What does the Bible say about women in the church?

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man.1 Timothy 2:12

According to the Word of God, women are not allowed to be preachers. While many will insist that the verses addressing this issue are merely cultural, in reality, they appeal to cross-cultural reasons. These reasons include the order of the God-head, the order of creation, and the fall of man. Once such things become cultural, then we can begin to claim that the prohibition of women preachers is cultural.

Was Paul sexist?

Some people think that Paul looked down on women, and thus couldn't be trusted on the issue of women in the church. To them, scripture is not the inerrant and inspired Word of God. The proceeding apology of my position on women in the church is based on scripture, as I believe it to be God-breathed.

1 Corinthians 11:3-12

In the first century, women were only allowed to prophesy when their heads were covered, which reflected a distinction between the genders and male leadership.

3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. 5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head. 6 For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head. 7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God.1 Corinthians 11:3-12

Regarding headship

In verse 3, Paul ties the order in relationships to the Godhead. Some argue that this is only referring to source/origin rather than leadership/authority. However, the Greek word kephale ("head") is not used even once in any Greek literature to mean "head" (according to Grudem). This, along with the fact that it would be illogical and inconsistent for Paul to speak of "source" here, makes it clear that kephale is, indeed, a reference to headship.

Married women only?

Some argue that this passage is referring only to married women, and not to women in general. They point to Ephesians, where Paul applied headship to marriage relationships:

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church - he himself being the savior of the body. 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for herEphesians 5:22-25

The question is, Does Ephesians apply only to marriages, or to the church as well?

To answer this question, consider this: Would ordaining women as pastors have fewer implications than the head coverings Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians? How would the ordination of women as pastors affect marriage relationships? Husbands might be less likely to fulfill their role as a loving, spiritual servant-leader, and wives might be less likely to be submissive as is commanded in these Ephesians verses.

Note also that Paul listed the requirements for elders in the church, specifically calling for spiritually qualified men, and describing the men as managers of their households:

1 This saying is trustworthy: "If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work." 2 The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. 4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. 5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? 6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. 7 And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap.1 Timothy 3:1-7

If Paul was concerned in 1 Corinthians about how the cultural problem of head coverings would reflect on the cross-cultural issue of headship, then he definitely would not have encouraged the church to be overseen by a woman! Obviously Paul thought this was in important issue, so if women had to wear head coverings, then why risk going so far as to ordain women!

See An Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 14:33b-38 - by Walter A. Maier for more on this matter.

Can women prophesy?

(see also Must women be silent?)

Though Paul apparently assumes in 1 Corinthians 11:5 that women will prophesy in churches, he seems to instruct that women be absolutely silent in 1 Corinthians 14:

34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. 35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.1 Corinthians 14:34-35

1 Corinthians 14 must be understood along with 1 Corinthians 11. Since women are allowed to pray and prophesy in chapter 11, it is highly unlike that Paul is commanding complete silence in the church chapter 14. The context suggests, rather, that women are to be silent specifically regarding the evaluation of prophecy (verse 29).

While some interpret this verse to be instructing only submission rather than silence, as in 1 Timothy 2, context strongly suggests the above interpretation. Also, the word used for "silent" is sigao, or sigatoosan ("keep silent"), which means to say nothing at all.

1 Timothy 2:9-15

These verses are very clear that women are not to teach or lead men in the church:

9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. 11 A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.1 Timothy 2:9-15

Was Paul just correcting a new cult?

Paul was writing to Timothy regarding a church in Ephesus, which was known for its fertility cults and temple prostitutes. Some speculate that Ephesus was also the source of en emerging doctrine that said that Eve was created before Adam, woman was superior to man, and that enlightened women should/would neither marry nor have children. From this, some argue that Paul was not forbidding women to teach, but rather he was forbidding women to teach these specific false doctrines. Verses 13-15, they say, are there only to counter the claims of the new cult by stating that, in fact, Adam was first, not Even, Eve was not enlightened but rather was the deceived one, and that women should not refrain from marrying and having children since childbirth is honorable in God's sight. There are three main reasons to reject this argument:

1. There's simply no evidence to support it. If it were true, why wouldn't Paul clearly state his purpose as being to correct these false doctrines?
2. The verses make more sense when understood as speaking about leadership in the church in general--a reading which fits in perfectly with the other relevant teachings of Scripture.
3. Paul makes it clear that his teaching here, which mirrors his teaching 1 Corinthians 11, is founded on cross-cultural foundations. 1 Cor. 11:9 echoes 1 Tim. 2:13 in rooting Paul's teaching in the creation order (which doesn't change depending on the culture one adheres to). 1 Cor. 11:3 roots Paul's teachings in the Godhead (which also doesn't change according to the culture one adheres to). These cross-cultural reasons applied in 1 Corinthians 11 should be applied in 1 Timothy 2, as well.

Must women be silent?

(see also Can women prophesy?)

The Greek word for "quiet" in 1 Timothy 2:12 is hesuchia, which is used in the New Testament to mean "calm" or "undisruptive," not necessarily indicating complete silence. The word for "authority" in the same verse implies autocratic rule, and the word for "teaching" (didasko) referred to a formal teacher-student relationship. This passage, then, probably does not mean that women are to keep absolutely quiet, but that they are to be submissive and not inflict upon male leadership.

What women can do

One should not think that because women are not to teach or have authority over men that they cannot do anything, or that women are somehow less valuable than men. Eve, Mary, Miriam (Micah 6:4), Deborah (Judges 4:4, 21), Abigail (1 Samuel 25), Esther, Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), "Daughters of Israel" (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17-18), "prophetesses" (Luke 2:36, Acts 21:8-9), Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:9), Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), Priscilla (Acts 18), Phoebe (Romans 16:1), and Junia (Romans 16:7) were all women of note in the Bible.

Women are encouraged in Titus 2:3-5 to teach younger women. Though 1 Corinthians 11 teaches us distinctions, chapter 12 teaches us about complimentary function, and 13 follows this up by teaching us that everything should be done in love. Women should submit in love, and men should lead in love. Accordingly, women should not become mindless slaves, and men should not become oppressive leaders.

In the home, the husband's loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife's intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility. In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love or power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

Objections

What if there are no good men?

One of the most common arguments given for the ordination of female pastors is: If there are no decent men, then why shouldn't a woman take over, even if it's only until a qualified man shows up?

This question presumes that a woman would be more qualified than a man. Remember, the Bible tells us that pastors must be men, which means women are automatically disqualified for the position, regardless of how fit or unfit the men in the church are. Also remember that it is God who has ordained that men should be in positions of spiritual headship over women. To suggest that a woman take over instead of a man is to presume to know more than God. It also betrays one's lack of faith in God's providence.

Consider the record in Numbers 12 (go ahead and read it, it's short) of Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses because he married an Ethiopian woman, which they felt made him unfit as a leader. God became angry with them for questioning the leadership He had ordained and made Miriam leprous. Who dares to question God's ordained authority?

Does spiritual equality mean women can preach?

1 Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited. 2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.
Teach them and exhort them about these things. 3 If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, 5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.1 Timothy 6:1-5

In Paul's preceding words to Timothy, he states that slaves should respect their masters. In verse 2, he comments that if the slave has a believing master, he should not respect him any less simply because they are on the same level spiritually. In fact, Paul says, the slave should respect his master even more, because it is believers who will benefit from their obedience. So in response to the question, Does spiritual equality mean women can preach?, the answer is clearly No! If spiritual equality (even among men) does not permit one to override another's authority, but instead is reason to obey the other all the more, then why would spiritual equality between men and women allow for women to override the authority God has ordained for men?

There is neither male nor female in Christ

Another common argument: Since Galatians 3:28 says there is neither male nor female in Christ, then we should not draw a distinction between the roles of men and women.

However, Paul wrote both Galatians and, for instance, 1 Timothy, which says in 3:1-7 that overseers should be men. Paul also called for wives to submit to their husbands and required that women wear head coverings while praying or prophesying in church. The Word of God does not contradict itself, so there however we interpret Galatians 3:28, it must not contradict the clear teachings of Scripture elsewhere.

The solution is that Galatians 3:28 is not a commentary on social order (as are the other passages used on this page), but on our spiritual position before God. Verse 26 makes it clear that Paul is talking specifically about our salvation:

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.Galatians 3:26

Context is everything. We all have salvation through only Christ, no matter whether we're Jewish or Greek, slave or free, male or female. In fact, if one were to argue that Galatians 3 negates social ordere for men and women, one would also have to argue that there is no social order for slaves and masters (refuted in 1 Timothy 6 above) and that the Jews have no special place in God's plan. Taking things to an extreme, if Galatians 3 negated the distinctions between men and women, then how could we condemn homosexuality? Would we also have to deny any physical distinctions between men and women?

Also, Ephesians 5 teaches us the roles of husbands and wives in marriages using Christ's relationship with the church:

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church - he himself being the savior of the body. 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious - not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 for we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great - but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.Ephesians 5:22-33

Clearly men and women, equal though they may be, are expected to fulfill distinct roles. Christ subjects Himself to the Church in a different way then the Church submits itself to Christ. Christ has the authority to lead the Church, the Church has the obligation to follow Christ.

Isn't this just cultural?

Some argue that passages such as 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are just cultural. Remember, though, that Paul linked his teachings back to creation, the Godhead, and the relationship between Christ and the Church--these are not cultural things! Paul did not say, "Women should listen to their husbands because that's how our society does things," but rather, "Women should listen to their husbands because and in the same way the Church submits to Christ." See also the other arguments given on this page regarding the absolute (rather than relative) nature of Paul's teachings.