused by political provocation or armed advance. But it is a result of GOD’s divine shaking up relationships, households, cities, and nations by the power of Holy Spirit working through His people. This is what Jesus meant by His words when He said, “…occupy (or do business) till I come.”

We as Christians are expected to use our resources, platforms, gifts, talents, authority, and anointing to keep ourselves busy doing all the necessary works of the Kingdom of GOD. This definitely does not describe someone sitting idle in a compromised state, waiting on the Lord’s return, especially when there are far too many lost souls and territories that are lost to the kingdom of darkness. There is obviously much work that needs to be done, which requires all Christians to occupy their respective regions until the Lord’s return.

Matthew 28:19–20 puts it this way:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

That simple word, “Go,” is such a powerful command to all of Jesus’ disciples. The Greek word for “Go” is poreuō, which means to lead or carry over, or to pursue. The Merriam‑Webster Dictionary defines it as to move in a particular way or direction, or for a particular purpose. I am sure our Lord God, Jesus Christ, did not raise up this country as a Christian nation only to see it fall to a radical nation like the Muslim faith because the church and its leaders failed to:

• Properly prepare GOD’s people for this current political environment;
• Refuse to properly fulfill their commission at Matthew 28:19–20 by coming out of the churches into the public arena and going and making disciples of the nations;
• GOD’s people are failing to occupy until the Lord’s return.

The uprising of the Muslim faith and the implementation of its master plan—their Brotherhood Plan—to take down America is because:
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• The church isn’t occupying;
• The church isn’t leading non‑Christians to the Way; instead, they are preaching and teaching to each other within the walls of the church;
• The church isn’t confronting these false gods as Christians once did in the Bible, as Joshua did against Jericho, as Moses did against Pharaoh, and as Elijah who confronted the prophets of Baal.