So what do we make of Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34, where women are forbidden from speaking in church or taking on leadership roles over men? First, we must recognize that Paul wrote this after God Himself had already given the gift of prophecy to women (Acts 21:9), a gift specifically intended for speaking to and edifying the church (1 Corinthians 14:3–4, 22). And there is nothing in Scripture that says these gifts and ministry offices have ceased or are restricted to one gender (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:1–11; Ephesians 4:11–13). Moreover, Paul himself affirms that in Christ, in our spiritual identity, the physical distinctions that ordinarily separate us, such as gender and nationality, cease to be our defining attributes. On this basis, I believe Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34 belong in the same category as Revelation 3:10: directives addressed to specific congregations, directly applicable to the situations and/or cultures in which they lived. They were given, I believe, to ensure orderly and fitting conduct within the unique context of those particular churches, and likely to address specific problems within those congregations.
In certain cultures today, using the left hand, particularly toward someone older than you, communicates disrespect. If Paul were writing to a church living in that culture, where some had begun using the left hand in a way that caused offence or disorder, he may have given directives restricting that practice. But if that instruction were universally applied everywhere, without understanding the underlying principle or truth it was meant to establish, it would lead to unintended consequences far beyond what was intended. I believe a similar dynamic is at work in what Paul writes about the role of women in the church.
Like Revelation 3:10, we must also remember that Paul’s epistles were letters written to specific communities within specific circumstances. While we can and must learn from them, we cannot do so by routinely ignoring the historical context in which they were written and the circumstances they were meant to address. This does not mean every text has only a first-century application. However, we must not build doctrine on a handful of selected verses. We must bring together the full weight of what Scripture says on any given subject. When we do, I believe we gain clarity about what is universally applicable to all believers in every time and place, and what carries a particular historical context that must be understood before it can be properly applied.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
May 2026
A Very Important Message:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, because the Bible says, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God. God bless you.