Karen Wheaton
1
Does God Allow Women To Be Preachers?
NO! God DOES NOT allow women to be preachers. That is not my opinion or interpretation! That is plain Bible fact!
The Bible restricts what women can do in the church in I Timothy 2:11-12, "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." There are two specific contrasts in verse 11: women are to LEARN, not to TEACH, and, they are to be in SUBJECTION, not DOMINION. This is a principle stated throughout the Scriptures. Verse 12 makes it plain, women are not to teach nor to usurp authority over the man." A woman does not have the authority to teach, or in any other way, have authority or dominion over the man. Therefore, any and all teaching over the man is prohibited! This is not a cultural situation, nor is it simply a first century practice. The force of the Greek words means this legislation is for ALL TIME. It is just as true today as it was 2,000 years ago.
I Corinthians 14:34-35 says, 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. ...For it is a shame for women to speak in the church." Here, Gods law is applied to a local situation. Women teaching men is not permitted!
However, some churches have women preachers anyway! Why they do, I do not know. It is a plain violation of Gods divine law. The only way they can do so is to simply ignore Bible authority. In effect its saying: I read what the Bible says, but Im going to do what I want anyway. The sad thing about it is, many are content to let women do it. Those who follow their lead should read Exodus 23:2, Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil...."
I Corinthians 11:3 states the principle this way: But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Surely, all these verses are plain enough that even a child can understand. This is the role God has made for both MEN and WOMEN. Men can no more change the role God has given them than women can change the role God has given them. We must simply respect it!
It is important to note that the instructions found in the following passages are being given as a part of general instructions governing the conduct of the entire church in the process of worshipping God. The context of the passages indicate that there must have been a problem in the early church (not just the congregation at Corinth) regarding women attempting to take control in leadership roles God had not authorized them to take. Women are allowed by Gods authority to teach non-Christians and other women when there are no Christian men to carry out the task.
1Cor. 14:33-37 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
1Tim. 2:11-12 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.