What Paul Said About Women Teaching In Church. How Does It Square With Female Pastors Today?
Posted: Tuesday, April 20, 2010
by Steven Rogers
This question was asked by a member of a small group of friend that periodically debate different issues, "I am curious about your views on what Paul said about women teaching in church. How does it square with female pastors today? Was his teaching culturally biased? Or are women like Joyce Meyer and Marilyn Hickey completely off base?" This is such a hot button' issue that I had to share my answer and get you responses. I tried to base my answer strictly on biblical teaching. Here is my answer:
In I Cor. 14:34-36, Paul states that women should be silent in church, which at first glance appears to contradict the teaching that women may pray and speak (I Cor. 11:5). However, context is the key here as well. Paul's overarching emphasis in chapter 14 is found in the chapter's final verse, which declares that all things "should be done in a fitting and orderly way" (v. 40). Within this context, Paul is dealing with a specific difficulty of some female Corinthian church members interrupting church services with either untimely questions or outbursts of glossalalia. Some of these church members, by openly disputing with men and demanding their freedom to speak in public worship, were bringing disgrace upon the church before God and the wider community of Corinth (cf. R. C. Prohl, Women in the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957, pp. 27-28) I Timothy 3:15, which states that chapters two and three are to instruct the people how they "ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God," provides the context of the passage: Within the church, women are not to assume authority over men, just as a wife is to put herself under the authority of her own husband in her marriage. This teaching does not say that all women are to be under the authority of all men or in all institutions, but rather that women are to be in submission to their own husbands and are not to be in an authoritative position in the local church. Once again, the reference to the Creation account makes this a normative theological teaching, not a cultural one.
Since the pastoral office is a position of authority (Hebrews 13:7,17), this would preclude a woman from serving a pastoral function in the local church, but would not require silence. So, I would say that Joyce Meyer and the like are completely within the bounds of biblical teaching as they are evangelical and serving only the churches they are invited into.
Steven is a self proclaimed right wing Christian extremist. He is a former Marine and currently work in the laboratory of a cancer research and treatment facility. He is the father of three and is referred to as genius by his wife (mostly as a sarcastic term of endearment!)
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Excellent! While I wouldn't want a woman to be my senior pastor I have no problem with women teaching, a woman pastor over "women's ministries", a woman co-teaching in a less formal services with with her husband, etc. Also, in the Bible there seemed to be times when God put a woman in a position because of lack of male leadership (Deborah comes to mind) I love your bio and this is the first time I have read it! Keep these definitive Biblical articles coming! Marijo
Amen Steve! As a woman who is a Bible teacher, I agree completely. I share with men at times and teach in the context of evangelising, but I have no authority over them. I agree in the Joyce Meyer continually puts herself under the authority of her husband, and he is the backbone (humanly speaking) of the ministry God has called her to. She even teaches this very openly. It's too bad there has been so much abuse with this thought that it is looked upon as a negative thing. God gave women a special place and when they function in it, just as when the man functions in his, there is order and harmony. Thank you for writing this piece! Blessings to you, Teresalol! Teresa, "Amen" was just what I was about to say!Thank you Teresa. I was just told today about the scriptures that Steve referenced above regarding women who should not preach and I was shocked and torned becuase Joyce Meyer is my favorite teacher and I feel God has called her to preach the gospel and when you mentioned that she does make it known that she is under the authority of her husband I thought to myself "Teresa is right!" because I have heard her say this before. I think God is proud of what his daughters are doing on this earth when they preach his word. I think Steve's article is awesome and glad that you added some clarification to it. Thank you and God Bless!
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