Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.-Psalm 119:105
For many years I’ve thought about what the Bible says about the roles women play in edifying the church. There are scriptures which seem to forbid women from leadership and teaching positions, but then there are also stories about women who are in leadership and teaching positions. All scripture is sacred as the inspired word of God, and heaven forbid we should undermine any part of it.
How then should a godly woman minister if her gifts are suited to teaching and leadership positions?
1 Timothy 2:12
“I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.“
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
“the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”
These are verses which say that women are not allowed to lead or teach in the church, but rather must remain silent. However, there are passages in the Bible where women are leading and teaching, and Paul thanks them. What, then, are we to conclude?
There are many, many instances in scripture in where God places women in roles of teaching and leadership. Just to list a few:
- Deborah
In Judges 4-5, we find the story of Deborah; a national leader ordained by God.
- Mary Magdalene
In John 20:8, when Mary Magdalene saw Jesus after His resurrection, he told her to go and share the good news with the Disciples. She was the first person to share the news that Jesus had risen from the dead — in that sense she can be viewed as the first evangelist.
- Phoebe
In Romans 16:1, Paul sends his regards to a deacon named Phoebe.
In Acts 21:8-9 we see that Phillip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. These are just a few examples of the many female leaders and teachers in the Bible. There are so many more found throughout the ages that I don’t think they can be counted as exceptions. Furthermore, if we start saying that women can’t teach in the church, then were are we to draw the line? Can they teach a mixed-gendered Sunday School? If they can’t teach in church, can they teach in schools? Can they teach at seminars? Can they teach their male family members?
From my own personal studies, I think it can be concluded that when Paul forbad women from teaching in churches it was for a specific situation and era. Paul often spoke to specific situations in the churches he knew. Imagine if we applied all of his advice to today’s church. (Imagine greeting people at church by kissing them.)
Not also in 1 Timothy when he says, “I don’t allow a woman to teach.” He did not say, “God does not allow a woman to teach.”
When talking about marriage, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:6-12,
“Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.”
All scripture is accurate and God-breathed, however Paul specified when he was stating his own personal thoughts rather than a timeless command from The Lord. Note that the wording he uses in 1 Corinthians 7:6-12 to indicate his own thoughts is similar to the wording he used in 1 Timothy 2:7.
The question is how do we discern what commandments in the Bible are basic moral principals and what were instructions for a specific time and situation? How do we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? It goes without saying that we as Christians want to be very careful to not hold the word of God as being disregardable, echoing Psalm 119:11,
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
The Holy Spirit has promised to lead us to all truth (John 16:13). We can ask Him for help and discernment in all areas of our lives — He’s eager to help us better understand His word! Here are some things a person may keep in mind when reading the Bible:
- Take the whole of scripture into consideration, not just one verse. Look at the verse, passage, chapter, book author and testament/covenant to understand the correct context.
- Take special note of moral commands which are repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
- It’s important to also understand the cultural context of scripture. While the books of the Bible were written in a different time and culture, the messages remain relevant. Try to find reliable sources which could help you understand how the original audience would have understood the text.
A separate issue which is frequently brought up in churches is the subject of women serving specifically as a church’s pastor. A pastor’s role entails more than just preaching. This is a subject I would like to explore in more detail in a later post. I pray that God gives me wisdom in studying His word.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Anna Sojourning 
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