Good day, minister.<\/p>\n
I really enjoy going through the questions and answers on your website. May God continue to increase you in every way. Amen!<\/p>\n
I’ve gone through some materials regarding women praying in gatherings and even at home, especially when men are present. I’m sorry if I’m being a bit slow, but is the conclusion that women cannot pray in any gathering where a man is present? There is a WhatsApp group I’m on where we discuss the scriptures. Sometimes we do fast and pray. All virtually. And sisters in the group get assigned to pray. But it doesn’t sit well with me. Yet, they say it’s allowed since we’re not in church.<\/p>\n
Please shed more light.<\/p>\n\t
“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:10-11).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Just before giving the instructions regarding teaching, we find: “In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:9-10). Do we conclude that the rules for modest dress only apply to the worship assembly? No, because the basis of this rule is that these are women who profess godliness. Godliness is not restricted to only the worship service.<\/p>\n
But I Timothy 2:9 starts out with “In like manner<\/em>.” So, let’s move back to see what is discussed there.\u00a0“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:8). Praying is something that takes place in worship, but it can also take place outside of worship. Here we find the word “everywhere,” or more literally, from the Greek “in every place.” It seems clear to me that Paul’s statement is not limited to worship. Every man in every place is to pray without anger or doubt.<\/p>\n
So let’s look at the verses after verses 11 and 12. Here we find the reasons for the rule. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:13-14). Paul appeals to the beginning of mankind to state why God wants this to be this way. These things are always true and do not only apply to worship. Paul’s qualification in\u00a0I Timothy 2:15, “Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control,<\/em>” speaks to the raising of children, which, again, is not restricted to the assembly.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the command is not restricted to worship assemblies, and therefore, virtual groups would be included.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Good day, minister. I really enjoy going through the questions and answers on your website. May God continue to increase you in every way. Amen! I’ve gone through some materials regarding women praying in gatherings and even at home, especially when men are present. I’m sorry if I’m being a bit slow, but is…<\/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":[1510,82],"class_list":["post-95452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-prayers","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49901,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/were-there-men-besides-paul-in-the-assembly-where-paul-met-lydia\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":0},"title":"Were there men, besides Paul, in the assembly where Paul met Lydia?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In Acts 16:13 where the women had assembled on the Sabbath by the river, do you think that was a woman-only assembly, or were other men, besides Paul, there? Answer: Paul took Silas with him (Acts 15:41), Timothy also accompanies Paul (Acts 16:1-4), and at Troas Luke joins (the\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":60130,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-sister-write-a-lesson-for-one-of-the-men-to-present\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":1},"title":"Can a sister write a lesson for one of the men to present?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 31, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning, I appreciate your website and all the helpful information it provides. I have gone to your site throughout the years. Again, thank you. My wife and I are attending the Lord's church and we are fairly new to this congregation. It is a very loving church and\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":94383,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/may-a-woman-ever-teach-a-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":2},"title":"May a Woman Ever Teach a Man?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jimmy Ferguson There is much error taught and practiced in the brotherhood today regarding women teaching men. In some places, women are allowed and even encouraged to speak in public assemblies and to teach classes where both men and women are present. Some brethren have swung far to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15065,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-and-where-can-women-teach-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":3},"title":"When and where can women teach today?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 5, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 21, May 23, 2008. Question: When and where can women teach today? Answer: \"Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11039,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-veil-only-for-married-women\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":4},"title":"Is the veil only for married women?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! I read your article about the wearing of the veil by women in the Church. I confess that I was very surprised because I always believed that it was merely a custom -- a cultural issue -- and that the hair itself was already the veil. But I\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":40347,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-find-a-godly-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":95452,"position":5},"title":"How do I find a godly man?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I Corinthians 7:9 says it's better to marry than to burn, but what if I can't find anyone willing to build a godly marriage and abstain from premarital sex? I'm a 26-year-old woman and I have been faithful in respecting my body and God's commandments. 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