No. The same Paul who praised women for their outstanding contribution to the mission of the church also instructed women not “to teach” (1 Timothy 2:12) or “to speak” (1 Corinthians 14:34) as representative leaders of the church. Thus, his insistence on different roles for men and women at home and in the church must be seen as an indication not of Paul's chauvinism but rather of his respect for the role distinctions established by God at Creation.
His practice accorded with the rest of the apostolic church. In the New Testament church there were no women apostles, no women public evangelists, elders, or pastors. No women engaged in public “teaching.” No woman served as the head or leader of a congregation. The reason is not that the culture was chauvinistic, but rather that the church faithfully respected the role distinctions assigned by God to men and women at Creation.
- Adventist Affirm, Answers to Questions about Women's Ordination - Ordination of Women and Paul |