Women of the Bible


Lesson Ten


WOMEN IN THE EPISTLES: POSITION IN THE CHURCH

 

KEY VERSE:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

 

INTRODUCTION

The last chapter discussed women with specific ministries mentioned in the Epistles.
Now we will study the general position of women in the Church as revealed in these same
books.

 

Some of the teaching regarding women by the Apostle Paul is difficult to understand.
Even the Apostle Peter mentioned the difficulty of interpreting all Paul shared under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

 

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
(II Peter 3:16)

 

Peter indicates there are some things difficult to understand, but that only the unlearned
and unstable argue over them. Such contention is to their own destruction. In other
words, arguments over such things do not help anyone and actually damages the one
arguing.

 

Various commentators have interpreted Paul's teaching on women in many ways. Just
remember that when interpretation varies, arguments should not arise between believers.

If the discussion in this manual differs from your own personal interpretation or that of
your denomination, please realize it is not intended to cause division. If you have
personal convictions in certain areas, then you need to abide by them for conscience sake,
as Paul says. It is important to remember that all the instructions in the Epistles of Paul,
as well as those in the other Epistles, were given within the context of a Church in which
women were active in ministry. We have already studied about their involvement in
previous chapters on Acts and the Epistles. No passages in the Epistles can be used to
forbid women access to dynamic Christian ministry like that of women in the early
Church.

 

TEACHING AND PREACHING

One of the difficult passages in the Epistles affecting the role of women in the Church is
in I Corinthians:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the
saints.

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 any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it
is a shame for women to speak in the Church. (I Corinthians 14:33-35)

This passage is often used to prohibit women from teaching or preaching in the Church.
Paul does not mean women are to keep totally silent. In the preceding chapter, he
provides much detail about how a woman should have her head covered when she prays
and prophesies. (We will discuss this passage later in this chapter). Why would he waste
time on this discussion if they were not supposed to speak in Church at all?

In the study on Acts you learned that at the coming of the Holy Spirit Peter said it
fulfilled the prophecy of Joel. This prophecy stated the Holy Spirit was to come upon the
"daughters and handmaidens" and they would prophesy.

 

I Corinthians 14 may be one of the passages that Peter refers to as "difficult to
understand" in Paul's writings. The most important clue to the problem is the meaning of
the Greek word translated "to speak" in verse 34. The word here does not refer to public
speaking, but means "chatting, questioning, arguing."

 

Read I Corinthians 14 in your Bible. You will note that Paul's purpose in this chapter is
to prevent confusion in the Church. His concern is that everything is done in order in
the worship services. This is why he tells women not to question or chat in the middle of
Church services but to wait and ask their husbands at home.


The cultural context in which this instruction was given must also be considered. In
Jewish churches, the women sat in one section, the men in another. Apparently the
Corinthian women were not only chattering but also shouting questions to their husbands
in the men's section. One person who works among Jewish people says that even today
he has heard the president of a synagogue bang on the pulpit and shout to the women's
section to be quiet.

 

Proper order is Paul's concern in this passage and there is no conflict between this passage
and his description of what a regular Church service should be:

When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath
a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation...If any man speak in an
unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three...Let the prophets
speak two or three...For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn,
and all may be comforted. (I Corinthians 14:26-27, 29, 31)

The pattern Paul describes for Church worship appears to be a very informal type of
meeting. He tells every one that has a psalm, doctrine, tongue, revelation, or
interpretation to present it in proper order. "Every one" includes women.


TOTAL SILENCE?

One other passage in the Epistles should be discussed here, as it is similar to the one in
Corinthians:

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. (I Timothy 2:11-14)

 

The word "silence" does not mean women are never to speak. If they were to learn in
total silence, they could never ask questions or discuss what they are learning. The word
"silence" Paul used calls for a calm, non disruptive spirit open to learning.

 

The words "usurp authority" means to dictate to or domineer over the man, to act in one's
own authority. None of us should act in our own authority. As you will learn when we
discuss the subject of submission, we all should submit to one another, male and female
alike. But in this passage, Paul warns that women, especially, should never assume a
domineering attitude over a man.


With all this said, it is clear that women can talk, teach, and yes even preach within the church.... BUT, at no time are they to have authority or rule over the men. They are to minister under the guidance and leadership of the male Pastor. Most generally, their role should be to teaching and preaching to women and children, and this should be done under the leadership of the Pastor. This in no way is to reflect that women are lesser in any since of the word, but that God has given spiritual authority to the men, and that has never changed.


THE MORE SINFUL SEX?

In this passage Paul is not condemning women for their part in the fall into sin or
indicating they are a more sinful sex. He is merely pointing out that when Eve acted in
her own carnal will and authority she was deceived. When you speak or act in a dictating,
domineering spirit, you open yourself up to deception and sin.

Paul is certainly not releasing man from his responsibility in the fall. Eve was deceived
and thought she would become like a god. Adam was not deceived but sinned with full
understanding of what he was doing and the consequences.

 

THE COVERING

Another passage that has been the subject of much discussion is the one mentioned
briefly above dealing with a woman and her covering. This passage is found in I
Corinthians chapter eleven. Read verses 3-16 before proceeding with this discussion.

Some interpret the word "head" in this passage to mean man is the ruler over the woman.
The Hebrew word used may mean "rule" but just as often means "beginning." Paul was
speaking of Jesus being the beginning or ruler over the Church, just as man, created first
in God's image, is the beginning of woman and she is from him. In the following chapter,
we will discuss "headship" and submission as we study instructions in the Epistles
directed to wives. Our concern here is with the portion of this passage on how women are
to pray or prophesy.

 

Some think these instructions indicate women should have long hair and never cut it
because it is their covering. Others believe it means a woman should wear a hat when she
attends church services to cover her head. The important thing to remember in
interpreting this passage is Paul's final statement in verse 16:

...but if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
Churches of God. (I Corinthians 11:16)

 

He said there should be no contention or arguments about the subject. In verse 18 he
notes his concern about such division in the Corinthian Church. Paul's greatest concern
was for order and unity in the Church. Whatever interpretation is given to these passages
it should not cause division.

 

This passage indicates man was first formed and then woman. It states that each is
incomplete without the other. Men and women were created to be a mutual comfort and
blessing to one another, not one a slave and the other a tyrant. As the woman was first
formed out of the man, man is ever since formed out of the body of a woman. Just as it is
the will of God that the woman accept her place of submission to her husband, so it is the
will of God that man not abuse his leadership responsibilities.

 

Paul speaks of the importance of a woman praying with proper covering for her head. In
Paul's time, the wearing of a veil by a married Jewish woman signified they were under
submission to their husband. It was an outward custom signifying an inward attitude.
Paul indicates that a woman's hair could also serve as a symbol of this covering (verse
15). It was not necessary for men to wear a covering since they were the covering for the
woman, designated by God to lovingly lead and care for her.

 

This passage does not mean unmarried women cannot pray or prophesy in Church. It
means that when a woman prays or ministers, she should do so in an attitude of
submission to God and, if she is married, to her husband. This attitude results in the
power of God and his angels resting upon her. Praying or prophesying with a rebellious
attitude is not effective. Right relationship to God and your mate is essential to powerful
ministry.

 

Some still maintain the custom of wearing a hat or veil during worship to symbolize
proper heart attitudes. Some maintain that women should wear long hair for the same
purpose. These are issues dictated by custom or conviction and should be respected but
not become divisive issues.

 

The important concept of Paul's teaching is this: A Christian woman should be in proper
relationship to her husband by demonstrating an attitude of loving submission to him as
she does to Jesus Christ. Ministry without this attitude is ineffective. Whether or not this
is symbolized by the custom of the wearing of a veil or long hair as it was in Paul's time is
not the important issue.

 

IN SUMMARY

We can not interpret any of the passages discussed in this lesson as a barrier to women's
ministry in the Church,  If women were to keep total silence and not teach or preach then
how did New Testament women organize Churches in their homes? Why did Paul send
salutations and commendations to them in the Epistles if they were wrong in taking these
leadership roles in the Church? Why did he give detailed instructions as to how they
were to "prophesy" (speak) in the Church with proper covering?

We must view these passages in terms of Paul's permanent views on the subject of
women. His final summary is that:


Men are given the spiritual leadership in the Church and Home. They are to lead with humility and love. Women can also serve within the church in many aspects of ministry as long as it does not involve having a leadership or authority role over men. Remember, "Pastor" and "Preacher" are two different roles. A woman should never hold a "Pastors" position as it requires having authority over men. However, a "Preacher" is simply someone who proclaims the Gospel. A "Pastor" may "preach" among many other roles, but a "Preacher" does not necessarily have to be a "Pastor". Women can preach in the church (i.e. proclaim the Gospel), but they can not be the Pastor. They are to be in subjection to their Husband and Pastor in regards to Spiritual matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer the questions below.  If you miss a question, go back and study that portion of the class and then retake the test.  Once you have received a 100% you may proceed to the next class.  You DO NOT have to submit this test for grading.  Only the final test will be submitted.