What does Paul mean by the word "teach" here? What activity is he prohibiting? Colloquially when we use the word "teach" often we mean to impart knowledge to someone. It seems like Paul is not prohibiting women to ever impart knowledge to men given that there seems to be a mutual teaching and admonishing of each other amongst Christians (Acts 18:26; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 3:13).I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12 ESV)
Some of my friends suggest that it just means preaching. But I'm confused why Paul doesn't just say preaching? Others have said that it refers to the sort of teaching that elders do, given that the very next chapter Paul goes on to speak of the elders being able to teach. But apart from pastor's preaching, the only teaching that he does is in small group Bible studies but many people from the congregation lead these; both men and women.