Where did the thought process of men teaching men and women teaching women come into play? Did Jesus ever discern a difference? Shouldn\u2019t the need be met regardless of the person’s gender? I have never understood it when other Christians tell others that they shouldn\u2019t study with someone of the opposite sex (understand you are not alone in their bedroom). I would appreciate your advice on this as well. Is it OK to have friends of the opposite sex in a dating relationship or even a marriage?\u00a0 As long as one is practicing self-control nothing will come of the matter.<\/p>\n\t
There is nothing wrong with a man teaching a woman. If it were, then it would have been wrong for Paul to teach Lydia or Jesus the woman at the well. However, it doesn’t mean we ignore the potential for problems. In both cases that I cited, the teaching was done in a public area where someone else might come by at any moment. In the case of Paul, he and Lydia were not alone together. There others with them.<\/p>\n
When Paul wanted to have the gift gathered by the Gentile churches sent to Judea, he insisted that others actually carry the money. It wasn’t that Paul wasn’t trustworthy, lacked self-control, or didn’t trust himself. “Avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us — providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men<\/em>” (II Corinthians 8:20-21). It is an important principle.<\/p>\n When teaching another person, you don’t want that teaching time to be an occasion for temptation or for malicious rumors. Hence, my general rule has always been that when talking to someone of the opposite sex, I always have someone with me or the discussion takes place in a public area. In this way, I protect both of our reputations and “give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully<\/em>” (I Timothy 5:14).<\/p>\n The same principle applies to friendships. I expect people to have both male and female friends. Yet, because sin is in the world, I urge people to take precautions. It is the concept of honor and integrity that is so often overlooked. It is because a person is your friend that you take extra precautions regarding their reputation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Where did the thought process of men teaching men and women teaching women come into play? Did Jesus ever discern a difference? Shouldn\u2019t the need be met regardless of the person’s gender? I have never understood it when other Christians tell others that they shouldn\u2019t study with someone of the opposite sex (understand you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[353,551,451],"class_list":["post-25839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-influence","tag-reputation","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9114,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-command-for-a-woman-not-to-teach-only-apply-to-the-assembly\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":0},"title":"Does the command for a woman not to teach only apply to the assembly?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have some questions regarding I Timothy 2:11-12. Are these verses concerning a woman learning and teaching general commands or are they specific to the assembly? What, in the context, determines this? Further, I am no Greek scholar. Those who are familiar with the Greek, what is the proper\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7755,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/would-listening-to-a-female-vocalist-violate-the-command-against-women-teaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":1},"title":"Would listening to a female vocalist violate the command against women teaching?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Regarding music: Would listening to female Christian vocal artists break the command for women not to teach men? Answer: Much would depend on the message of the song. If the song demands that the listeners do as the singer directs, then there would be a problem. \"A woman must\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54757,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-christianity-promote-inequality\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":2},"title":"Does Christianity promote inequality?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, I would like to ask a question about gender equality or inequality. Does the Bible teach about inequality or equality? Does it and Christianity promote inequality? I'm thinking about verses like I Timothy 2 that says women shouldn't take authority from men or place men as head\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20168,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-do-you-think-about-a-young-single-guy-teaching-a-young-married-woman-the-gospel\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":3},"title":"What do you think about a young single guy teaching a young married woman the gospel?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 17, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it okay for me to talk with a married woman from work to try and encourage her to come to services or help in her become a Christian? The reason I ask is that I have been studying on and off with a lady from work. She is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34579,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-younger-woman-to-teach-older-women\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":4},"title":"Is it wrong for a younger woman to teach older women?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: We have been in several small congregations and my wife has been asked to lead woman's classes or has started one where there wasn't one. The problem is that she feels a little strange about it because she is a young woman teaching older women some twice her age\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41889,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-woman-teach-scriptures-through-writing\/","url_meta":{"origin":25839,"position":5},"title":"Can a woman teach Scriptures through writing?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm a Christian woman who writes Christian fiction novels meant solely for other women. I frequently include biblical truths. Is this form of teaching okay because it's directed only to other women? Do I need to make sure I'm not too authoritative in what I say? Thanks! 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