Complementarian Interpretation. Edward Donnelly Begins

Complementarian Interpretation Edward Donnelly begins his article titled, Should Women Preach? by emphatically stressing the clear nature of Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 2:12-15. He says, â€Å"The words are clear, the grammar straightforward, the meaning obvious.† Such a strong statement would lead one to ask, â€Å"Why is there so much controversy around this verse if it is so clear?† Donnelly’s answer is simply that many Christians have been brainwashed ‘by the spirit of the age’ and succumb to the pursuit of cultural relevance and pragmatism over biblical faithfulness. For over nineteen hundred years, Donnelly points out that Christians have understood this passage to mean that Paul prohibits women from teaching publicly or holding ruling†¦show more content†¦It is for this reason that Timothy was in Ephesus with the purpose of restoring the Ephesian church to a faithful and healthy. It is with this motive that Paul instructs Timothy. Considering the histor ical context, Donnelly argues that Paul prohibits women from teaching authoritatively over men as a biblical characteristic of a healthy church. Donnelly recognizes that many will see such a conclusion and find it offensive and discriminatory. He argues that this is because of imposing a secular worldview in which assigned roles are exclusively connected to the ascribed value of an individual. In scripture, however, function does not necessarily indicate hierarchical value. The greatest example is the trinity; we see each person of the godhead performing different roles yet equally infinitely valuable. But is the prohibition still applicable in the present day? Donnelly answers, yes. He states that most arguments claiming that Paul’s prohibition is not applicable in the present day, merely speculate. There are no biblical grounds to think that his prohibition is not applicable in the present day. Notably, Donnelly does not prescribe that a woman not share or teach at all but rather that they teach in a non-authoritative manner and under the approval of the elders of the local church. Donnelly’s have come under much criticism and though he presents his points in a very abrasive manner, there is much to be gleaned from his writing. When