Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part two of “Man, Woman, the Fall & the Church”

This week we’ll conclude our series by answering the important question: ”The Role of Women in the New Testament Church”

The Role of Women in the New Testament Church

From the very first book of the Bible we are taught that women, like men, bear the stamp of God's own image. Men and women were created equal to one another but have differing roles to play in God’s mandate of creation.

In this exciting topical series, we have already considered the following important foundational aspects to support our study:
  • The Genesis chapter 2 account of “Origins” – Creation Mandate – God’s original plan for man and woman.
  • The Genesis chapter 3 account of “The Fall” – Original Sin – producing the animosity between Man and Woman.
  • The Women of the Bible including the “Virtuous Wife” – Proverbs chapter 31 – along with at least 158 other prominent sisters mentioned!
We also discovered that the Scriptures never discount the female intellect, downplay the talents and abilities of women nor discourage the proper use of women's spiritual gifts. And as we’ve also observed, when the Bible expressly talks about the marks of an excellent woman, the stress is always on her feminine virtue. The most significant women throughout the Scriptures were influential not because of their careers – but because of their character. The message these godly women collectively give is not at all about "gender equality" but is always reflective of true feminine excellence! And that is always exemplified in their moral and spiritual qualities rather than by social standing, wealth, or physical appearance.

The Bible teaches divinely ordained role distinctions between men and women – many of which are perfectly evident from the circumstances of creation alone – which is why we started there!

For example, women have a unique and vital role in childbearing and the mothering nurture of little ones. Women themselves also have a particular need for support and protection, because physically speaking, they are the "weaker vessel" and require their husband’s “understanding” and “honor” so his “prayers may not be hindered” in all his leadership responsibilities:

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered – 1 Peter 3:7

Scripture also establishes the proper order in the family, assigning the often challenging duties of headship and protection in the home to husbands:

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body – Ephesians 5:23

Accordingly, the Lord has also appointed the men in the church to the teaching, preaching and leadership roles over other men:

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control – 1 Timothy 2:11-15

However, women are by no means marginalized or relegated to any second-class status! As we’ve also discussed, the Bible teaches women are equals with men:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:28

In fact, husbands are commanded to love their wives sacrificially as Christ loves the church. Even – if necessary – at the cost of their own lives:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” – Ephesians 5:25-31

Unlike any other religious system, Biblical Christianity elevates the status of women to an unprecedented height. Jesus' followers included several women – a practice almost unheard of among the rabbis of His day! Not only that, He encouraged their discipleship and learning by portraying it as something more needful than simply just domestic service. In fact, Jesus Christ's first recorded and explicit disclosure of His own identity as the true Messiah was made to a Samaritan woman at the well:

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He – John 4:21-26

He always treated women with the utmost dignity and respect – even women who might otherwise be regarded as outcasts. He blessed their children, raised their dead, forgave their sins and restored their virtue and honor! Thus, He exalted the position of womanhood itself.

It is no surprise therefore that women became prominent in the ministry of the early first-century church. On the day of Pentecost, when the New Testament church was born, women were there with the chief disciples – praying. Some were renowned for their good deeds; others for their hospitality, still others for their understanding of sound doctrine and their spiritual giftedness. John's second epistle was addressed to a prominent woman in one of the churches under his oversight. Even the apostle Paul – often falsely caricatured by today’s critics of Scripture as a male chauvinist pig – regularly ministered alongside women in the Philippian church. Paul also often recognized and applauded their faithfulness and their giftedness!

With these initial Scriptures in mind, we will continue our discussion by referring to the passages found in the (first of three) Pastoral Epistle of 1 Timothy which most clearly states the prohibition placed upon women in the New Testament church – public teaching over men:

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control – 1 Timothy 2:11-15

In Paul's instructions to Timothy regarding public worship, he prohibits a women to “teach“ or exercise “authority“ over men during the worship service. Let’s further unpack this prohibition…

Remember, just prior to these passages, Paul had dealt with the proper adornment of a Christian woman making a claim to godliness – again, with her virtue in Jesus Christ being the standard:

…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works – 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Paul also expresses to the Corinthian church that the woman’s inner attitude should manifest itself through quietly receiving instruction with proper submissiveness to her own husband:

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church – 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

In this instance, Paul was prohibiting women from any position or situation where she would be giving authoritative doctrinal instruction or exercising authority over a group in which there were men present. Paul gives two reasons for his prohibition. Notice carefully that Paul's theology has nothing to do with worldly opinion!

Paul’s first reason is based upon the “creation account” outlined in the book of Genesis. The Greek text actually reads: ''For Adam first was created, then Eve." The emphasis is on the order of creation, showing that God's creation order indicates functional distinction. Adam was created first and placed in the headship position. Thus, in the church, men are to formally lead.

Paul's second reason is the “deception factor.” A woman is not to teach and exercise authority over men in the local church because she is generally more easily deceived:

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression – 1 Timothy 2:14

The literal rendering of Paul’s prohibition reads: "And Adam was not deceived (misled), but the woman having been completely deceived, has come to be in transgression and remained there" Her emotional sensitivity and nurturing nature is absolutely vital for her role as a mother and wife. However, they could also be a hindrance in her doctrinal discernment and understanding.

Again, as we can see from these passages, the reasoning has nothing to do with worldly opinion but is tied into the creation account. This makes the principle of women not teaching or exercising authority over men trans-cultural – from a Biblical worldview – and is fully applicable for today.

The Apostle Paul also points out in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 that his prohibition against women speaking in the church assembly is based on the law:

…but they are to be submissive, as the law also says – 1 Corinthians 14:34

The ''law'' here is not referring to the Mosaic Law but rather the first five books of the Hebrew Bible – the Torah – (Genesis through Deuteronomy) ~ specifically the book of Genesis:

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh – Genesis 2:21-24

It is here in the creation account of Genesis that the Apostle Paul draws his theology on male headship in which he is applying in this passage. Again, this passage maintains the submission and headship in the family called for in the Scripture.

However, these passages do not prevent a woman from giving her testimony, offering the Scripture reading, making announcements, leading songs, offering a public prayer in the church setting, teaching other women and youth among other such opportunities to serve – none of these tasks violate Paul's prohibition.

Another passage that addresses the issue of the women's role in the church is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Paul states the theological principle that the order of headship in the church is God / Christ / man / woman as the context of this passage is pertaining to the public worship service:

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God – 1 Corinthians 11:3

Paul then continues in this chapter with a church “tradition” of his day… If a woman prayed, she was to have her “head covered” – the culturally accepted practice in the first century – showing submission to her husband. In this case, Paul says “judge” for yourself:

Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? – 1 Corinthians 11:13

Thus, women of the first century New Testament church who showed the proper subordination to the male leadership in the assembly were allowed to pray in public worship…

In closing:

Although it is obvious that the Scriptures do indeed place a prohibition on women in the church, there is tremendous latitude for women's ministry – including areas of teaching! As the Apostle James warns:

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment – James 3:1

Therefore, women who do teach the Scriptures – or serve otherwise – are under the same divine scrutiny and ultimate accountability to the Lord as are men. Extreme caution is to be applied here! They must exhibit responsibility as they teach through Word and deed. They must be an excellent example of mature Christian womanhood for those to whom they teach and mentor. Church elders should examine their ministry profiles in light of the biblical injunction to be certain that the Biblical principle of women not "teaching or exercising authority over a man" is not being violated as to disobey the direct command of the Scriptures.

Blessings to you, my sisters in the Lord, in your endeavor to be a godly woman – to the glory of Jesus Christ!

Thank you for reading! It is my hope that you now have a better understanding of these very important topics which are rooted in the Word of God.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!
Shane <><