Gnosticism and 1 Timothy 2
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Has it ever happened to you, in the middle of a conversation someone jumps in at exactly the wrong moment, and without the context of the last few minutes, hears a line that on its own sounds really bad? I could be talking with someone about their computer not working and say “did you try unplugging it and giving it a kick?”, but at that moment a person joins the conversation, and not knowing things I’m talking about a person and is horrified. This example is a bit silly, and probably unrealistic, but it illustrates the point. Context is key in understanding not just what someone is saying, but why as well.
Often times when we read 1 Timothy 2:11-15, we walk away with the conclusion that Paul is saying women can’t preach in church, and then infer from that women can’t be pastors. Seems like a simple reading of the text, right? But what about why Paul is writing these specific words to Timothy?
I will be summarizing several thoughts from Marg Mowczko, who wrote a fascinating post about the connection to Gnostic literature and this passage. (I will also link the full post at the bottom of this one).
We know that Gnosticism was one of the primary heresies that was plaguing the early church. Gnosticism comes from the Greek work gnosis meaning knowledge. Within this heresy it was believed that a person could received secret knowledge from God that superseded the teachings of Jesus. This was often used to promote either strict asceticism, or be the foundation for living immorally. What is fascinating is that some of the gnostic literature has been recovered, and reveals that one of the key components was perverted teachings when it comes to the story of Adam & Eve. Often in these gnostic narratives, Eve was elevated as the first, and often as the teacher, and superior to Adam (specific quotations from these writings are found in the linked blog post from Marg).
So what is the connection?
Textual evidence (1 Tim. 1:3–7; 2:5, 15; 4:1–4, 7; 6:20) and writings from Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Eusebius suggest that one of the primary issues faced by Timothy in the city of Ephesus was dealing with Gnosticism. As we know Paul’s letters were usually written in response to problems facing these churches of the recipients, it is very likely that Paul is addressing elements of gnostic teachings in this letter. This would address why Paul writes specifically about women teaching, and why he lays out the Biblical account of Adam & Eve as a means of correcting the error being taught by the Gnostic.
What do we do with this?
We know that Paul was writing in context, addressing specific issues in the church. The problem was not that women as a whole were teaching. It seems that because of wrong gnostic teaching, women felt superior and justified in supplanting men in ministry on the whole. Because of other evidence in Paul’s writings, and the affirmation of women in position of teaching in home churches, the writings specifically in 2 Timorthy, and in other areas like 1 Corinthians are addressing issues of order and false teaching, rather than a general ban on women in ministry.
Again, I hope you will check out Marg’s post specifically on this topic as she covers it much more in depth.
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