Skip to content
mannafest.faith

1 Timothy 2:11

in 1 Timothy 2

A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

KJV

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

This verse in 1 Timothy 2

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

Letter 69: To Irenaeus · Written before 397.

I think the prohibition in the law against a man wearing female garments refers not so much to clothing as to manners and to our habits and actions, since one act is becoming to a man, another to a woman. Therefore, the apostle, as the interpreter of the law, says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be submissive, as the law says. But if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home."

This site's exposition

Let the woman learn

on 1 Timothy 2:11-12

The first command is the startling one for its century: let the woman learn, a directive the synagogue's stricter voices would not have given, with in silence, hesuchia, meaning the quiet, teachable manner verse 2 asked of the whole church rather than a muzzle. I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority, authentein, a verb found nowhere else in Scripture, is read by many honored teachers across church history as a standing ordinance for the assembly, Derek Prince among those who taught it so in his own careful words, and by others as Paul's ruling for a specific Ephesian disorder, the false teaching of 1:3-7 then spreading through untaught women, a reading the Wesleyan and Pentecostal tradition follows with its long line of women preachers. Both readings are argued from the text by those who hold them, the difference is a difference among brothers, and the verse's own certain ground is that learning comes before teaching for any disciple.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY · Written before 550.

proposed

Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Not only does he require women to be modest, but also silent and submissive; for through silence, …

A commentator

Tertullian

On Baptism · Written before 220.

proposed

But we, little fishes, after the example of our Icqus Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than by permanently abiding in water; so that most monstrous creature, who had no right to teach even sound doctrine, knew full well how to kill the little fishes, by taking them away from the water!

A commentator

Tertullian

On the Veiling of Virgins · Written before 220.

proposed

It is not permitted to a woman to speak in the church; but neither (is it permitted her) to teach, nor to baptize, nor to offer, nor to claim to herself a lot in any manly function, not to say (in any) sacerdotal office.

A commentator

Cyprian

Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews · Written before 258.

proposed

But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to be set over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not seduced, but the woman was seduced."

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Timothy 9 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Great modesty and great propriety does the blessed Paul require of women, and that not only with respect to their dress and appearance: he proceeds even to regulate their speech. And what says he? "Let the woman learn in silence"; that is, let her not speak at all in the church; which rule he has also given in his Epistle to the Corinthians, where he says, "It is a shame for women to speak in the church"; and the reason is, that the law has made them subject to men. And again elsewhere, "And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home." Then indeed the women, from such teaching, kept silence; but now there is apt to be great noise among them, much clamor and talking, and nowhere so much as in this place. They may all be seen here talking more than in the market, or at the bath. For, as if they came hither for recreation, they are all engaged in conversing upon unprofitable subjects. Thus all is confusion, and they seem not to understand, that unless they are quiet, they cannot learn anything that is useful. For when our discourse strains against the talking, and no one minds what is said, what good can it do to them? To such a degree should women be silent, that they are not allowed to speak not only about worldly matters, but not even about spiritual things, in the church. This is order, this is modesty, this will adorn her more than any garments. Thus clothed, she will be able to offer her prayers in the manner most becoming.
7 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Theodore of Mopsuestia

COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY · Written before 428.

proposed

While Paul forbids women teaching in church, he very much wants them to exercise their authority in the home as the teachers of virtue.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Timothy · Written before 1107.

proposed

A woman must maintain propriety not only in her appearance and clothing, but also in her voice. According to him, she must not speak even about spiritual matters, but should only learn. It will be better for her if she keeps silence.

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 1 Timothy · Written before 1274.

proposed

Above, the Apostle instructed women in regard to prayer; here he instructs them in regard to doctrine: first, he lays down his own law regarding their teaching; second, he gives the reason for this law, at for Adam was first formed; third, he answers a …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Let the woman learn in silence,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Let the woman learn in silence - Listen attentively to instruction, without attempting to teach in public; see the notes on 1Co 14:35. With all subjection - With due subjection to those who are in authority, and who are appointed to minister in holy things; notes, 1Co 14:34.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

She should not even put questions in the public assembly (1Co 14:35). with all subjection--not "usurping authority" (1Ti 2:12). She might teach, but not in public (Ac 18:26). Paul probably wrote this Epistle from Corinth, where the precept (1Co 14:34) was in force.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Let the woman learn in silence - This is generally supposed to be a prohibition of women’s preaching. I have already said what I judge necessary on this subject in the notes on 1Co 11:5, etc., and 1Co 14:34 (note), 1Co 14:35 (note); to which places I beg leave to refer the reader.

The words behind it

7 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 11:3

    But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 3:16

      To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Colossians 1:18

      And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

    • 1 Corinthians 3:23

      and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

    • Colossians 3:18

      Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

    • Ephesians 4:15

      Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

  • Through

    Colossians 3:18

    Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 5:22

      Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

    • Titus 2:4–5

      In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,

    • 1 Corinthians 11:3

      But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Timothy

Preaching in the Wilderness, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Preaching in the Wilderness, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Letter 69: To Irenaeus; Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Tertullian, On Baptism; Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins; Theodore of Mopsuestia, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.