1 Timothy 2:11-14

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

In 1 Timothy 2, this passage points out with absolute clarity exactly how the Apostle Paul viewed women. Not only does this support the claim that women should learn in silence, but specifically states that they should never teach or have any authority over a man and that they should just keep their inferior mouths shut. The reasoning behind this is just plain silly.

Paul says that since Eve came second, she is inferior. In at least one depiction of the creation, God creates man after the animals of the world. Does that make man inferior to the animals? Paul also says that since Eve was deceived, she was to blame. I guess Adam just went along because he was being an idiot, which we all know is a virtue.

Was this written by a just and moral god who loves us all equally, or was it written by a sexist man who didn’t want women to have any power over him? Thankfully, many of us live in a society where men and women are considered equal. However, this archaic thinking still pervades our society amongst fundamentalist groups. It is often used to prevent women from teaching in church and religious institutions. In some particularly strict religious groups, it keeps them from teaching or even speaking entirely.

There is no other way to interpret this passage. Paul’s intent is clear. Even if he intended it to mean something different, the fact remains that this verse is used to subjugate women all over the world for centuries. Any reasonable and moral human being could see that this is vile and sexist, yet the King James Bible is supposed to be good for teaching in righteousness. Is this really how the righteous should act? It seems the King James Bible is less about teaching righteousness and more about teaching male self-righteousness.

Tags: eve, Men, sexist, Silence, woman, women
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1 Corinthians 14:34-35

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

These two verses are very clear. Upon reading the entirety of 1 Corinthians 1, we find that the church of Corinth is having trouble. It seems as if it has something to do with women causing a ruckus. I don’t blame them, as the King James Bible is rife with chauvinistic bologna.

The statements of these verses are very straightforward. Women should remain silent in church. If they have questions, they should ask their husbands at home. It’s shameful for a women to speak in church.

The social climate of the time was very male-centered, women being regarded as little more than property. However, this does not justify the blatant sexism. Just because they thought it was okay back then does not mean that it was the right thing to do. A just and moral god would never request such a thing. The only explanation is that the King James Bible was written by men, not an all-loving god. Either that, or God just doesn’t think as highly of women as he does of men, which may be the case. If you start at the beginning, the King James Bible starts with women being made for man, in Genesis 2. Then, it just goes downhill from there. From the very beginning, God makes himself out to be a chauvinistic prick.

Tags: church, Corinth, oppression of women, shame, women
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