Should women teach the bible?

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amadeus

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Well a Christian forum is NOT a local church, and expressing opinions and ideas or experiences is not preaching and teaching an assembly of Christians. The restrictions are for the local church.
Of course this moves off on another tangent or at least raises another question since the phrase "local church" is not identified so easily in the written scriptures, is it? How does one distinguish between a "local church" and an Internet forum such this one. Does the following verse apply to only one or to both of them?

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20
 

Heart2Soul

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Well every woman on this forum better stop teaching then. :)
A great many years ago, 1976 to be more precise, my wife and I were called by God to a certain meeting in a little assembly in El Sobrante, CA. The pastor, a male, was not preaching, but rather two very anointed young female evangelists. They had the Word of God. My wife and I received the Lord that night and went on from that female led by the Spirit beginning to receive the Holy Ghost and to serve God. God saved both of us and our failing marriage through those two female preachers.

Give God the glory!
I believe you! The Word of God is what has all authority and it stands on its own power to minister to whoever has ears to hear. The vessel isn't as important as is the Word Preached in truth.
 

Heart2Soul

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Well a Christian forum is NOT a local church, and expressing opinions and ideas or experiences is not preaching and teaching an assembly of Christians. The restrictions are for the local church.
Does the local church reserve the right to permit women to teach if they recognize the anointing on her to do so? If not then you are making everyone be bound to a religious doctrine that promotes legalism rather than the spiritual flow of the Holy Spirit to manifest through whomever He chooses.
 

Heart2Soul

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Is anyone aware that in the old days our school teachers taught from the Bible?
During WW2 almost all the men were sent to war and the women took their places in factories and yes, even churches.
 

ScottA

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Even so...

As the natural woman is to receive the natural seed of the man to bear natural children, so is the spiritual woman to receive the spiritual seed of man to bear spiritual children. But who is the spiritual womand and who is the spiritual man? Consider Paul's written words:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal 3:28

There is a male role and a female role. In the Church, the male is the presenter of the Word (the seed via the preacher, or singer, or musician, or testifier, etc.) and the female is the Church that listens "silently" and receives. Any natural man or natural women who silently listens and receives is the spiritual woman. Any natural man or natural woman who presents the Word is the spiritual man. Jesus was the Man and all of the listeners were the Woman. Jesus is the Head while the Church is the Body (of Christ), the Body consisting of both physical males and physical females.

Mary the natural mother of Jesus fits into this pattern as well. God is the Father and Mary is the Mother. The offspring is of the kind that we are intended to have... God is the perfect Father. Mary is human, but unspoiled by a flawed man.

In the "real" world of churches, the preacher when he is presenting the Word is as the Father, but actually, as we know, he misses the mark many times in many places. But... the same is true of the Woman who is supposed to listen and receive silently, but actually is too often not silent and is critical even when the Preacher is not missing it. Error exists in both parts but an ideal pattern exists if we are able to see it and to replicate it.
Hmmm...

If it is the Holy Spirit who speaks and not the man or woman (in accordance to what is written), then there is no natural man who speaks for God.
 
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Heart2Soul

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Yes it is. You will note that when women have taken the role of prophetess or Bible teacher, they have promoted heresies. We have Jezebel in the church at Thayatira "who calleth herself a prophetess" but led her adherents into sin and idolatry. Then we have Ellen G. White who also claimed to be a prophetess but promoted many strange teachings, Feminist Catherine Booth, New Ager Elizabeth Claire Prophet, Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, etc. and probably several others.

It is according to divine revelation that Paul connected the deception of Eve to God's injunction against female preachers, teachers, prophetesses, *pastors* or *elders*. And the divine principle of headship also applies, which too many Christians are not even aware of.

This is not to say that men have not promoted heresies and apostasy. But that is a separate issue, and Christ had some very harsh things to say about those wolves who would enter into the churches to devour the flocks.

The root of the problem is that evangelical and fundamental churches have generally departed from the New Testament pattern of a PLURALITY of pastor/elder/bishops (all mature Christian men appointed and anointed by God for their ministry, who would be true shepherds). And it is because the hurting sheep are neglected that they turn to the wolves for comfort (like little Red Riding Hood).
Not my Bible...Joel 2:28 says in the last days your sons and daughters shall prophesy....
 

amadeus

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I believe you! The Word of God is what has all authority and it stands on its own power to minister to whoever has ears to hear. The vessel isn't as important as is the Word Preached in truth.
Amen!
 

Truth

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Agreed, women should not usurp authority over a man in an assembly if the man is present as that authority. I am not a fan of female preachers, I would rather sit under a male pastor. I can't even explain why it bothers me....it just does.

In Biblical Times, the Mother taught the children up to a certain age, they were very up on the Scriptures. Consider the Mother of Our Savior!!
 
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Heart2Soul

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The Bible specifically says that sin entered the world through Adam (the first Adam) and that sin would be destroyed and mankind restored to righteousness through Jesus (the 2nd Adam) ......and God promised that through the Seed (i.e., descendant) of a woman (Eve) would come one who would crush the head of Satan.

Who did God curse in the Garden? Not Eve, Not Adam.....the serpent, Satan.

So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:14–15)

God punished Adam and Eve but did not curse them....and as God still loved His creation He blessed them commanding them to be fruitful and multiply....
I want to show you this and consider it....
In Genesis 2:15-25

2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

2:23 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.

2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

IMHO:
1. The responsibility to tend and keep the garden was Adam's.....Adam was the one who allowed the serpent in the garden. (unknowingly, perhaps but nevertheless it was his job to keep it)...it was his job to ensure that nothing entered the garden that could harm it.....
Keep means to guard, preserve, be faithful to, and maintain.
2. God gave Adam the commandment to not eat of the tree.....according to this chapter and timeline Eve wasn't yet created in the flesh.
It does not say whether God also commanded Eve....so Adam must have been the one to teach her this commandment....

In chapter 3:1 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

How and when did the serpent get into the garden? It is expressed that when Satan was cast down to earth is when he sought out to destroy Adam and Eve from the start and his opportunity lied in the Garden of Eden.....Satan manifested himself through the serpent.
 

prism

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Why do people present Adam as innocent in this way? He wasn't deceived yet deliberately partook. Eve sinned out of being deceived, Adam out of his own choice.
Scripture says by one man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the One shall many be made righteous.
No one said Adam is innocent...he disobeyed but was not deceived.
So how does this verse imply this is why women shouldn't teach.
Proverbs 31 starts out with King Lemuel sharing the prophesy his mother taught him....
It says women shouldn't teach men or have authority over them. Little boys are not men. Women can teach little boys.
Deborah was a judge and a prophetess....she was the only female to hold that position and under her guidance Barak conquered Sisera and delivered Israel from the oppression of the Canaanite king.
Being a judge and/or prophetess is one thing, teaching is another. I don't recall her teaching men from the Scriptures.
 

Enoch111

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Not my Bible...Joel 2:28 says in the last days your sons and daughters shall prophesy....
And while the Bible was incomplete and the apostles were on earth, there were prophets and prophetesses among Christians. But Paul also made it clear that women were to keep silent in the churches (during worship). And then he went on to say that prophecies would CEASE. John the Revelator confirmed that prophecies ceased with him. So we must take ALL SCRIPTURE into account.
 

Enoch111

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Being a judge and/or prophetess is one thing, teaching is another. I don't recall her teaching men from the Scriptures.
Exactly. Deborah was like a civil magistrate in Israel, settling disputes and making judgments: And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

She was a prophetess in the sense that God spoke to Barak through her.
 
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Heart2Soul

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And while the Bible was incomplete and the apostles were on earth, there were prophets and prophetesses among Christians. But Paul also made it clear that women were to keep silent in the churches (during worship). And then he went on to say that prophecies would CEASE. John the Revelator confirmed that prophecies ceased with him. So we must take ALL SCRIPTURE into account.

No he did not say that prophesy would cease....why would he contradict himself...to one church he teaches them that we should desire the best gifts....we should all desire to prophesy.....
The clear teaching of the New Testament is that God gives spiritual gifts to the church for the common good of the saints (1 Corinthians 12:7) and to empower her mission to evangelize the world (Luke 24:48–49; Acts 4:29–31; 1 Corinthians 14:24–25).

The most familiar lists of these gifts are in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. But the Corinthians list includes the most controversial gifts of the Spirit: healing, miracles, prophecy, tongues and their interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:9–10).

And it’s in the context of teaching on these gifts — particularly the two most controversial gifts, prophecy and tongues — that Paul twice tells us to “earnestly desire” them, adding, “especially that [we] may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1). He leaves us no room to wiggle out of pursuing uncomfortable gifts.
This is chapter 12 and then chapter 14 focuses specifically on tongues and prophesy.....the entire chapter....

Let's back up to Chapter 13 which is so popularly used to validate the argument of cessationists.....Paul is aware that people were struggling with love...some members were boastful and prideful of their gifts and others were abusing them by claiming that God sent them and speak things God did not say. So He takes them back to the main reason we use the gifts and that is LOVE.....so love if exercised as mentioned in verse four keeps us grounded from personal pride through the use of our gifts....

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

Look at verse 8......Prophecy and tongues will become useless/cease...but love will last forever......

Then Paul turns right around in verse 9 and says our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and EVEN THE GIFT OF PROPHECY REVEALS ONLY IN PART OF THE WHOLE PICTURE.....
Verse 10......BUT....WHEN....THE TIME.....OF PERFECTION COMES... THOSE PARTIAL THINGS WILL BECOME USELESS...



Now I don't know about anyone else but either Paul is contradicting himself in his teachings of the gifts or he is encourage the believers to seek the gifts for the edification of the body of Christ and to let LOVE be the motivation that we have to want the Holy Spirit to use us to minister to those who need edifying.......not pride....not boasting.....not to think highly and better than others......THAT is why Paul wrote verse 8....to show the church that love never fails....but prophecy and tongues will....as a way to teach them what is the most important gift of all....love.
 
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Heart2Soul

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Exactly. Deborah was like a civil magistrate in Israel, settling disputes and making judgments: And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

She was a prophetess in the sense that God spoke to Barak through her.
She had authority over men....she taught them...even the generals of the army sought her...where does prophesy come from? It comes from our Father....speaking through us.....and is backed by scripture. Isn't that a teacher? to be instructed what the Lord has to say and to follow all His commandments is being taught....

Well I am a very humble servant to do His Will.....whatever He commands I obey....if He ask me to teach His Word to others, absolutely....I am not in it for myself I am in it for Him and for His purpose. I know what Paul was addressing when writing to Timothy concerning the Church of Ephesus....the disorder of the church had become an issue that had to be addressed and they were a rebellious people who needed to establish an order that they could understand and follow.
 
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ScottA

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And then he went on to say that prophecies would CEASE. John the Revelator confirmed that prophecies ceased with him.
Neither of those statements is true.

Paul contrasted many things of this world which would indeed come to an end, including prophecy. But He did not say that prophecies would cease before the end. And that was not even the subject. He was making the point that love endures all. The subject was love.

John did not speak of all prophecy, but only spoke of "the words of the book of this prophecy."​
 
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OzSpen

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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?

Sovereign Grace,

Who taught the Bible here?
  1. 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV), 'What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification'.
  2. Col 3:16 (NIV), 'Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts'.
  3. 1 Cor 11:3-5 (NIV), 'But I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head – it is the same as having her head shaved'.
I recommend the article,Should Women Preach in Our Churches?

Oz
 
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Windmillcharge

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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.
I understand that to mean not to teach as the preacher.
Let me illistrate.
Yesterday we hjad our Harvest celebration, but paster had miscalculated the number of sermons to plan for hios series. The result he could not do a harvest sermon in the evening service, so he asked one of the elders wives to do a short Harvest talk, which he then followed with his planned sermon.

The lady taught us about creation, harvest and salvation. But she did it under the authority of the preacher.
Women teach spiritual truths with authority all the time. Look at the game I suggested playing.
Quote from Duncan Campbell,questions about the bible were taken to Mother and Masculine pride took a beating at that female source of wisdom.
 
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Soverign Grace

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Even on this forum there are a lot a female members sharing and teaching what they have learned......
How do you reconcile that scripture to the one Paul says: Galatians 3:25-29 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There are many scriptures that speak of women teaching.....Aquilla and Priscilla were very essential in teaching the Church of Ephesus along with Apollos.

Ephesus was the 1st church addressed in Revelation....an interesting read is the history of the Church of Ephesus....

In my belief, I think anyone who is a disciple of Christ can teach. We are all teachers in some way or another when we share with others about Christ.

You have a point - I never thought of that verse. I see why so many churches are disparate in their beliefs - there seem to be competing Scriptures and various interpretations.