Q: Is it correct to have women as pastors? I thought the Bible says no—correct? —Karl
A: The main Scriptural evidence referred to by people who don’t believe that women should be pastors is 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:12. First Timothy 2:12 seems to place an especially strong limitation on the service of women in the church, “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men.”
These two passages are rather puzzling when seen in the context of the entire New Testament. It’s interesting—for example—that it was in Ephesus, the church to which 1 Timothy was addressed, that Priscilla gave instructions to the famous preacher Apollos. In 1 Corinthians 11:5—within the same epistle in which Paul states that it is shameful for a woman to speak in church—Paul seems to assume that women will be speaking openly in mixed church gatherings.
Women did have the authority to preach in the apostolic church (Acts 21:8-9). It is possible that Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 was addressing a particular issue relating to the Corinthian women that would have been clear to the Corinthians but is not to us.
Many passages in Scripture describe the important role played by women in the apostolic church, a role they played in spite of many severe, culturally imposed limitations. D. L. Moody, A. J. Gordon, C. G. Finney, and J. Blanchard considered women to be virtually equal to men in terms of their ministry in the church. One of Dwight L. Moody’s associate evangelists, Phoebe Palmer, was credited with the salvation of 25,000 souls. She declared that the church is often like a “potter’s field,” in which the talents of women are buried. A great deal of biblical study was devoted to this issue during the period of the great American evangelists in the past century.
I believe that Paul’s strong wording in 1 Timothy 2:12 calls for discretion in respect to women’s leadership in the church. At the same time, however, the puzzling and seemingly contradictory nature of Paul’s statements on this issue, combined with the clear teaching of Scripture in respect to the equality of the sexes before God (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:11-12; Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34), make me skeptical of the view that women are to be denied the opportunity to use their God-given gifts in the church for the glory of God.
At present, I believe that the most biblical position is be to allow women to possess authority in the church with the supervision of the pastor and elders. The standards for elders given in 1 Timothy 3 are very strict and exacting, and if these standards are upheld by the church, women will not labor under arbitrary and authoritarian male leadership. —Dan VanderLugt
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daisymarygoldr on August 16, 2012 at 7:57 pm
When passages in Scripture are understood according to the cultural beliefs of a gender-neutral society, it is puzzling. When women go to war, travel to space and if we can have women players and doctors, then why not women pastors? The Church however, is different from the world and functions according to God’s way and not man’s ways.
Clearly, in the scripture God has ordained men to teach and women to listen quietly so that everything is done properly in the church. And this pattern for the structural order of the New Testament Church applies to the church: at Corinth, at Ephesus, at every other province in the Roman Empire, to churches in subsequent centuries, and at “all the meetings of God’s holy people” (1 Corinthians 14:33). A meeting refers to the gathering of the general assembly of saints which would be equivalent to church services today.
Women are equally knowledgeable as men and are commanded to teach other women when equipped with the spiritual gift to serve as “pastors” (Ephesians 4:12). Priscilla was not a Pastor who gave instructions from the pulpit. When they heard Apollos preaching boldly in the synagogue, both Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. In this context, “aside” is any place other than the church setting. As a woman, I post these comments here in an attempt to explain things more accurately 🙂 This is not the same as teaching/preaching in the church.
True, Philip’s daughters had the gift of prophesy but it was a man named Agabus that ministered to Paul with his gift of prophecy (Acts 21:10-11). Paul’s instruction for women is not just in respect to leadership but also includes teaching. “I do not let women ‘teach’ men or have authority over them.” And this is in accordance to the plan of God from the time of the creation. Paul explains that “God made Adam first, and afterward He made Eve.” The created order has nothing to do with “equality of the sexes”. Again, this misinterpretation is due to the influence of the feminist philosophy of the culture outside that has also seeped into the church.
Order means sequence as in the numerical or alphabetical order. Since the #1 or the letter A comes first it does not imply #2 or the letter B is inferior or less important. Man first and the woman next, is similar to: the person who arrives first is the one to stand first in the queue. Failure to follow this rule results in disorder. And when a woman jumps the queue and steps in front of the man to usurp his role, it is in disobedience to follow God’s order. It causes confusion and that home, church or society eventually ceases to function and accomplish God’s purpose.
So, why are women not given the authority to teach? This is because “it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.” In saying this, Paul is speaking about the weakness of women to easily be misled by erroneous teachings and false teachers—to “go astray and follow Satan”. Having said all of this, there is always an exception to the rule. In case the man is not present, the woman must step up to fulfill his role. God has given men the primary teaching authority in the church. And if men shy away from their responsibility, then God will use women to feed His flock and accomplish His purposes for the church. He does this to not honor women but to honor Himself and for His ultimate glory.
tom felten on August 17, 2012 at 8:58 am
daisy, as always, your biblical insights and passion for following God and His plans are inspiring. This can be a difficult stance for a Christian woman to take, but your evident desire to honor what God’s Word reveals is inspiring. May we all, both men and women, continue to search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) as you have modeled so well.
GChoo on August 18, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Thank you for the explanation to this somewhat puzzling subject. Sometimes, it can be confusing especially living in this modern world where many women are performing just as well as men.
Daisy, really appreciate your contribution which is as always so inspiring and easily understood. May God continue to bless you spiritually as well as physically in your work for Him.
Yes, as what Tom said that we should continue to search the Scriptures and importantly it directs us to God’s truth.