Consider the Role of Women in Today’s Church
I’m a proponent of women in ministry. In this regard, I’m a feminist—at least from a historical perspective and as the dictionary defines feminism. I’ve even posited that Jesus may have been the first feminist.
I’m also aware that not everyone agrees that women can be in leadership positions in Jesus’s church. Yet I disagree. Here’s why.
Paul
Passages in the Bible that people say prohibit women in ministry, from teaching and preaching, come from Paul.
To Timothy, Paul states bluntly that he doesn’t permit a woman to teach or be in a position of authority over men. She must remain quiet (1 Timothy 2:12). Note that Paul isn’t telling Timothy to do this or command him to do the same. Paul merely states his practices.
To the church in Corinth, Paul writes that women should remain silent in church (1 Corinthians 14:34). This is a broad statement, leading us to wonder if women can even talk at all when they go to church. That certainly seems unreasonable. Are they even allowed to sing?
Yet we must remember that Paul’s letters contain information addressing problems that have come to his attention or questions they asked him. Therefore, we don’t know the context of why Paul tells this to the Corinthian church.
Without knowing the context of why Paul makes this statement, it’s difficult to determine if this is to address a specific issue in the Corinthian church—which had lots of issues—or a generic instruction for us all to follow.
Consider that Paul insisted Timothy be circumcised (Acts 16:1-3). But later Paul did not compel Titus to undergo that rite (Galatians 2:3).
Did Paul change his mind? Was he unsure about circumcision? No. He made these seemingly conflicting decisions based on the circumstances of the situation.
In similar fashion, when Paul tells Timothy to drink a little wine (1 Timothy 5:23), we all rightly understand this as an instruction specifically for Timothy. We’d be wrong to conclude that Paul is commanding everyone to drink wine. He is not. Context matters.
Likewise, we must consider Paul’s instructions to the Christian church for women to remain silent with the same careful scrutiny and not take his words out of context. This is because we don’t know the context.
Jesus
In the four biographies of Jesus, he never once tells women to be silent or limit what they do.
Though he doesn’t pick any females to be one of his twelve apostles, women are present throughout Jesus’s ministry. They take active logistical and supportive roles to facilitate what he does.
Most significantly, consider that Jesus taps women to deliver the breaking news of all time that he had risen from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10).
He doesn’t tell them to be quiet. Instead, he tells them to go and tell others. In this regard, women are the first missionaries for Jesus.
In the Beginning
Adam and Eve begin life in an idyllic paradise. Yet when they sin, God punishes them and sends them away. Eve receives three punishments: pain in childbirth, a desire for her husband, and him ruling over her (Genesis 3:16).
The middle phrase is confusing, but the NLT clarifies: “You will desire to control your husband.”
So before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, things must have been the opposite: childbirth was easy, women did not seek to control their husbands, and men did not rule over their wives.
Going forward, women would desire to control their husbands, and husbands would rule their wives.
Though this curse relates to marriage, we see this tenancy of women seeking to control and men seeking to rule carry over into many other areas, including the church.
More Examples of Women Leading
The Bible provides accounts of women in ministry in various ways. We have Deborah who rises up when a man refuses (Judges 4:4-9). We have Esther, who intercedes for her people when no one else can (Esther 4:14).
We’ve already talked about Mary Magdalene telling the disciples the good news of Jesus’s resurrection. Later, Paul sends Phoebe to Rome to serve on his behalf and help grow that church (Romans 16:1–2). He calls her a deacon and sends her out as a missionary.
When it comes to proclaiming truth, consider Miriam as a worship leader (Exodus 15:20-21). Similarly, we have Deborah’s song (Judges 5).
In the New Testament, we have Elizabeth’s Spirit-filled proclamation (Luke 1:41-45) and Mary’s insightful song of praise (Luke 1:46-55). We also read about Anna when she thanks God for baby Jesus and tells the people about him (Luke 2:36-38).
I find most intriguing the mentions of Aquila and Priscilla in the book of Acts. Often Luke lists Priscilla first and then Aquila (Acts 18:19 and Acts 18:26).
Paul often does the same (Romans 16:3 and 2 Timothy 4:19). This suggests Priscilla takes the lead in much of the pair’s ministry work.
Consider prophetesses. There is Huldah (2 Kings 22:14). Isaiah calls his wife a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3). This makes me wonder about what her role might’ve been in his ministry. We also have Miriam and Anna, who we’ve already covered.
Women in Ministry
What if all these women had remained quiet? Yet they didn’t. They answered God’s call in their lives to lead and teach others. They did so without restriction or reprisal.
May all women follow their example today. And may all men encourage them to do so and not try to rule over them. This will allow Jesus’s kingdom to advance and grow. Isn’t that the point?
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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