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Can Women Preach? Should women be allowed to preach or teach? Some have assumed from two scriptural references that women should not preach or teach. Let's look at these: "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. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Cor.14:34-35) Taken by itself that scripture might seem to say that not only should women be not allowed to preach or teach but give a testimony, sing, prophesy, ask questions or discuss matters openly in the public arena. In the context, however, Paul is talking about conducting public meetings decently and in order that there might not be confusion but peace (v.33). Prior to this discussion, instructions are given in regards to prophecy and interpretation of tongues. In the context of the chapter, Paul is addressing problems of disorderly conduct. The Key Word Bible has some interesting comments on these verses: "When Paul says, Your women in the churches keep silent, it was not an instruction to all the men in general not to permit any woman to speak in church, but to husbands to guide and teach their wives lest they produce confusion and disturbance in a meeting. This may have resulted from the exercising of a gift that they thought they had and were anxious to eternalize. One cannot take Paul's indirect imperative in 1 Cor.14:34, let women keep silence in the churches as absolute. It must be taken in conjunction with what follows: for they are not permitted to speak." The word "speak" should be taken to mean "uttering sounds that are incoherent and not understood by others". Paul says that instead it is better to have silence. Paul uses the same word "keep silent" to admonish a man who speaks in an unknown tongue without an interpreter (v.28,30). What Paul is saying is that only one man must speak at a time, for if two speak at once, there would be confusion. The phrase, "let him keep silent" is then qualified to the woman (v.34). Under no circumstances does the injunction of Paul indicate that women should not utter a word at any time during the church service. The issue is not men versus women, but it is confusion versus order. In God's sight, it makes no difference who causes the confusion. It is a shame to any woman to bring confusion into the local church (v.35) even as it is for men to do so. Furthermore, the word gunaikes (1135) should be translated as women in the general sense, but as wives (v.34). It is wives who should submit (hupotassomai- 5293) to their own husbands (v. 35, andras-435). The whole argument is not the subjection of women to men in general, but of wives to their own husbands in the family unit that has been ordained by God. (See 1 Tim.2:9-15). Paul states that the duty of husbands is to restrain their own wives from outbursts during the worship service. Whenever Paul speaks of submissiveness by a woman, it is always on the part of a wife to her own husband. (See note on Titus 2:1-5) Another verse used to say by some that women cannot
teach or preach is 1 Tim. 2:11 Again, by itself without looking at the context, this word might seem to be saying that a woman should never teach in an assembly. Again, the context is in light of marital relations. According to the Key Word St James Bible the word woman might better be translated "wife' (gune) because depending on the context it can be either woman or wife and the man, "husband". It further states: " The subsequent term to consider is hesuchia (2271), translated "silence". In the NT it occurs numerous times referring to tranquility or the state of being undisturbed. This should be the understanding of this verse. One must bear in mind at the era of time in which Paul was writing; it was usually men who were the ones to receive an education. If this word meant complete silence women would never have the opportunity to ask questions or increase their knowledge of scriptures. Simply speaking, the wife ought to be displaying a tranquil spirit in her attempt to learn. The final word of key importance in understanding the silence mentioned in this verse is hupotage (5292)-place in proper order- translated subjection. Paul wanted to express the idea that in the wife's desire to learn, she should respect her husband's position over her in Christ. (1 Cor.11:3). The phrase in 1 Tim. 2:12." But I suffer not a woman to teach..." should be understood as "But a suffer not a wife to teach." The discussion continues drawing contrasts between the Greek words for wife and for her husband. ...Furthermore, the word for teach in this verse is the Greek infirmative didaskein (1321). In this instance, it means "to teach continuously". The situation refers to the home, an assembly, or anywhere the husband and wife may be interacting together. If this were the case, the position of the husband would be undermined, and would not be in accordance with God's ordained order in creation. A wife should place limitations on her speech. Paul does not want women to be lackluster, or even mute but to be careful lest they go beyond the bounds of accepted authority. Moreover, the word translated "to upsurp authority
over" is the Greek word authentein (831). Essentially a wife's private
or public should be beyond reproach and never undermine that her husband
has been given by God. Also, the wife should never Dakes Annotated Bible has a great discussion on these verses (I do not like Dake's on the Jewish question because he is highly anti- Semitic but on many other issues, he is excellent): (Page 149- 1 e) 8 Reasons for Women Preachers We are not commanded to read the Bible but we are commanded to study it to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of God. We study in many ways: 1. Studying the context to determine the historic setting, the theme of that chapter in relation to the book, looking up Greek or Hebrew words to determine the exact meaning, studying key phrases in the context to determine the main thought the author is trying to convey. Also, one can see by using a Strong's Concordance how that particular Greek word or Hebrew word is used in other scriptures. A good rule of interpreting scripture is to let scripture interpret scripture. In other words, how is this subject dealt with in the whole light of God's word? It is a law of proper Biblical interpretation to not form a doctrine from one or two verses. When God commands something, it is consistent all through scripture. For example, baptism is all through scripture. (The Jews conducted mitzahs anytime they were beginning something new). Fornication, stealing, murder is forbidden throughout scripture. However, man has a way of adding to scripture. The Jews did that with their many traditions that added to or even contradicted the Word of God. That is one form of legalism. But the Church too has added traditions that are not consistent with the Word of God. In. Gen. 3:15 a curse was put on the man and woman. The woman's "curse" was to endure childbirth and her husband would "rule" over her. In ancient times, the woman was considered property. She was not treated fairly and had no rights. Some of this was changed through the law but this " curse" was not broken until the cross. Now we are no longer involuntary slaves. We are "free in Christ" but not free to do whatever. We are now free to be voluntary bondslaves of the Lord Jesus Christ. A bondslave or servant willingly had his ear bored through with an awl by the door as a symbol of covenant to his master and that he willingly, voluntarily wanted to serve the master the rest of his life. Likewise, Jesus does not force us to obey or submit. We voluntarily do it as obedience unto Christ. Submission to our husbands is voluntary and easy (especially if they love us as Christ loved the church). Even if they do not exhibit that kind of love, Christ can give us the ability to do so IN HIM. In the same way, both men and women submit to godly leadership in the church. When I went to Israel in 1993, Jewish men at the wailing wall would shout, pray loudly with intensity, blow the shofar, or whatever. However, the women (who had to go to a different section) were not allowed to pray outloud. (I found that out the hard way!) Tradition has gone beyond the Word. For years, the men in Church have done the same
thing to women. They had to sit on opposite sides of the church. According
to the context of the scriptures mentioned earlier, and in the light of
the whole Word of God, to not allow women to preach and teach is NOT consistent
with scripture. Ephesians 4:11 says that God has called SOME apostles,
SOME prophets, SOME evangelists, and SOME pastors and teachers. Some in
the Greek refers to both masculine and feminine. It is literally saying
God has called he or she apostles, he or she prophets, he or she evangelists,
and he or she pastors and teachers. If God anoints a woman to preach,
then she is to preach. Because of the great prejudice and persecution
she encounters, she has to be much more anointed than the average man.
In this last hour, God is raising an army of those who have formerly been
oppressed. Black people have come to the forefront to use their God-given
gifts of worship and preaching. Occasionally, one hears of little children
that God anoints to preach or prophesy. And he is raising up a large army
of virtuous women preaching, teaching, raising the dead, healing the sick,
and casting out demons. Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Gwen Shaw, Kathryn Kulmann,
and hundreds that I have met in ETH conventions from all over the world
and elsewhere are anointed. Benny Hinn was saved and propelled into ministry
through Kathryn Kulmann's ministry. Lester Sumrall was saved by two women
preachers. Bookstores are filled with books written by anointed women
authors, many of whom preach. TBN has many women preachers. Juanita Bynum
is an example of powerful, anointed prophetic preaching. My former pastor
Jeanine Wilson is a powerful anointed woman of God would can dig in the
Greek and preach a sermon that is embedded in your heart forever. Her
friend, Kathy is a red headed fireball she preaches down the glory. All
of these women have suffered great persecution to follow the call of God
for their lives. But they have been obedient to that call. No tradition,
no legalism on the part of men will hold back this mighty flood of anointed
women who will intercede, preach the gospel, raise the dead, cast out
demons, heal the sick, or whatever God has called them to do. Just as
Jael put the nail through the head of Sisera, God may use women to put
the nail through demonic strongholds that have kept generations bound
for centuries-- But only through his Spirit and the power of his precious
blood. May we be ONE in this endeavor- Jew and Gentile, bond and free,
male and female all serving with ONE heart and mind- to glorify the King
of Kings and Lord of Glory who is coming back for his glorious bride without
spot or blemish. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!!!
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