"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." - Psalm 18:30
May Women Preach with the Approval of God?
(With additional questions and answers on leadership)
By Roger Leonard
Evangelist
Does God permit women to preach His word to audiences where men are present?
If we are going answer this properly, we must do so by use of the Holy Scriptures. We must also be honest with what the Scriptures say; otherwise the whole issue is meaningless.
What do the Scriptures say about women preachers?
First consider 1 Cor. 14:34-35:
34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
The context of this statement is clear that some women were speaking in the worship assemblies of the saints, in the church at Corinth. Could Paul make it any clearer that women were not to speak in these assemblies where men were present? They were not to even ask questions. And to do so would have been considered "shameful".
Now consider Paul's statement (1 Tim. 2:11-15) to Timothy the evangelist about women preachers:
11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
In verse eight of this text Paul wrote that "the men" should "pray everywhere." At times the Scriptures use the word men generically: i.e., men and/or women. In this text, however, the Greek word Paul used for men is andras, the accusative plural of aner, meaning males only. Paul also makes it clear that the men are males since women are distinguished from them.
Several points may be concluded from what Paul wrote:
1. Since men are to pray everywhere, women may not pray everywhere. Does this mean women are not to pray? Of course not! What it does mean is that women may not lead public prayers where men are present.
2. Paul also makes it clear, as he did to the church at Corinth, that women were not teach in an audience where men were present.
Some Bible students have concluded that this was a “cultural situation” for the time when Paul wrote and not an ordinance to be perpetuated. Therefore, it would not be applicable today.
There is a contextual challenge which immediately refutes this. And it is almost as if Paul (being guided by the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor. 2:10) anticipated the cultural argument. Verses 13-15 make at least one thing very clear: if this is cultural, it began in Eden. Paul returns to the first male and female in his argument. Some believe this goes back to Genesis 3:16:
To the woman He said:
"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."
Moses indeed said that Eve's desire (due to her sin) would be toward her husband; however, it is established in Genesis 2 that Adam was the head of the woman from the beginning. Therefore, female submission is not limited to Eve. Paul simply used that to illustrate that women should not be in a position of spiritual leadership. Paul began by writing, “Adam was formed first, then Eve.” So, even before Eve led her husband to temptation, God planned for the man to be the leader. To whom did God go first after Eve and Adam (in that order) sinned? God went to Adam.
What Paul wrote is perpetual doctrine (teaching) for the Lord's church. Seeing that he went back to Eden to make his point, this is not a cultural matter. Neither is it sexist. To even suggest such would be an insult to the Holy Spirit who guided Paul's writing! Nor is it meant to be discouraging toward women. However, it is restrictive. Women do not have the God-given right to preach, pray or read Scripture in worship assemblies of the church where men are present.
When Paul concluded this section in 1 Tim 2, he made a statement in verse 15 which is unclear to many about the woman being saved in childbearing. Now, since all women do not have children (by choice or inability), Paul must be making a different point than women being saved by having babies. That is not what he meant. Paul was saying that women have a valuable and significant role to fill in the church and family without being in a position of leadership over men. And if they are to be faithful to God, they will maintain this role.
The following words tie in directly with what Paul has been saying. Women of God must exercise:
1. Faith in God and His word;
2. Love for God and His church and their families;
3. Holiness in being separate from the ungodly, misguided principles and tendencies of women of the world;
4. Self-control when it comes to not asserting themselves in the leadership affairs of the church.
Certainly these words have broader meanings in the context of the entire Bible. But here the definitions must be restricted for the points Paul was making.
Conclusion:
Having said all this, women may and should teach. Since “Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven . . . had four virgin daughters who prophesied” (Acts 21:8-9), we may conclude that women could preach to and teach other women. Priscilla helped her husband teach the man Apollos (Acts 18:26). Lois and Eunice taught Timothy as a child (1 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:15). Older women are to teach the younger women in the church (Titus 2:3- 4).
God has many useful places for women to serve in the body of Christ. And the Scriptures are plain: “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1 Cor. 12:18). It is God's plan, not man's, for the church to function as described in the Scriptures. May godly women find a role in the church and fill it well. May we all follow the plan of God for the leadership of the church! If we do, she will grow in the ways God has planned. Without fail!
Some Additional Questions and Answers.
"Is it wrong for a man to listen to a woman teach if he 'gives her permission' to do so? In other words, if a man gives permission, a woman is not usurping his authority."
A man would have to bypass God's word to allow this since the Scriptures prohibit women from teaching men. The woman would be wrong to continue with a man in the audience. Faithful and reasonable students of the Word would not apply this same logic to women in the eldership. Why do so here?
"What if the elders allow women to participate in worship assemblies of the church? After all, they are the shepherds and would still be over the flock."
Elders, deacons or preachers do not have the right to run roughshod over the word of God to permit such. It is God who makes the standards, not elders, deacons or preachers!
"May a woman read Scripture in worship?"
Paul makes it plain that “it is shameful for women to speak in church”. Paul's answer would also include reading the Scriptures in worship where men are present.
"May a woman make announcements?"
Again, Paul makes it plain that “it is shameful for women to speak in church” (1 Cor. 14:35). A woman may not make announcements in a church assembly where men are present.
“What about women serving the Lord's Supper or taking up the collection?”
It is clear that a woman does not actually “speak” when simply “serving” the Lord's Supper. Some say, "She does it across the pew. Why not down the aisles?"
Consider some other questions as well: Why would women want to do these things? Do they feel unappreciated? Do they want recognition? Are they trying to make some assertive statement? Do they want a position of leadership?
These questions and many others may be answered easily if Christian men and women will consider the word “submission” in 1 Tim. 2:11. This submission is to male leadership, under the headship of Christ, in worship and in the church. Notice 1 Cor. 11:3, where Paul wrote: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.” Paul even taught that “the law” (1 Cor. 14:34) demanded male leadership. The setting of worship in 1 Cor. 14 and 1 Tim. 2 is one of male leadership. In fact, this pattern is seen throughout the entirety of the New Testament. Jesus began with twelve men. When one was lost, a man took his place. Elders are to be men. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-6). Deacons are to be men. (1 Tim. 3:8-13). The examples of preaching and other positions of leadership are always men in the New Testament.
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers.