[This is a scholarly study of women in ministry. From this came three sermons on the Role Of Women in Ministry. I realize all will not hold to my conclusions. The sermons I preached were: 1. Women In Creation. 2. Women’s Leadership Throughout the Bible. 3. Dealing with problem texts.]
Women’s Role In The Church
“Let there be real harmony among you so there won’t be any split in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 (LB)
The question has been raised about the position of women within the church. Do women have a place of ministry within the church? Can they hold a place in church leadership? Are women only to teach other women and children or are they allowed to teach men also? What does the Bible say about these issues?
Currently in our society women are taking leadership positions in all aspects of life including the church. Within the church there are now female youth leaders, deacons, elders and pastors. If the church is to allow women to take positions of leadership it should do so, not because of the changing view of women in society, but because the Bible clearly states that they have every right to serve in these positions within the church.
It is true however; that culture has changed since Biblical times and our view toward scripture has changed as well. An example of this is found with the issue of slavery. It is quit easy to find scriptures which would advocate the institution of slavery in the New Testament. In fact there are over fifty scriptures that that deal with the issue of slavery and several of them seem to promote the idea. (Eph 6:5-6, Col. 3:22, Col. 4:1, 1 Tim. 6:1) But, how many of us would insist that the institution of slavery should be reinstalled? The culture in which the Bible was written not only included slavery but also included polygamy. It would seem that the practice of polygamy was not only present in the time of the Old Testament but continued into New Testament times as well. (1 Tim. 3:2, 1 Tim. 3:12, Titus 1:6) Therefore, in all matters, the entire Bible must examined and proper interpretation and exegesis must take place.
It is the purpose of this paper to answer this question: Does the Bible support women holding positions of leadership within the church? Even though I am sure that the debate about women’s role in the church will not end at the conclusion of this study – this study will allow me to clarify my own position on this matter.
A STUDY INTO GOD’S WORD
Usually when people speak of a Biblical view on the ministry of women in the church, they refer to only two passages of scripture - both are found in the New Testament and both from the writings of Paul. These texts appear to oppose the idea of women in of leadership positions within the church. The passages of scripture are found in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. Both of these texts will be treated justly later in this paper. However, since a Biblical view of the position of women in the church is what is sought; I will strive to give a complete Biblical view of the subject. Therefore we start this study in the most important scriptures of the Old Testament.
A LOOK AT GOD’S CREATION BEFORE THE FALL OF MAN
Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said, ‘Let Us made man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
“Then God blessed them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
BOTH THE MAN AND THE WOMAN WERE MADE MADE INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD
At this point both the man and the woman are co-equal. Both are created in the image of God. Both are to have dominion over all the earth. Both are called “man” in this passage. It is obvious from the physical make up of man and women that they have different roles, i.e. the woman is to be the mother and the man is to be the father. This however does not exclude that fact that both are equal in God’s sight. In fact their differences were not a source of discord or inequality, but a beautiful compliment to each other. Together, God gave them the task of overseeing and ruling His creation. At the conclusion of His creation God proclaims, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
Genesis 2:7-8
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. And the Lord God planted a garden east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.”
CREATION OF MAN
Man is here created. Adam is created first. Adam is created before Eve. Adam is created outside of Eden but is placed there after he is created. God breathes life into man.
Genesis 2:16-17
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat it you shall surely die.’”
MAN GIVEN THE LAW
It is interesting that in this passage of scripture that the law was given to man before the creation of the women. The woman is the one who was tempted. When she was tempted she knew the law – but "the law" was added to - either her or the man. God had said you shall not eat of the fruit - they added “or touch it.” God had said nothing about touching it. When God gives his law and people add to it making it more restrictive – it is called legalism. I assume that the woman heard the law from Adam, even though the scripture is silent on this matter.
Genesis 2:18
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’”
MAN IS TO BE IN COMMUNITY
This is the first thing that God says is not good; it is not good for man to be alone. God created man to be in community. Mathew Henry says concerning this verse: “What God here says of the first man Solomon says of all men (Eccl. 4:9, etc.), that two are better than one, and woe to him who is alone."
WOMAN IS MAN’S COUNTERPART
Notice also that God was not going to create a servant for man - but a helper. The Hebrew word for helper which is found in the text is ’ezer ke-negdo’ which literally means counterpart. Mathew Henry makes a note of this term, “a help like him, one of the same rank and nature of beings.”
Genesis 2:21
“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the Lord God fashioned into the women the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.”
CREATION OF WOMAN
Women is created unique in the fact that she is created not just from dust, if in fact dust was even used (dust is not mentioned in the creation of women but is of the man v.7 and all the animals v.19) but of the rib of the man. Mathew Henry says of this verse, “The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of a bone of his head to rule over him, nor out of a bone his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of the side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.” It is God’s blessing on this union by the fact that God brings her to the man.
Genesis 2:23-24
“And the man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be Woman, because she was taken out of man.’ For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”
MAN SACRIFICES FOR WOMAN
Woman is made of man’s bone and flesh. They are to become one. Man had sacrificed his own flesh for his wife. Man is also instructed to sacrifice his relationship with his father and mother. It is obvious that this instruction is written for us since Adam had no father or mother. When the scripture refers to one flesh this shows there is to be unity of the man and the women.
*Summary: The book of God’s revelation says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27); “and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7); “then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman” (Gen. 2:22).
When we declare that the Genesis account of creation is true, we are saying we believe that the personality of man and woman has its origin in a personal Creator who made us in His own likeness (image). To crown His creation, God took the nonliving matter of the earth to create a man. Then to provide man with a companion and complement, He took living matter from the man to create a woman. This original pair was Adam and Eve.
“The account of creation of male and female in Genesis 1-2 – which we take as a foundational theological statement of the Creator’s design and intention – affirms male and female as equal and complementary. Both are bearer, together, of God’s image (Gen 1:26-27). Both are given the mandate to responsible sovereignty over the created order (Gen 1:28). The creation of woman is intended to rescue the man from his aloneness and to provide him with a complement (Gen 2:18).
Over against an ancient view that the gods played a trick on man by creating woman of inferior material, the creation account of Genesis affirms the woman to be of the same essence as man (“bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” Gen 2:23). Thus the view that God intended the woman for a restricted role in the home, church and society cannot be grounded in the order of creation.”
Above quote from: “Hard Sayings of the Bible.”
CHANGES IN RELATIONSHIP AFTER THE FALL
Genesis 3:16-19
“To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’”
THE CURSE IS PROCLAIMED
This curse has affected all aspects of creation, from the ground (infested with weeds and thorns) to human relationships. When Eve ate the forbidden fruit and enticed Adam to sin with her, one of the consequences for women was the loss of equality with men, as men were to “rule” over women, instead of men and women ruling together. She would now be ruled by her husband.
Remember, this relationship of men ruling over women is not the original plan which God intended – the relationship between Adam and Eve had been affected by the fall. Men ruling over women is part of a curse.
DOES JESUS RESTORE MAN (MEN AND WOMEN) TO A POSITON OF EQUALITY?
When Jesus came as sinless man and died as the Messiah on the cross for us the restoration of man (men and women) began to take place at that very moment. Though the complete cleansing of the curse has not yet been manifested on the earth, the day is coming when it will be so. Through Jesus, the curses of Genesis in the spiritual realm have been lifted. Examine the following passages of scripture to see if this is not the case:
Romans 5:12, 17-19
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who received the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“But now Christ has been raised form the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.”
JESUS HAS GIVEN LIFE TO ALL CHRISTIANS
In Christ death has no hold for the Christian. The curse of death has been lifted.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.”
Galatians 3:25-29
“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (the law). For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
PAUL PROCLAIMS ALL ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT
Once we are born into the kingdom of God, we become new creatures in Christ. We find there are no ethnic distinctions, or class separations, or gender differences. The Lord looks on the hearts of His new creatures and therefore does not discriminate when He offers His love, privileges and gifts. All of us are a part of the church for the well being of each other and the world. The curse of inequality has been abolished.
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE IN LEADERSHIP AND MINISTRY POSITIONS
Old Testament
MIRIAM IS A KEY LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL
Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21) She is the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She is called a prophetess in the Bible. She led a women’s worship service in Exodus 15:20-21. She is spoken of along with Aaron and Moses who brought the nation out of slavery. It is important to realize that God sent her, along with Moses and Aaron, in a leadership role, to free the nation of Israel.
“I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Marian.” Micah 6:4
She was so important that when she died her death was mourned as a public calamity.
God put Miriam in a key position of leadership. She was not elected. She was chosen by God to be a leader.
HULDAH INSTRUCTS THE PRIESTS
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20) She is renowned as a prophetess. When the book of the law was found Hilkiah the high priest sent it to King Josiah. When the king heard what was written in the book he tore his cloths and he requested that the priests go and inquire of the Lord. Five priests went and spoke to Huldah.
Huldah hears the voice of the Lord. She then instructs, teaches and prophesizes to the religious leaders of Israel. The religious leaders listened to her and brought the word back to the king. She teaches the priests and instructs them. They in turn recognize her authority and her position within God’s kingdom. After they receive her instruction the priests bring the message to the king – who then gives instruction to the nation. By Huldah, a woman prophet, the nation is changed.
HANNAH A WORSHIPER
Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10) She was a worshiper the Lord. A devout mother of the prophet-leader Samuel. She prayed in the tabernacle of the Lord and the Lord heard her. She made offerings to the Lord. (The prayer of Hannah is found in 1 Samuel 2:10.)
DEBORAH A JUDGE OF ISRAEL
Deborah (Judges 4-5) She is called a prophetess in the Bible. The children of Israel would come to her for counsel. She gave military advice. She was looked up to as one of the great leaders and judges of Israel.
New Testament
ANNA A PROPHETESS
Anna (Luke 2:36-38) An aged widow who was a prophetess (84 years old). She spent all her time at worship in the Temple. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus at the Temple, Anna announced publicly the Jesus way the fulfillment of God’s promises.
PHEOBE A DEACONESS
Pheobe (Romans 16:1-2) This woman was a deaconess in the church at Cenchrea. She was beloved of Paul and many other Christians for the help she gave to them. She filled an important position of leadership.
PRISCILLA A TEACHER AND PASTOR
Priscilla (Acts 18:26) (Mentioned 5 times in the Bible.) Priscilla and her husband Aquila are often mentioned with great respect by Paul. Together they were pastors of a church in Ephesus, and were responsible for teaching the full gospel to Apollos. Priscilla is sometimes listed ahead of Aquila. She was a woman in a very prominent position of teaching and pastoring.
Eph 4:11-12 (GW) "He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts to his church. Their purpose is to prepare God’s people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ." Priscilla and Aquila are both found fulfilling the role mentioned in these verses as they teach Apollos.
JUNIA A FELLOW PRISONER
Junia (Romans 16:7) Junia is a fellow-prisoner who is of note among the apostles. Junia is a women’s name.
DAUGHTERS OF PHILLIP - PROPHETESS
Daughters of Phillip (Acts 21:8-9) Here are mentioned four daughter who prophesied.
DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL - PROPHETESS
Daughters of Israel (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21)
Joel 2:28-29
“And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servant I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
PETER PROCLAIMS EQUALITY AT PENTECOST
Peter uses the prophecy of Joel in Acts 2:14-21. In fact he proclaims that “every one who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Not only saved but be given gifts and abilities - even the “daughters”. This is of major importance as women will take major leadership roles in the early church. (We will look at this later in this paper.) God poured out his Spirit – God’s presence filled Christians regardless of age and gender at the day of Pentecost just as He does today.
CLERGY TERMS USED FOR WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
Prophet – Prophetess: Found both in the Old and the New Testament.
Ministers or Servants - the literal translation Deacon. Romans 16:1
Fellow workers or labors. Romans 16:3, Philippians 4:3
Fellow prisoner. Romans 16:7
JESUS TREATMENT OF WOMEN
This is a list of scriptures for further study:
Matthew 9:20-22
Matthew 15:21-28
Matthew 26:6-13
Luke 2:36-38
Luke 7:39
John 4:7 Woman at the Well.
PROBLEM TEXTS
As I mentioned earlier in this paper both of the problem texts are from Paul’s writings. Paul’s writings are sometimes misunderstood because the details that led him to write as he did are not clearly known. Today we must study the context of his writing, rely on the Holy Spirit and place it in the entirety of scripture to interpret how we are to apply these verses to every day life. Scripture must always be compared with other scripture and interpreted within its historical context before its meaning can be understood. Even during the time when these verses were written, there were those who tried to twist the meaning of his words.
2 Peter 3:16
“…His (Paul’s) letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
Paul’s writings must be studied extensively to obtain a proper interpretation. No quick reading of Paul’s writings will lead to a proper understanding.
First Corinthians 11:5 is one of the most important passages regarding women in ministry. This text is often overlooked because of other questions. But one thing is clear: women were praying and prophesying in the early Church. The only concern that Paul seems to have about this activity was for women and men having the proper head coverings.
If we take First Corinthians 14:34 in isolation we find that Paul is instructing women to keep quiet in worship. A problem arises in the fact that Paul has already given the instruction of proper dress when women speak in church. (1 Cor. 11:5) Why would Paul include instructions of head coverings when he would later instruct women not to speak?
The context of 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 begins with verse 26, and it is clear that the worship of the early church was different from our services. When the church met for worship, all the people were encouraged to make a contribution to the service by offering some item for praise and instruction. Paul’s concern in 14:26-36 is the disruption of the service. Women are not the only ones asked to be silent. Anyone who was going to speak in tongues is told to keep silent if no interpreter were present (14:28). Also, if one prophet was speaking and revelation came to someone else, the first prophet should be silent (14:30). The service was to be orderly because God is a God of peace (14:33) and a God of order (14:40).
The issue in First Corinthians, with regard to women, is clearly within the context of the disruption of the worship service. The new found freedom of women in Christ no doubt caused difficulties in the Corinthian church. It seems that in the Corinthian church married women were disrupting the service by asking questions of their husbands during the service. This would be very disruptive since probably at that time men and women did not sit together. Paul instructed these women to keep silent in church and ask questions of their husbands at home (14:35). (If we take 1 Cor. 14:35 at face value - there is no instruction for un-married women at all.)
The text in First Timothy 2:11-12 is more difficult to understand, but the issues are the same. Paul’s first letter to Timothy provided a young pastor with counsel for dealing with the troubled church in Ephesus. In this situation there was false teaching taking place. (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1:18-19; 6:3-5) Ephesus was a port city know for its fertility cults and temple prostitutes. The city was also the site of an emerging philosophy which taught that woman was created before man, and the woman was superior to her male counterpart, and that a truly enlightened woman would not marry or have children.
In this situation Paul was forbidding women to teach or have authority over men because the community would see that women superiority was endorsed by the church. This explanation makes sense because taken in context (1 Timothy 2:11-15) Paul teaches 1. the order of creation, 2. Eve’s part in the fall of mankind, and 3. that childbearing as being a good thing. This passage of scripture contains doctrine that would dispel the heresy of the superiority of women.
Note: “Let the women learn in silence with all submission.” In this entire chapter Paul is writing about Christian conduct. The same Greek word that is used for “silence” in verse 11 has already been used in verse 2 when he says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplication, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that they may lead a quiet (silent) and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” In the first part of this chapter Paul addresses men and later he addresses women about the issue of silence. All Christians are to have a “silent” life.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE – LOVE - UNITY
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul wrote about gender distinction. In chapter 12, he described complementary function and unity. In chapter 13, he addressed the most important of all issues – love. Without love, and specifically the kind of love he describes in that chapter, the complementary differences and unity of function will not work for one another but against one another. Paul wasn’t talking about just any kind of love. He was talking about a love that “suffers long and is kind.” A love that “does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.” And a love that does all of these things for the good of one another.
Are you confused about the role of women in the church? Are you angry because of the ways you have seen leadership mishandled? Are you fearful that something terrible is about to happen if things don’t change – or if they do? Then take a deep breath and look into the eyes of Jesus. He is the solution for leadership wherever it lands. Leadership is worthless unless it is patient, kind, not envying, not boasting, not throwing its weight around, not self-protective, but caring, helping and feeling.
We are to seek unity in the church – in fact in the Lord’s prayer (John chapter 17) – Jesus prayer for unity. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believer in Me through their word; that they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be on in Us.” Because the Father was in Christ they had unity. Does God dwell in you? Has the Holy Spirit taken up residence in your life? If so there should be unity - because we are of “one body and one Spirit… (we have) one faith, one baptism one God and Father of all.” Eph 4:4-5 In Christ we are one family.
Prayer
Father, watch over your church – our church – and may we watch over each other and care for each other regardless of our differences. Regardless of our age differences. Regardless of our economic differences. Regardless of our theological differences. Regardless of our gender differences. May we be one Father – as you and Christ are one.
