Male Authority in the Church

Men have authority in the church

What about submission? Is the single woman called to submit to male authority? The answer is no, with one exception. A woman’s submission to a man is part of marriage, not singleness. The single woman is under no husband’s authority and the single man has authority over no wife.

The exception is Scripture’s call for single women to submit to male authority in the context of the local church. Like all regular members, they are to be under the authority of the elders (1 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:9; 1 Pet. 5:2).¹ But unlike men, women are also excluded from teaching and having authority over men in church.

The limitation of the role of women in the local church is a subject that receives much negative attention. Many find two passages particularly grating. The first is 1 Corinthians 14:34-35:

the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34–35)

These verses are in the context of a lengthy admonishment and corrective (1 Cor. 11-14) of the Church at Corinth for unruly worship practices. Paul is specifically referring to married women and is calling for decorum and recognition of the primary authority of men as teachers and leaders in the church (1 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:9; 1 Pet. 5:2). The reference to the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament) probably reflects Adam’s authority over Eve.

Verse 34 doesn’t mean women are to literally sit silently in church. Women were highly valued in the New Testament church, a recognition that all are one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). They prayed and prophesied (1 Cor. 11:5). At least one, Phoebe, was a deaconess in her church (Rom. 16:1-2).

Considering the context, I believe Paul is pointing out that a husband’s leadership role doesn’t end at the church door. Wives should recognize that and refrain from contentious argument within the church. If they find something that offends them or is contrary to their understanding of the faith they should discuss it with their husbands in private.

A second much reviled passage is 1 Timothy 2:11-15:

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:11–15)

Since Paul doesn’t mention marital status we can assume he is referring to both single and married women. Otherwise, these verses are very similar to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 with an added specific prohibition against women teaching or having authority over men in the church. Like those verses they are both a call for decorum in church and a reminder that God assigned a hierarchy of authority with man, the first one created, as the titular head.

Verse 14 is probably best understood as saying Adam, knowing he was disobeying God, wrongly accepted Eve’s leadership in the eating of the forbidden fruit. Verse 15 is difficult, but at least part of the sense is likely the flip side of verse 14. Eve lacked self-restraint and usurped Adam’s authority when she took the forbidden fruit–she should have stayed within the confines of the role God gave her.

Like the 1 Corinthian passage, Paul isn’t likely calling women to a silent passive role in church. Rather, they are to remain “quiet” regarding teaching and exercising authority over men. That excludes them from either becoming elders or preaching and teaching to men or a mixed group of men and women.