Women in Ministry
I am asked for my opinion on women in ministry from time to time. Just this morning I was asked and thought I would relay my thoughts on this subject here.
This is a great question and one that very smart and committed Christians disagree about, whether they are men or women. Up front, I am for people teaching and preaching who are gifted to do so. I don't care if they are men or women. If they are gifted by God, then they should do it. That doesn't address what the Bible says, though, and I always want my beliefs to line up with Scripture. So, here's the longer answer as to why I support women teaching. Please feel free to disagree, ask questions, and dialog further.
First, we see women in leadership and teaching roles in the New Testament. Priscilla helps to instruct Apollos (Acts 18:26), a man who worked at planting churches. Phoebe is a deacon (servant) of the church in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). Junias is mentioned as an apostle (Romans 16:8).
Second, Acts 2:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:5 have women prophesying (speaking God's words). Acts is the fulfillment of Joel's vision from the Old Testament. 1 Corinthians has odd instructions about how to pray and prophesy, saying that women should have their heads covered, but it has them prophesying, nonetheless.
Third, two passages seem to teach that women should not lead or preach in churches. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 says that if women have questions, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. This seems pretty straightforward, doesn't it? I don't think so. First, read 1 Corinthians 11:5 where women are speaking in church! So, what's going on here? The word for women that Paul uses could also mean 'wife,' which it likely does since Paul is speaking about asking their husbands. Paul wants the people to prophesy in turn so that people can think about what is said (verse 29) and so that not everyone is speaking up at once (verses 30-31). Paul wants there to be order in worship. So, think about it like this: Men and women have been prophesying to each other all through the service (11:5). At one point a man stands up to prophesy in his turn. His wife, having questions about what he said, starts questioning him right away, interrupting him. Paul says, "If a wife has a question, ask it at home." It's not a matter of women never speaking in church, but keeping order in worship services.
The other passage is 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Paul gives instructions to men and then to women. Men shouldn't be angry in worship and dispute and fight with one another. Women shouldn't impress with their hair and clothes, but with their lives. Also, women should learn, submitting to what is taught them. How do we understand this? First, remember that Paul is writing to Timothy, reminding Timothy that he is the teacher. This is important because lots of women in Ephesus were teachers in other temples of false gods and idols. When they became Christians, they would naturally teach and be in authority because of their gifts, but they still needed to learn and not be in authority. They didn't know enough to teach yet, so Paul says he doesn't permit women to teach or have authority. You can also translate this, "I am not permitting...", which implies that this advice would only be temporary. Would Paul have permitted women to teach once they had been sufficiently grounded in God's interaction with the Jews and the story of Jesus? I think so.
This is a great question and one that very smart and committed Christians disagree about, whether they are men or women. Up front, I am for people teaching and preaching who are gifted to do so. I don't care if they are men or women. If they are gifted by God, then they should do it. That doesn't address what the Bible says, though, and I always want my beliefs to line up with Scripture. So, here's the longer answer as to why I support women teaching. Please feel free to disagree, ask questions, and dialog further.
First, we see women in leadership and teaching roles in the New Testament. Priscilla helps to instruct Apollos (Acts 18:26), a man who worked at planting churches. Phoebe is a deacon (servant) of the church in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). Junias is mentioned as an apostle (Romans 16:8).
Second, Acts 2:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:5 have women prophesying (speaking God's words). Acts is the fulfillment of Joel's vision from the Old Testament. 1 Corinthians has odd instructions about how to pray and prophesy, saying that women should have their heads covered, but it has them prophesying, nonetheless.
Third, two passages seem to teach that women should not lead or preach in churches. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 says that if women have questions, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. This seems pretty straightforward, doesn't it? I don't think so. First, read 1 Corinthians 11:5 where women are speaking in church! So, what's going on here? The word for women that Paul uses could also mean 'wife,' which it likely does since Paul is speaking about asking their husbands. Paul wants the people to prophesy in turn so that people can think about what is said (verse 29) and so that not everyone is speaking up at once (verses 30-31). Paul wants there to be order in worship. So, think about it like this: Men and women have been prophesying to each other all through the service (11:5). At one point a man stands up to prophesy in his turn. His wife, having questions about what he said, starts questioning him right away, interrupting him. Paul says, "If a wife has a question, ask it at home." It's not a matter of women never speaking in church, but keeping order in worship services.
The other passage is 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Paul gives instructions to men and then to women. Men shouldn't be angry in worship and dispute and fight with one another. Women shouldn't impress with their hair and clothes, but with their lives. Also, women should learn, submitting to what is taught them. How do we understand this? First, remember that Paul is writing to Timothy, reminding Timothy that he is the teacher. This is important because lots of women in Ephesus were teachers in other temples of false gods and idols. When they became Christians, they would naturally teach and be in authority because of their gifts, but they still needed to learn and not be in authority. They didn't know enough to teach yet, so Paul says he doesn't permit women to teach or have authority. You can also translate this, "I am not permitting...", which implies that this advice would only be temporary. Would Paul have permitted women to teach once they had been sufficiently grounded in God's interaction with the Jews and the story of Jesus? I think so.
Labels: ministry
posted by Aaron Perry at
12:11 PM
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