1 Timothy 2:11-12 - Did Paul not allow women to preach in ekklesia?
Those who hold up the belief that women are not allowed to preach in the ekklesia base their position on the following words penned by Paul:
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
First of all, it is important to remember that Paul worked with several women in his ministry work, like Pheobe and Priscilla. So, he would not on one side work with women and then turn around to tell them to be silent. We need to understand Paul’s words within the context of his time, to know what he really meant. And here it is important to note the following:
Women in the areas were Paul was working had very little in the way of educational opportunities. They were denied the opportunity to learn. So, in the above words Paul was in fact empowering the women by giving them the opportunity to be present in the ekklesia to learn. But the women couldn’t learn if they were loud-mouthed and always talking. The word speak in the above verses in the Greek translates more like "continually speaking up", or impulsive and disrespectful. They were asking questions in an unacceptable manner. This seems what Paul was condemning.
Furthermore, we need to remember that there were many women helping Yahushua in His earthly ministry. Thus, it is hard to imagine Paul condemning the active participation of women in ministry and in ekklesia, when His Master was most accommodating to them.