The Gripe with Christianity:

[Todd]

I've been reading this exchange for awhile and hadn't planned on commenting. At first, I thought we're a poetry site probably nothing we want to get into, and then I thought we're a poetry site do we really interpret anything at such a literal level without considering authorial intent, context, etc. All that said, I think Shem makes a good argument here on interpreting the text of 1 Timothy 2. This isn't like Paul's restriction on long hair for men (church of Corinth I believe) which was given we think to not confuse the early Christian sect with some of the local temple prostitutes of other religions. This appeal for women, even yes sent in a church letter, is an appeal to creation. It is going for something more universal than cultural. There's not a lot of nuance in it. These were pastoral epistles meaning they were associated with how the church was to be run--so yes that context is there but the language is more plain spoken and direct. So, a literal follower of Scripture (not pointing at Nibbed here just addressing the idea) should probably attempt to adjust their behavior to the mandate given, or come up with some reason or rationalization as to why it doesn't really say what it plainly says. Which is something we all do in pretty much every area of our lives not just the religious ones.