The Word That Changes Everything: What 'Authenteo' Really Means
Words matter. They shape how we think, how we relate to each other, and how we understand God's heart for humanity. So when I discovered that a single Greek word had been mistranslated for centuries—potentially affecting millions of women's lives—I knew I had to dig deeper.
The word is authenteo, and it appears exactly once in the entire New Testament, in 1 Timothy 2:12. Yet this one word has been used to silence half the body of Christ for generations.
When Words Change Their Meaning
Before we dive into authenteo, let me give you a perfect example of how words evolve over time. Take the word "gay."
In the 1400s, "gay" meant happy or joyful. By the 1500s, it had shifted to mean loose or promiscuous—"they were gay" referred to immoral behavior, and a "gay house" was actually a brothel. Fast forward to today, and if I tell you someone is gay, you're not thinking they're happy or promiscuous—you're thinking of sexual orientation.
Same word, completely different meanings across the centuries.
This is exactly why we can't interpret ancient Greek words based on how we use them today, or even how they were used in other contexts. We have to understand what they meant when Paul wrote his letter to Timothy.
The Problem with Modern Translations
Here's where things get interesting. In 1 Timothy 2:12 (NASB), most modern translations render Paul's words as "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man."
But Paul didn't use the typical Greek word for authority (exusia) that appears throughout the New Testament. Authority is a major biblical theme—honoring authority, submitting to authority, exercising godly authority. Paul wrote extensively about these concepts and consistently used standard Greek terminology.
Except here. In this one instance, he uses a word that appears nowhere else in Scripture: authenteo.
Why would Paul suddenly switch to an obscure, unused word when discussing something as important as authority in the church?
What Authenteo Actually Meant
This is where etymology—the study of word origins and development—becomes crucial. Since we can't cross-reference authenteo with other biblical uses (because there aren't any), we have to look at how it was used in Paul's time and culture.
And what we find is startling.
Authenteo didn't mean "exercise authority" in the sense of legitimate leadership. It meant something much more sinister:
To force oneself upon another
To thrust oneself upon someone
To usurp authority violently
To overpower, often sexually
To dominate through violence or coercion
The word frequently appeared in contexts involving:
Sexual assault or rape
Murder, especially of family members
Suicide
Violent overthrow of legitimate authority
This wasn't a word about godly leadership or proper authority. This was a word about abuse, violence, and illegitimate domination.
Suddenly Everything Makes Sense
When you understand what authenteo actually meant, Paul's instruction takes on a completely different tone. He's not saying "women can't have authority over men." He's saying "I don't permit women to violently dominate or sexually overpower men."
And suddenly, the cultural context of Ephesus comes into focus.
Remember, this letter was written to Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus—home to the massive temple of Artemis, where worship practices included women sexually dominating men, sometimes to the point of ritual murder. The Artemis cult had created a culture where female dominance over males was not just accepted but religiously mandated.
Paul wasn't trying to put women "in their place." He was trying to prevent the church from adopting the abusive power dynamics of the surrounding pagan culture.
The King James Actually Got It Right
Here's something fascinating: my grandfather, who only read the King James Version, used to argue that women could preach and pastor because the KJV uses the word "usurp" rather than "exercise authority."
He would say, "It says women can't usurp authority. But if a woman is called by God and given permission to speak, she's not usurping anything—she's been given authority to be there."
My grandfather, without knowing any Greek, understood something that many modern scholars have missed: there's a huge difference between legitimate authority and violent usurpation.
Why This Matters Today
Understanding authenteo correctly doesn't just change how we read one verse—it transforms our entire understanding of God's heart for relationships between men and women.
Paul wasn't establishing a hierarchy where men always lead and women always follow. He was rejecting all forms of domination—whether male dominance (which was the norm in most of the ancient world) or female dominance (which existed in specific places like Ephesus).
Instead, he was pointing toward something revolutionary: mutual submission, mutual honor, and shared leadership based on gifts and calling rather than gender.
The Danger of Misunderstanding
When we mistranslate authenteo as "exercise authority," we actually accomplish the opposite of Paul's intent. Instead of preventing abusive dominance, we institutionalize it by giving one gender permanent authority over the other.
We take a word that condemned violent overthrow and use it to create exactly the kind of rigid hierarchy that Jesus came to dismantle.
A Word That Liberates
The truth about authenteo doesn't weaken Scripture—it strengthens it. It shows us a Paul who was fighting against all forms of abusive power, whether male or female. It reveals a God who values mutuality over hierarchy, service over dominance, and love over control.
One word, properly understood, changes everything.
And that word points us not toward endless debates about who gets to be in charge, but toward the beautiful reality of relationships where both men and women can flourish, lead when gifted, follow when wise, and submit to each other out of reverence for Christ.
Now that's a translation worth fighting for.
Language shapes reality. When we get God's words right, we get closer to God's heart. And God's heart, as revealed through proper understanding of Scripture, is far more liberating than many of us have been taught.
Blessings,
Susan 😊