1 Timothy 2:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Blessed Paul requires great modesty from women, and great decorum. Therefore he attends not only to their outward appearance and clothing, but also to the voice.

What exactly does he say? “Let a woman learn in silence.” What does this mean? That, according to him, a woman must not speak in church. He said the same in the Epistle to the Corinthians: “For it is improper for a woman to speak in church” (1 Cor 14:35).

Why? Because, he says, the law has subjected them to the authority of the husband. And again, in another place: “If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home” (1 Cor 14:35).

At that time women, because of such instruction, kept silence. Yet now among them there is great noise, great shouting, and loud conversation, and nowhere so much as here.

A woman must preserve propriety not only in outward appearance and clothing, but also in her voice. According to him, she must not speak even about spiritual things, but must only learn. It will be better for her if she keeps silence.

To this he added another instruction: that they should remain in subjection to their husbands and to the priests, and should likewise always learn in silence.

I think that when Paul speaks of one action being proper to a man and another to a woman, he said this not so much about clothing as about our morals, customs, and deeds.

Therefore the Apostle also says what you read almost before this place: “Let your women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but to be in submission, as the law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home” (1 Cor 14:34-35).

And to Timothy he says: “Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission; but I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” How repulsive it is when a man performs womanish deeds.

Since women also were counted worthy of prophetic grace, he necessarily lays down a law concerning this as well. He does not appoint women as teachers in the Church, nor does he appoint men who themselves need instruction. What was written to the Corinthians also teaches this clearly, for it says: "For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?" (1 Cor 7:16). Then he teaches good order, as nature itself requires.

Let her not make noise, for the female sex is talkative. In the First Epistle to the Corinthians he also said: "Let your women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but to be submissive. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church" (1 Cor 14:34). "With submission," that is, to their husbands. If to their husbands, then all the more to the teachers, to whom their husbands also submit and do not contradict.

The virtues especially necessary for a hesychast are meek submission to God, a disposition toward silence, and withdrawal from conversations. This includes even useful conversations, if they distance one from converse with God and disturb silence of heart. Especially at the beginning of his struggle, the hesychast is easily carried away by external impressions. Careful remaining in the cell, withdrawal from meetings with acquaintances, and avoidance of every kind of diversion counteract this weakness.

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission." This refers most immediately to teaching in the Church. In apostolic times the Holy Spirit manifested His works in the members of the Church. During public assemblies many began to prophesy or interpret Holy Scripture. There were probably cases in which women also began to preach. Besides the possible confusion, such participation by women in preaching could scandalize many. The Apostle positively forbids women to preach and teach in the Church.

What teaching by a woman does the Apostle specifically forbid? Teaching in church, that is, delivering instructions for edification in the truths of the faith during public assemblies for prayer.

Since teaching is a kind of authority over those taught, it is clear that if a woman undertook it openly and publicly in church, for liturgical and religious purposes, it would be wholly inconsistent with the proper relation between husband and wife. The husband is the head of the wife, and the wife is the helper of the husband.

Church teaching, by contrast, would be the wife's authority over the husband. This, of course, could not and must not be permitted in any case, for any reason, or at any time.

Women also are exhorted to take part in prayers, but so that they keep silence there and are not distracted by adorning themselves in various ways. Rather, they are to adorn themselves with modesty, humility of mind, and good works proper to their good dispositions: mercy, compassion toward the poor and infirm, and other works of piety pleasing to God.

Then, turning attention to the woman in relation to her husband, the Apostle urges her to be well-submissive, not to teach her husband or exercise authority over him. In general, he counsels her to remain in quietness, withdrawn from vain clamor and the anxieties of life.

As for the persons who are to pronounce prayers in church assemblies on behalf of all those gathered, by the Apostle's decision (βούλομαι), these can only be men.

“In every place,” that is, in all liturgical places or house churches, of which there were certainly several in Ephesus, men who pray must be in a calm and undisturbed disposition. They must not have sins on their conscience that would burden it.

Women who come to church must be dressed properly, but not luxuriously. There they should show their good disposition, for example by giving alms to the poor.

Standing in church, a woman must listen silently to what the men say. She herself must not appear in church as a teacher and thereby place herself above the man.

In church assemblies, instruction was joined to prayer. The Apostle forbids women to perform either in church. Pray, by all means, for that is why you came. But the conducting of the prayer is not your work.

Likewise, learn, but do not dare to take this work upon yourself. Do not even presume to ask questions, as is said in another Epistle (see 1 Cor 14:35).

Learn silently, in quietness, and fulfill this with all submission. By this is meant either submission to this law of silence in church, or submission to the teaching offered by the men appointed for it.