But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.
Some people see red when they read "submissiveness" (1 Timothy 2:11; cf. Ephesians 5:21-22; Colossians 3:18). The Greek word (hypotage) means to rank under. It is clear in military life that a private, for example, who ranks under a colonel is not necessarily of less value or possesses less ability than his or her superior officer. Rank has to do with order and authority, not personal superiority and inferiority. Another illustration of willing submission is Jesus Christ, who is superior to every other human being yet submitted to other human beings (Luke 2:51; Philippians 2:5-11). God will reward His submission to the Father, and He will reward women who submit to His will as unto the Lord (1 Peter 5:6-7).