The
Pros & Cons of Thought of Women
Preaching
By: Jarvis Windom
Often a person must discuss two views, try to hit a balance and develop peace in church and among families. What method would God want as a common teaching and how would he perceive it?
Here are some pro
thoughts of women preaching.
There are some issues that may at first appear to be matters of differing interpretation. However, the real problem is generally the result of someone's unwillingness to be content with what the New Testament clearly shows us.) The Bible plainly teaches that a man who fulfils the qualifications set forth in the letters to Timothy and Titus is one who may do the work of an evangelist. All who believe the Bible will admit this. Some, however, insist that a woman may also preach. They justify their view by insisting that the passages which forbid women to teach and preach publicly (I Corinthians 14:34-36; I Timothy 2:11-12) were intended for the cultures of ancient times, and do not apply to us today.
Which leads us to another important point. Very often, "differences of interpretation" do not result from honest, straightforward attempts to understand what the Bible says. Rather, they arise from individuals with agendas of their own. For example, suppose a person is convinced that women are just as qualified to preach as men are. Suppose this same person then concludes that it would be unreasonable of God to forbid women preaching. They quote…
Let 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.
(I Corinthians 14:34)
What choices does our hypothetical person have? Suppose that he is unwilling to admit that his own conclusions on this subject may be wrong. What will he do with a passage such as this? He may decide that the Bible is not from God, because it teaches something that he has decided is unreasonable. Or, he may work at coming up with an "interpretation" of this passage that enables him to justify his own personal viewpoint, while still claiming to believe that the Bible is the authority. Then, when this person succeeds in convincing others of his "interpretation", division results.
What Does the
Bible Say About Women Preachers?
Galatians 3:28 - "...neither male nor female...for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Acts 10:34 - "...God is no respecter of persons...."
Moses said in Numbers 11:29, "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them!"
The crying need of the hour is for more laborers. It is a trick of the enemy to try to down rate thousands of our faithful laborers just because they were born females.
Both the Hebrew (Nebrah), and Greek (Proph) used for prophetess means (female preacher). (See Young's Concordance, Pg. 780.)
The word "Prophet" means a public expounder.
The word "Prophesy" means to speak forth, or flow forth. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto MEN to edification, and exhortation and comfort."
The dictionary says, prophesy is "to speak under divine inspiration...to preach."
Therefore we learn from the original translation, from the Bible interpretation, and from the dictionary, that to prophesy means more than to tell the future, but it is to speak publicly about the past, present, or future. It is to preach under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Old and New Testament prophets and prophetesses were preachers of God's Word.
Even if the words prophet and preacher could be separated, how could anyone prophesy to bring exhortation, comfort and edification to the church, if she were forbidden to speak in church and was to keep silent?
Would God inspire and anoint someone to do something that was wrong and sinful???
* (There is a difference between a prophet, and the gift of prophecy.)
a. DEBORAH - Judges 4:4-5. Deborah was a Judge for both civil and criminal cases. The children of Israel came to her for judgment. She was the chief ruler of Israel for 40 years, giving orders to the Generals and all the army. She did the work of an evangelist, prophetess, Judge, and a preacher. God gave her authority over the mighty (Judges 5:13).
b. MIRIAM - Exodus 15:20; Numbers 12:1; Micah 6:4. She was a Prophetess and a Song Leader in Israel.
c. HULDAH - 2 Kings 22:14. Five men went to Sister Huldah and communed with her. She spoke to a congregation of men concerning the book of the Law. A female preached to a man's congregation, and her message was taken to the nation and produced a revival.
d. MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ'S MOTHER - Isaiah 8:3. She was a prophetess.
a. The first message of the Resurrection of Christ was spoken by women to a group of men.
b. Anna - Luke 2:36-38. She must have prophesied in church, because she did not depart from the temple.
c. Phillip had 4 daughters who prophesied. Acts 21:9.
d. Priscilla assisted Paul in his meeting and even taught Apollos in the way of the Lord more perfectly.
e. Phebe - Romans 16:1-2. Paul commended Phebe to the Church at Rome and requested that they assist her in her business. She was one of Paul's assistants in the work of the Lord and delivered the Book of Romans to the people from the hand of Paul. This may or may not have been preaching.
So, why am I lenient in that matter? Well, because the Bible has more to say on 9. Now, history tells us that Corinth, due to its enormous size and being a major trade route, was a hodgepodge of Roman, Greek, Jewish and countless heathen cultures. It abounded in degradation, immorality and heathen customs. In their heathen temples, as in the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, women became objects of worship and priestesses of wicked rituals. And, these women were infamous for infiltrating other churches in order to bring confusion and draw men away by their sexual enticements. Standard practices for these priestesses were altered states of consciousness and ecstatic utterances....
That much is true, and preachers who promote women into positions of authority use that history as jumping off point to support their agenda. They say that as the church at Corinth began manifesting and abusing their "spiritual gifts," it became increasingly difficult to differentiate the genuine article from the spiritually deviant. So, Paul attempted to control the influence of these heathen priestesses by shutting them down completely –
"Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1Cor. 14:34-35)
The errant preachers conclude that Paul never told all women everywhere, every woman in every church, to be silent. He was specifically taking the women in Corinth. Any church located anywhere other than Corinth might be exempt from Paul’s rule.
Now, if that were all Paul had to say on the subject, I'd be willing to join the preachers who say that Paul was simply telling the women in Corinth to be silent, as opposed to all women in all churches. But, that's not the end of his doctrine on the subject. At the end of his ministry, writing from a Roman jail, Paul gave Timothy last instructions for the care and nurture of the churches. He wrote –
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Tim 2:11-15)
This time Paul was clearly writing a rule for all Christian churches. And, the basis of his argument was not heathen temples, priestesses, or deviant rituals. He reached back to the beginning of the book of Genesis and said that women (Peter's "weaker vessel") owed their silent status in the church to Eve's succumbing to temptation and committing the first transgression against God. Even thought the fault really might have lied on Adam for not rebuking her and being in charge.
And, even though she is blessed in childbearing - a blessing men cannot participate in - Paul would never allow a woman to teach in the church, or usurp the authority that was given to men.
So, that leads me to believe that Paul's admonition to the Corinthians was based on his convictions about the church at large, all churches everywhere, and not just a segregated instance. Paul's summarized instruction, then, as I was taught, was –
1. Women are welcome in church but are to learn silently.
2. They are to recognize the headship of the men of the church and put themselves in subjection to that authority.
3) If a woman has a question or desires to learn more, she should ask her husband at home, and he has the obligation to teach his wife.
4) It is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
5) For a woman to teach is a usurpation of the God ordained order of things.
6) These ordinances are in accordance with the law.
Naturally, these are not particularly popular doctrines among the women of most of God’s churches. And, as is so often the case, if enough people in a church disagree with God's order of things, they simply vote God down and do it their way. But, that sort of activity does not change God's word or Paul's clear instruction.
Now, I'll be the first to admit - and there are lots of tapes floating around out there to prove it - that I don't hold to these rules steadfastly. The women in our church are free to speak and participate in the discussion. But, I'm confident in saying that they all understand the structure and nature of our body. Men should lead, and that's as it should be.
the subject than Paul's particular admonitions to the church. Women have played a very significant role in the spread of the gospel. In fact, the first people to ever preach, "He is risen," - at the command of the Lord, no less! - were women.
"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word." (Matt 28:1-8)
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." (John 20:16-18)
That's really something, when you think about it. The apostles - all guys - were slow to believe the story of His resurrection, particularly Thomas. But, Jesus used women to preach the astounding story of His resurrection and ascension to His Father. That's just wonderful.
So, there's certainly a place for women telling the glorious gospel. And, there's equally a place for women recognizing God's ordained order within the Church. And, that's really the balance that we find throughout Scripture.
Paul was rather dealing with a particular problem in the church. Paul said, "If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." If they want to talk things over let them wait until they get home. This rule is still good for the church today, where people are talking and causing confusion in the church service. They should not speak in church. (Not in the back of the church either before or after services. Don’t cause confusion, as God is the author of peace among the saints, or rather the churches of the saints.)
If a woman cannot speak in church, then she cannot speak in prayer meeting, young people's service, etc Christ's Church is not a building, but rather it is found where two or three are gathered together in His name, whether at a street meeting, in a tent, a home, church, classroom or anywhere else.
If all women had to keep silent in church, then that would be promoting disobedience to God, for they could not prophesy, pray, testify, sing, exhort, do personal work, or even be saved. Some have felt that a harsh term so I will say be converted and have received the Holy Spirit.
Whenever an interpretation to a verse contradicts the rest of the teaching of the Bible, we know this interpretation is incorrect, for the Holy Spirit will never contradict His own Word.
This is the chief verse that is used to oppose women preaching and yet it says nothing about preaching, nor does it say anything about a public worship or church service. But, on the contrary, this verse is giving instructions to wives as to how they were to conduct themselves in regard to their husband. Paul says in 1 Cor. 14:35, "And if they will LEARN anything, let them ask their husbands at home." Now he states in 1 Tim. 2:12 that the woman should learn in silence, and should not usurp authority over the man. Paul is dealing with more of a home problem than a church problem.
This verse still applies to us today. It is wrong for a woman to usurp authority over her husband (in church, home, or any place else) as was the case in Paul's day. She should not try to teach him or speak words that would cause discord and confusion, but should rather be silent and in subjection to her husband.
It is also to be understood that if anyone, whether man or woman, is usurping authority over the God-given leadership of the church, she or he is to be silent, and not to teach, or act in such a way that would create discord in the assembly.
What this verse does teach is that a person who is to be a Bishop must not have two living companions, either husbands or wives.
The Bible often speaks of "man" when it refers to both men and women inclusively. The word "mankind" also includes both men and women. For an example of this word usage see 1 Cor. 13:1 - "Though I speak with the tongues of MEN and angels...." This word "MEN" includes women as well, for we do not have one language for men and another for women.
"Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons..." (Acts 10:34).