A pastor writes in to ask, quote, Pastor John, what a pastor who uses a biblical commentary

written by a woman, be placing himself under the biblical instruction of a woman.

If so, would this not go against Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 212?

It might be, he may feel it that way, and if he does, he probably is not going to read

it.

It doesn't have to be experienced that way, I don't think, and here's my reasoning.

The point of Paul in 1 Timothy 212, where he says, I don't permit a woman to teach

or have authority over men.

That's a key text, 1 Timothy 212.

I don't permit her to teach or have authority.

And those two things together, I think, constitute the eldership office teaching and authority.

And so there should be men, elders in the church who are spiritual and humble and kind

and loving and Christ-like in their servant's heart towards the men and women in the church.

So I think the point of that text is not to say you can never learn anything from a woman.

That's just not true, it's not too biblically and it's not too experientially, because

the reason for saying that I don't permit a woman to teach or have authority over men

here is not because she's incompetent.

It's not because she can't have thoughts.

In fact, the women in your church and the woman you're married to have many thoughts

that you would do well to know and learn from.

And so the issue there is not, she doesn't have thoughts that you wouldn't benefit from

or she can't teach you anything.

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