Women pastors and elders

Very often, one hears of women who claim to be called by God to minister over the church. We have women pastors, bishops and even apostles all over the place today.

We must start by recognising that we cannot make this subject a question of subjective feelings. Just because a woman says she is called by God or feels called by God does not mean that she is. We must look to God’s word to settle this issue.

If an individual cannot get it right what God says on this subject, how can we trust him or her to get anything else right? As such, we shall begin by examining passages of the Bible used to defend the idea of women preachers.

There is neither jew nor Greek

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)

This passage is a reference to salvation. It is not about church structure and organisation or church leadership. This verse tells us that salvation is available to both men and women.

This verse is an invalid argument.

Junias

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. (Rom 16:7)

This verse does not say that Junias was an apostle. It says that Junias was well known to the apostles. The problem with those reading it otherwise is that of ignorance of King James English. Here is what it says in modern english:

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. (ESV)

Phoebe and Priscilla

Phoebe (Rom. 16:1) is a servant (diakonos) of the church, not a preacher.

Priscilla (Rom. 16:3,4) is called a fellow worker in Christ, not a preacher.

Prophesying Women; not Prophets

And the same man (Philip) had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (Act 21:9-10)

The daughters of Philip had the gift of prophecy manifested in them, but they were not prophets (which would make them preachers). See how Agabus was clearly called a prophet, but those ladies were not.

There is not one verse or passage in the New Testament that supports the notion of women occupying positions of authority in the Church as preachers. There are no examples to support the notion. There are no instructions backing it either.

Instead, we have plenty of instructions to the contrary:

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. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Ti 2:11-14)

Some claim that this is a cultural issue, but that qualification does not exist directly in this text or anywhere else in the instructions provided in Scriptures.

Here, Paul bases this commandment on the fact of God’s order for man and woman in creation. That role is seen manifested in both family and the Church – man in leadership positions.

It does not translate to the woman being inferior to the man. It simply means that different roles have been ordained for both.

Can anyone answer me how a woman can be a preacher and not violate 1 Timothy 2:11-14?

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (1 Tim 3:1-5)

Here again, we see how the subject of authority in the Church and in the home are tied together. Note how it is said that if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

It really is simple. The roles of leadership in the family and the Church have been “zoned” to men.

The word bishop = pastor = elder = overseer. Biblically, a bishop is not superior to a pastor. Forget those man-created rankings that you see all over the place.

Anyone who would be a pastor must be the husband of one wife. If you can find a way for a woman to be the husband of one wife, we’ll swallow the lie of women pastors.

Note that in 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul stated that he was writing that letter so that people may know how to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. These were straight, clear instructions on how the Church was to be governed.

Titus 1:5-6 also instructs that the elder must be “the husband of one wife.” That is, “man of one woman.” How people get around these verses is baffling.

And don’t get me started on the argument that it is non-essential. The instructions are clear. To go contrary to the Bible is to be disobedient to the Lord. Obedience is an essential to Christianity.

I understand that some of you reading this have been sold a lie. You probably never gave it much thought, but now the truth has been set forth before you. What will you do with it?

Every woman claiming to have been called by God as a preacher in the Church is misguided and in error. People who submit to women as pastors and preachers in general are in error as well.

Note that Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression (1 Tim 2:14). I didn’t write that. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write it, and it is authoritative.

A little leaven leavens the whole dough. That means an error in this area will lead to errors in other areas. Turn away!

Our Precious Women

Notwithstanding the roles that God has set for men and women in the family and in the Church, women are precious in the sight of the Lord. Women are not doormats. Honest-to-God men know how to treat women with respect and even listen to counsel from Godly women.

Our women deserve all the respect and honour due them. We must make no mistake about that. They are not inferior to any man in any way. They just have different roles set for them.

In addition, there are many other ways in which women may serve Biblically in the Church, and none of those degrade the dignity and honour that is due the woman. But brothers and sisters, there is no place for women in the pulpit over the Church of Christ.

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