1 timothy 2:8-15 critical examination

• consideration of original use + context: there may have been a particular issue within the Church that the letter was trying to correct

  • if so, this advice is specific + may not be universally applicable
• 1 Timothy is a letter, written in response to some form of crisis in the Church at Ephesus, but we only have access to one side of the exchange

  • it may have been a very specific local problem; the writer is trying to prevent further harm
• the fact the writer opposes women speaking in the Church in Ephesus shows that it was already happening
• from the passage: "assume authority over" - Greek translation from 'authentein'

  • only time this word occurs in the scriptures, so we cannot be sure of its meaning - could be mistranslation