Open letter to Bruce Ware

Here is an open letter written to Bruce Ware. I heartily second the content of this letter. Something needs to be done.

I have also responded to a comment about 1 Tim. 2:12 here ,

There is a basic misunderstanding here. Everyone, including Linda Belleville, agrees that both terms must be the same, either both negative or both positive.

Teaching, didaskein, can be either positive or negative. Here is a negative use,


They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. Titus 1:11.


Authenteo has no known positive use at this time. So, IMO both must be negative. This is pretty clear to everyone, I think.

And here,

The word used in 1 Tim. 2:11, 12 is hesuchia, and generally means "quiet" or "silent." It is the same word used in 1 Tim. 2:2
"for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Why "quiet" for men, and "silent" for women?

It has taken me a while to admit that there is really no traditional translation that is not biased against women in some way.

I do not think that Paul meant that women had to be silent. I don't think he meant that Phoebe had to be silent or any of the other women.

I don't think that using translations which are biased against women, translations that always choose the most restrictive alternative for women, or even interpretations that are blatantly non-literal, as is the case with the Junia passage in certain translations, is a good witness to non-Christians.

If the Bible translation is biased against women in the first place, and then men force women to abide by these biases, that is not a good witness to non-Christians. I think the church will just lose credibility.

I do not see how treating women as less than equal is making a positive moral statement. Quite the opposite.

Thanks to Bonnie and Ilona for all their blogging on this topic.