CAN WOMEN TEACH IN CHURCH
IS GOD A RESPECTER OF PERSONS
HAVE WOMEN TAUGHT IN THE PAST
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ON THIS SUBJECT

There are several scriptures which appear to be against women talking or teaching in church, 
There are several scriptures which show that there have been many women of God, who have taught or preached the word of God. 
We have judges, prophetesses and women of high regard in the church. 

There seems to be a contradiction, so lets look at the scriptures. 

THE VERSES AGAINST WOMEN SPEAKING IN CHURCH 

1 COR 14 V 34- 35

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. 

According to the commentaries, at the time the women who attended church, sat together during church services and chattered away to each other.  Also some of the women would call out  questions to the speaker. This would have been disruptive to the speaker and would have made it hard for others to hear what was being said, so the above verse was necessary for that particular time, and the churches which had the problem.  The problem being women were to listen quietly at church, it is not a reference to women teaching the congregation. We do not think the commentaries are inspired however we feel they are helpful on historical issues etc.  That is the only reason we site them here.

1 TIM 2 V 9 

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 

Again according to the commentaries, the women, were tending to dress like men or over dressing and therefore putting on a show.  The emphasis should be on moderation in all things, if one is dripping with diamonds, dressed in silk and leather, perhaps some of these funds could have been given to the poor.  We need to dress in the best we have when we come before God, but not to show up those who have very little. 

1 TIM 2 V 12

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 

This verse gives no mention of church, and so it would indicate that the man is to be in authority over the woman.  The woman should not tell him what to do. 

It is difficult to imagine that any person would just come up and give a sermon on the Sabbath without first having authority to do so. The churches at the time of writing would have had organized meetings with people in charge to do the speaking.  I have not read any scriptures which indicate that the churches were disorganized and that just anyone out of the assembly could come up and speak. 
The speakers would have been given authority to speak before the assembly.

THE VERSES WHICH SHOW WOMEN WHO TEACH

EX 15 V 20

Miriam was a leader among women. 

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 

She was also in authority along with Moses and Aaron.  Miriam would have had huge responsibilities over the Israelites. 

MIC 6 V 4

For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 
 

Here we see that Deborah judged Israel and she spoke the words of God.  This is what a prophet or prophetess does, they speak Gods words not their own. 

JUDGES 4 V 4-6

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 
And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 

Notice again that Huldah the prophetess speaks the words of the Lord. 
 

2 KINGS 22 V 14-15

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 
And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, 

The following verses shows that Huldah the prophetess dwelt in the college, therefore she would  have been a teacher there. 

2 CHRON 34 V 22

And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect. 

The following women are mentioned in the scriptures as prophetesses. 

NEH 6 V 14

My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 

ISA 8 V 3

And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. 

LUKE 2 V 36-37

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 

This is a very interesting scripture, we see that Aquila and Priscilla expounded the way of God more perfectly.  She taught the word of God. 

ACTS 18 V 26

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 

Notice that at a time yet ahead of us men and women will prophesy

ACTS 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

Notice the next verse is referring to the Church members.  Men and women in Gods church at the end time will prophesy.

Act 2:18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 
 

God is no respecter of persons, and whether male of female, if God wants to use them He will.  As we have shown above, many women have been used by God in teaching roles. 

There is neither male or female to God.  If a woman is being used by God, why shouldn’t she  teach others. 

If a woman taught in the church in these end times, it could be a good example to see how the peoples hearts were in relation to this. 
If there is ample scriptures showing where women taught both in the old and new testament, then why would a woman not be able to teach today. 

 

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