A Woman’s Role in Church

Paul is quoted as saying that women shouldn’t speak in church, and that they shouldn’t teach. (1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:34)

First, let’s look at Paul’s letter to Timothy.

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
(1 Timothy 2:12)

According to Strong’s concordance, the Greek Gune can be translated as women or wife.
http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/1135.htm

Aner can be translated as man or husband.
http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/435.htm

Therefore, an alternate translation, one that is in harmony with latter-day revelation, might be “But I suffer not a wife to teach nor to usurp authority over the husband, but to be in silence.”

In Titus 2:5, “Andrasin” is translated as husbands. Andrasin is the plural form of Aner.

“[to be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Let’s take a look at Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”
(1 Corinthians 14:34)

The Greek word Laleo, which is here translated as “speak”, is more commonly used for talk, or chatter.
http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/2980.htm

This changes the context considerably, as Paul seems to be addressing a problem of a lack of reverence – women talking out of turn, or chatting in whispers during some else’s public address.

These two verses underline the need for a living prophet - someone with the gift and authority from God to correctly translate scripture.