Should women teach the bible?

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Soverign Grace

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We went to a strict Presbyterian church one time and I adopted at least some of their values: they were very strictly against women teachers in accordance with Paul's admonition that he "does not allow a woman to teach." Yet we see more and more women teachers.

What is your take on this?
 
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Windmillcharge

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What missionary societies do they support?
What is the possition of those societies on single women going to the mission fields?
I know of no missionary society that prohibits single women from going to preach the gospel, in fact most societies would cease to function if they followed this churches practies.
Lets play a game. Name a famous missionary. Now read about him and surprise, he was taught by his Mother.

As for Paul's admonition he was talking about women in offical postitions of spiritual authority. Paul was happy for women to teach.
Acts 18:24-26 Priscilla, the women is named first, the one who took the lead in teaching the gospel to Apollos.
 

Earburner

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We went to a strict Presbyterian church one time and I adopted at least some of their values: they were very strictly against women teachers in accordance with Paul's admonition that he "does not allow a woman to teach." Yet we see more and more women teachers.

What is your take on this?
Yes, women can and should teach the.
Paul was only being careful with the churches, in that a woman/women should not usurp authority over a man.
 

CharismaticLady

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The Church was very young, and Jewish women were uneducated in the Torah. And with women on one side and all the men on the other, Paul didn't want a lot of questions by the women calling out to their husband on the other side, but to ask them at home. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. However, these two verses broke up the context of what Paul was saying about Prophecy, and it is believed that these were added at a later date. Read the context without the interruption. If Paul did write against a lot of questions by the women to their husbands, it would have been at the end, not in the middle of Paul's thoughts on prophecy. Besides, women prophets could speak the word of the Lord. The gift was not just to men. So, with those two verses in the middle of his commands to prophets, he would be including women prophets also, and against their speaking out when that is not the case. Who the Spirit inspires a Word is up the the Spirit, not to Paul, or any man.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

As for Paul's letter to Timothy, let us first refer to his letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7 where he distinguishes between what are commandments of the Lord, and what are his own thoughts.

6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.


10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say:


To Timothy, Paul's prodigy, he is merely giving his own thoughts, not the Lord's.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 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, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

It is interesting, even today in Jerusalem at the wailing wall, you only see men there, no women. Remember, Paul was trained as a Pharisee first.
 
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101G

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We went to a strict Presbyterian church one time and I adopted at least some of their values: they were very strictly against women teachers in accordance with Paul's admonition that he "does not allow a woman to teach." Yet we see more and more women teachers.

What is your take on this?
First thanks for the topic. second, no need for anyone to have a take on this. the scriptures are clear. Women have been teaching, preaching, and yes, holding the position of "Pastor", Bishop, General Overseer right in the bible. these all are found in the scriptures
Example, prophets preach, and women are prophets. and the first Bishop/Pastor/General Overseer at Rome was a woman. as a matter of fact it was a woman who preach of our Lord's redemption right in Jerusalem while he was in flesh as a babe. then there are two women who preached with him, Paul, in the Gospel that Paul named.

and for that scripture, 1Cor 14:34 "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". this is not speaking to women in General, as a matter of fact it's not speaking to women at all, or directed to women. the apostle was speaking to husbands about their wives conduct in church, which lead to why a wife need to learn at home from her own dumb ignorant husband, per 1Tim 2:12 "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence".
the key to understanding both of these latter verses of scripture is to know the difference between the Greek words,
G1135 γυνή gune (ǰ ï-nee') n.
1. a woman.
2. (specially) a wife.
[probably from the base of G1096]
KJV: wife, woman
Root(s): G1096

AND,

G2338 θήλυς thelus (thee'-lïs) adj.
female.
[from thele (the nipple)]
KJV: female, woman

both identify a woman, but the context of the scriptures will dictate who it describe, either a "Wife" or a "woman" in General. just a tip, both in 1Cor 14:34 and in 1Tim 2:12 is speaking of WIVES and not women in general.

PICJAG.
 

ScottA

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As it is with many biblical settings, there is the local and historical circumstances that prompted the topic to be written...and then there is the timeless reason they were written into the eternal word of God. Thus, the mere fact that it is in the bible, makes it a mistake to dismiss it for any historic reasoning that is seemingly no longer relative to our own time in history. Such a dismissal is for secular nonbelievers. If you just want history, there are other sources.

On the other hand, the people of God should rather be asking: Why is it that God has seen fit to make something that changes with the times, be applicable without change, the same yesterday, today, and forever?

Indeed, the bible's main context...is not history. The words must be discerned spiritually.

In this case, the greater word of God collectively identifies God as male, and mankind as female...as it is with marriage and the church (the bride of Christ). Thus, the message may well have been about unruly women of Paul's day, but that is not why it is in the bible. It is in the bible so that the church (female) from that time forward would get the spiritual message to hear only from the male component (the Groom/Christ), while the rest of the world would go about their own interpretations without the Spirit...dividing the sheep from the goats.

Therefore, one should follow Christ accordingly, or follow the ways of the world which sees the same words that are written, but does not perceive what the Spirit says to the churches.
 
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prism

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8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 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, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
Here is an example.
Above the passage was cut off to make it fit one's agenda. Let's read it in full...
(1Ti 2:8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
(1Ti 2:9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
(1Ti 2:10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(1Ti 2:11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
(1Ti 2:12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
(1Ti 2:13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
(1Ti 2:14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.


Deceptively the person left out vss 13&14 showing it was not just a desire or non permission of Paul but an issue embedded in the history of mankind transcending culture.

Oh how reason can twist God's Word.
 
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Enoch111

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What is your take on this?
Everyone's *take* should be according to Scripture. Women are NOT permitted to (1) preach to an assembly of Christians, (2) teach within a local church, and (3) take any kind of spiritual authority within the home or the church. Also, according to Scripture, Christian women must cover their heads and their hair during worship.

Since we are seeing evidence of the Great Apostasy within Christendom today, we are also seeing (a) women preachers, (b) homosexual ministers, (c) sexual perverts as priests and bishops and (d) atheists in Christian pulpits.
 

CharismaticLady

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Here is an example.
Above the passage was cut off to make it fit one's agenda. Let's read it in full...
(1Ti 2:8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
(1Ti 2:9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
(1Ti 2:10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(1Ti 2:11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
(1Ti 2:12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
(1Ti 2:13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
(1Ti 2:14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.


Deceptively the person left out vss 13&14 showing it was not just a desire or non permission of Paul but an issue embedded in the history of mankind transcending culture.

Oh how reason can twist God's Word.

The point is, it was Paul's opinion and prejudice, that scripture doesn't agree with, not a commandment of the Lord.

As for Adam and Eve, who had the greater sin? Eve was tricked, and nothing happened; but when Adam willfully sinned (the greater sin) their eyes were opened and they saw themselves as naked. We were damned because of Adam's sin, not Eve's.
 
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Pearl

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We went to a strict Presbyterian church one time and I adopted at least some of their values: they were very strictly against women teachers in accordance with Paul's admonition that he "does not allow a woman to teach." Yet we see more and more women teachers.

What is your take on this?
God gives women insight and enlightenment into scripture just as he does men and when he does it is natural that she share it just as a man would do.
 

101G

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This is TOTAL NONSENSE AND A LIE.
well let's see who is lying.
Rom 16:1 I commend unto you
Rom 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Rom 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Rom 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

First our sister Phebe, she is a Bishop/Overseer. the Greek for "succourer" here is,
G4368 προστάτις prostatis (pro-sta'-tis) n.
a patroness, i.e. assistant.
feminine of a derivative of G4291
KJV: succourer
Root(s): G4291
what is the male counterpart, ot the feminine of a derivative of this, G4291, my source, Thayer's Greek Definitions
Original: προΐ́στημι
- Transliteration: Proistemi
- Phonetic: pro-is'-tay-mee
- Definition:
1. to set or place before
a. to set over
b. to be over, to superintend, preside over
c. to be a protector or guardian
1. to give aid
d. to care for, give attention to
1. profess honest occupations
- Origin: from G4253 and G2476
- TDNT entry: 6:700,*
- Part(s) of speech: Verb

here, the male is the "Superintend", the presider over, meaning the General OVERSEER/BISHOP, and our sister is the, as the definition states in G4368 προστάτις prostatis, the feminine derivative of G4291. Just as a male is called a prophet, and the female in the prophet office is called a prophetess. so the feminine of a derivative of G4291 is Succourer. just as prophetess is the feminine derivative of the male Prophet in the same position.

see this was hidden from your blind eyes in broad open daylight.

now another Bishop right in front of your blind eyes. our sister Priscilla who the apostle/Bishop himself said that she is a bishop herself. how do we know that she was a Bishop? because Paul identified her as one of his "HELPERS. which is the Greek word,
G4904 συνεργός sunergos (sïn-er-ğos') adj.
a co-laborer, i.e. coadjutor.
if one is catholic you would recognized what a "coadjutor" is. for those who don't know let's go to the dictionary and see what it means. while online just go to dictionary.com and type in coadjutor. it means,
1. an assistant.
2. an assistant to a bishop or other ecclesiastic.
3. a bishop who assists another bishop, with the right of succession.

BINGO, who was being appointed at Rome? that's right, our Sister Phebe who was a minister at the church which is at Cenchrea, now promoted to "Bishop"/superintend at Rome. hence the reason for Letter to the saints at Romans because they desired to come together to form a local church there. remember there was no church at Rome there yet. hence the reason of sending our sister Phebe and the delegation of our sister Priscilla and her husband Aquila and all the others mention in the letter here in chapter 16.
Priscilla and her husband Aquila left ROME,and meet Apollos, born at Alexandria, and instructed him in the way of the Lord.

see Enoch111, God, the Lord Jesus hid all of this from your blind eyes. for one need to Holy Ghost to open blind eyes. women have always been in leadership positions as well as men. it's just blind and ignorant men cannot see.

PICJAG.
 

Jane_Doe22

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We went to a strict Presbyterian church one time and I adopted at least some of their values: they were very strictly against women teachers in accordance with Paul's admonition that he "does not allow a woman to teach." Yet we see more and more women teachers.

What is your take on this?
That we should be EXTREMELY wary of one-verse theology.

I by no means think that this verse means "all females should never open their mouth in church at all and never teach at all". I find such an interpretation to simply be unsupported by rest of scripture or logic.
 

Willie T

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That we should be EXTREMELY wary of one-verse theology.

I by no means think that this verse means "all females should never open their mouth in church at all and never teach at all". I find such an interpretation to simply be unsupported by rest of scripture or logic.
You do have to take into consideration who it is that posted the comment you just answered here. She has an interesting way of seeing almost anything. LOL
 

Soverign Grace

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What missionary societies do they support?
What is the possition of those societies on single women going to the mission fields?
I know of no missionary society that prohibits single women from going to preach the gospel, in fact most societies would cease to function if they followed this churches practies.
Lets play a game. Name a famous missionary. Now read about him and surprise, he was taught by his Mother.

As for Paul's admonition he was talking about women in offical postitions of spiritual authority. Paul was happy for women to teach.
Acts 18:24-26 Priscilla, the women is named first, the one who took the lead in teaching the gospel to Apollos.

That's a good point. I never thought about missionaries. But what about 1 Tim. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

It is clear what Paul said. How can anyone take it any differently?

I'm a woman and not trying to put down my own but I just wonder how people reconcile the two. The Scripture is clear.
 
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Soverign Grace

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Yes, women can and should teach the.
Paul was only being careful with the churches, in that a woman/women should not usurp authority over a man.

You're right - he did say not to usurp authority over a man. But Paul said. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
 

Soverign Grace

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The Church was very young, and Jewish women were uneducated in the Torah. And with women on one side and all the men on the other, Paul didn't want a lot of questions by the women calling out to their husband on the other side, but to ask them at home. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. However, these two verses broke up the context of what Paul was saying about Prophecy, and it is believed that these were added at a later date. Read the context without the interruption. If Paul did write against a lot of questions by the women to their husbands, it would have been at the end, not in the middle of Paul's thoughts on prophecy. Besides, women prophets could speak the word of the Lord. The gift was not just to men. So, with those two verses in the middle of his commands to prophets, he would be including women prophets also, and against their speaking out when that is not the case. Who the Spirit inspires a Word is up the the Spirit, not to Paul, or any man.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

As for Paul's letter to Timothy, let us first refer to his letter to the Corinthians, chapter 7 where he distinguishes between what are commandments of the Lord, and what are his own thoughts.

6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.


10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say:


To Timothy, Paul's prodigy, he is merely giving his own thoughts, not the Lord's.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 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, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

It is interesting, even today in Jerusalem at the wailing wall, you only see men there, no women. Remember, Paul was trained as a Pharisee first.


That's very thorough. I was confused - I thought it was Paul who told women not to teach.

It's interesting that so many churches interpret this differently. We were in two separate churches that didn't allow women to teach. The Baptist church has women teach other women. The subject has never been brought up in our current church but I've never seen a woman teach a mixed group. Women serve as elders however.