Question:
First Timothy 2:11, 12 reads: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” In an assembly Bible study, can a woman submit her opinions of the Bible to the men or should they wait until the service is over? Or was this just a law of that time?

Answer:
Taking the second question first, no, it was not just a law of that time. It is instruction by the Holy Spirit through the inspired Apostle Paul that is as good in 1995 A.D. as in 65 A.D. It would seem best, according to the Scripture quoted, for the woman to save her questions or thoughts till after the study is over. Even to write notes to her husband could be disruptive and distracting.

A better way of dealing with this is for husband and wife to spend some time prior to the meeting studying the portion with each other. That way the husband will learn his wife’s questions and thoughts in advance and can either respond to them on the spot or raise the questions in the meeting if he is not sure of the answers. An unmarried sister could do the same with her father or could pose her questions to another brother prior to the meeting—allowing enough time for the brother to research and think about the answers to her questions.