But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.
- KJV But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
- BSB I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.
- NKJV And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
- NLT I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul does not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man in the assembly. This is a verse faithful Christians interpret differently.
Overview
Paul restricts certain authoritative teaching roles, directing instead toward quietness. Faithful Christians disagree on its application: complementarians see an abiding principle for church office, while egalitarians read it in light of the specific Ephesian situation. Both sides seek to honor Scripture; the passage should be handled with care and charity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 1 Cor 14:34Let the women be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 2:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.
How traditions read this
How 1 Timothy 2:12 applies to the church today.
Paul grounds his instruction in the creation order (vv. 13–14): the office of elder/pastor and authoritative teaching of the gathered church are for qualified men, while women serve vitally in countless other ways.
Key points · Rooted in creation, not only culture; equal worth, distinct roles; cf. the elder qualifications (1 Tim 3; Titus 1).
Wayne Grudem; John Piper
The restriction addressed a specific Ephesian situation (false teaching, untrained women); Scripture also shows women prophesying, teaching (Priscilla), and leading (Phoebe, Junia). Gifting, not gender, governs ministry.
Key points · Galatians 3:28; women leaders across the New Testament; the disputed verb and the local context.
Gordon Fee; N.T. Wright (broadly)
Each view is stated as that tradition would put it, with representative sources. Limitless Word presents them side by side and endorses none — see the methodology.