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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