Counter argument: Did Adam and Eve argue in the Garden of Eden? Has there never been a time when humans were of one love, of one mind and had the same purpose and goal (Phil 2:1-5)? Fighting is a work of the flesh (Gal 5:20); how could the humans who knew not of sin have a "flesh" that causes them to fight? If the Trinity is our model; does the Son argue with the Father, causing the Father to need authority over the Son?
Argument # 2 The man was created first
Counter argument: 1 Cor 15:22 says we all die in Adam, wherefore all of us had to be in Adam. The second man could not have received his authority from the first man, for even the first woman was in Adam. If all men received their authority from Adam, we are saying that being a man is enough to receive authority, but being a human is not. Yet, God gave authority over all creation to both the man and the woman (Gen 1:26-28), and no separate mentioning is made of the man's authority over the woman.
Argument # 3 The woman was created a help, which proves she was created to serve the man
Counter argument: The help was a woman, the woman wasn't a help. Nowhere else in the Bible is a woman called a "help," nor is the world "help" used to denote subordination. It is often used of God with the meaning of someone who comes alongside to help another who is helpless. The man was alone; the help the man needed was to end his loneliness. The woman's creation did just that. The man exclaimed "This one!" seeing the woman, for his lonely days were over.
Argument # 4 The woman desires to control the man
Counter argument: If the woman desires to control the man, why have men always controlled women?
Argument # 5 Egalitarianism causes women to refuse to submit
Counter argument: Egalitarianism does not cause women to seek power to themselves; it asks men to submit the same way as women already do. The goal is mutual submission. A man who refuses to submit is not living the life of love (Eph 5:1-2), for even Jesus gave his life for others, instead of seeking to please himself (Romans 15:1-4).
Argument # 6 Men have the right to command, women have the duty to obey
Counter argument: Selfish ambition/self-seeking/strife is a work of the "flesh" (Gal 5:19-21). Where self-seeking and envy are found, so is every evil work (Jas 3:14). Love is not self-seeking; it seeks also the interests of others (1 Cor 13:5, Phil 2:1-5). Because every Christian has the right to follow his or her own conscience as far as the truth is concerned, the man's right to command has only to do with preferences; the man expects the woman to always follow his preferences. But love does not act in such a way. If a man does not wish a woman to force her opinions and preferences on him, neither should he do so to her, for we should love our neighbors the way we love ourselves and do to others what we want them do to us (Luke 6:31).
Argument # 7 Women shouldn't teach men
Counter argument: If 1 Timothy 2:11-13 tells us women should learn in quietness, it says also that men should teach with a tumultuous uproar, being busybodies in everyone's business, fighting and arguing with everyone, for the same word [quietness] is found here:
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread (2 Thess 3:10-12 KJV).
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Tim 2:1-2 KJV).The quiet life is known by its godliness and honesty. The tumultuous life is known for its disorder, lack of peace and harmony (1 Thess 5:14).
Those who lead a quiet life submit, for they are respectful towards others:
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight (1 Peter 3:1-4 NIV).In conclusion: if women should lead a quiet life, but men shouldn't, men must by necessity lead a disorderly life. This contradicts the teaching of Paul elsewhere, wherefore we can conclude that 1 Tim 2:11-12 does not teach that women should not teach men; only that they should not do so in a disorderly way.
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