I felt it necessary in light of some recent conversation to address a scripture that was brought up. I think most of you know where I stand on the issue of Women's ordination, but the discussion of this scripture needed comment.
First the scripture
1st Timothy 2:11-14
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Particularly addressed were the words "let the woman learn queitly"
This is often misunderstood by both sides of the debate. Quietly here does not mean "not speaking". "Quietly" here in greek is "hesuchia" (sp) which refers to a state of life, or a state of being in which a person minds their own business and does not meddle in the affairs of others. Thus there is no injunction here against a woman speaking in church or vocally being a part of worship etc. Indeed other places in scripture Paul makes it clear that women, just as men are supposed to prophecy in church, and sing etc etc etc.
Going on a little further in verse 12 we have
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."
The word quiet here is the same. It does not mean, not speaking, or not making any noise, it means not interfering and meddling. It means essentially minding your own business, or your own place.
In this verse Paul is actually using the term quiet, to set up a contrast with the greek word he used, here translated as "to exercise authority" the actual greek means "to act on your own authority". (which is why it is translated as usurp in KJV)
The point being that a person who is ordained to teach and exercise their authority in the church does so, not on their own authority, but on God's authority. When this is the case, an ordained leader is acting in God's authority to lead and teach the church.. God protects the church under that authority.
Here Paul is making the now very controversial statement that women are not given that authority by God and thus if they teach and exercise authority in the church, they are doing so on their own authority, not Gods. He then contrasts this by saying, rather than doing this, women should "be in quietness" they should learn and study (which in itself was a revolutionary statement in Jewish culture) in the place that God has given them and not try to take over the place of another.
In the verses which follow on, Paul gives reasoning from scripture why this order of authority is as it is. First, God created man first, then woman. Paul is indicating that God's spiritual order of authority is declared by the creation itself. He is not here talking MERELY about the numerical order in which man and woman were created, but also the position of authority in which they were created. He also addresses this same idea in the Corinthian letters where he talks a bout head coverings.
the next verse says
"and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. "
Now there is something interesting about this passage. Everywhere else in scripture (that I can think of) the blame for the original sin is laid upon Adam, not Eve. Why is this one different?
I'd have to get input from a better greek scholar than myself to know for sure, but I think that the greek here provides an answer. What is here rendered as "became a transgressor" could be rendered "caused the transgression to come into being" or something of that nature. The implication being that because Eve was in this case leading Adam and not the other way around, it opened the door to transgression because Adam was not decieved, he had God's protection of authority, but Eve did not. She was deceived because Adam was not doing his job. The transgression came to pass because Eve lead Adam into it.
No where in any of this is there a statement that women can not speak in church, or sing etc. Silence/quiet does not mean literal silence, etc.
I'm sure that what I put forward here isn't popular with all, but its not meant to be malicious or inflaming.
First the scripture
1st Timothy 2:11-14
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Particularly addressed were the words "let the woman learn queitly"
This is often misunderstood by both sides of the debate. Quietly here does not mean "not speaking". "Quietly" here in greek is "hesuchia" (sp) which refers to a state of life, or a state of being in which a person minds their own business and does not meddle in the affairs of others. Thus there is no injunction here against a woman speaking in church or vocally being a part of worship etc. Indeed other places in scripture Paul makes it clear that women, just as men are supposed to prophecy in church, and sing etc etc etc.
Going on a little further in verse 12 we have
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."
The word quiet here is the same. It does not mean, not speaking, or not making any noise, it means not interfering and meddling. It means essentially minding your own business, or your own place.
In this verse Paul is actually using the term quiet, to set up a contrast with the greek word he used, here translated as "to exercise authority" the actual greek means "to act on your own authority". (which is why it is translated as usurp in KJV)
The point being that a person who is ordained to teach and exercise their authority in the church does so, not on their own authority, but on God's authority. When this is the case, an ordained leader is acting in God's authority to lead and teach the church.. God protects the church under that authority.
Here Paul is making the now very controversial statement that women are not given that authority by God and thus if they teach and exercise authority in the church, they are doing so on their own authority, not Gods. He then contrasts this by saying, rather than doing this, women should "be in quietness" they should learn and study (which in itself was a revolutionary statement in Jewish culture) in the place that God has given them and not try to take over the place of another.
In the verses which follow on, Paul gives reasoning from scripture why this order of authority is as it is. First, God created man first, then woman. Paul is indicating that God's spiritual order of authority is declared by the creation itself. He is not here talking MERELY about the numerical order in which man and woman were created, but also the position of authority in which they were created. He also addresses this same idea in the Corinthian letters where he talks a bout head coverings.
the next verse says
"and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. "
Now there is something interesting about this passage. Everywhere else in scripture (that I can think of) the blame for the original sin is laid upon Adam, not Eve. Why is this one different?
I'd have to get input from a better greek scholar than myself to know for sure, but I think that the greek here provides an answer. What is here rendered as "became a transgressor" could be rendered "caused the transgression to come into being" or something of that nature. The implication being that because Eve was in this case leading Adam and not the other way around, it opened the door to transgression because Adam was not decieved, he had God's protection of authority, but Eve did not. She was deceived because Adam was not doing his job. The transgression came to pass because Eve lead Adam into it.
No where in any of this is there a statement that women can not speak in church, or sing etc. Silence/quiet does not mean literal silence, etc.
I'm sure that what I put forward here isn't popular with all, but its not meant to be malicious or inflaming.
I would, except that I'm really not gifted in flower-arranging... 
there goes the vase. Sorry! 
Doesn't seem to follow any chain-of-command rules I'm familiar with.
