What Does The Bible Say About Women Teaching

This question has sparked much discussion within the church, so let’s look carefully at what Scripture actually says.

Can Women Teach in the Church?

The Bible draws a distinction between different kinds of teaching. Women are not permitted to hold the position of head pastor or to exercise authority over men in the church. However, women absolutely have a teaching role within the body of Christ — particularly toward other women and children.

Quick Overview

• Can women be head pastors or lead a congregation? — No.
• Can women teach? — Yes, but within the biblical boundaries laid out in Scripture.
• What roles can women hold? — Women’s ministry leaders, children’s ministry teachers, worship leaders, chaplains, youth leaders, counselors, and other supportive positions.

What 1 Timothy 2:12 Really Means

Paul writes:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” — 1 Timothy 2:12

This passage does not forbid women from teaching altogether. The key words in the original text — didaskein (to teach) and authentein (to exercise authority) — refer specifically to authoritative teaching that governs the entire congregation. In other words, Paul is saying that women are not to serve as the primary authority over the gathered church, which is the role of the head pastor or elder.

But when it comes to sharing the gospel, leading Bible studies for women, teaching children, or discipling others, Scripture affirms that women are called to teach and encouraged to use their gifts.

Women Teaching Other Women and Children

The Bible even gives direct instruction for this:

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior… They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” — Titus 2:3-5

Women have an essential role in building up other women and training the next generation. Far from being silent altogether, God has given women an important teaching ministry in the life of the church.

Were There Female Teachers in the Bible?

Yes — but not in the sense of leading entire congregations as pastors.

• Priscilla, alongside her husband Aquila, helped explain the gospel more clearly to Apollos (Acts 18:26). This was a powerful example of teaching, but it was done in partnership with her husband, not as a pastor over the church.
• Phoebe is described as a servant (sometimes translated as deacon) in Romans 16, commended for her faithful service. Yet nothing indicates she led a congregation.
• In the Old Testament, women like Deborah and Huldah were prophetesses — but these examples don’t overturn the New Testament structure of church leadership, which was given after Christ fulfilled the Law.

Conclusion

The Bible is clear: women are not to serve as head pastors or exercise spiritual authority over men in the church. Yet Scripture also shows that women have a vital role in teaching. They are called to disciple other women, train children in the faith, and share the gospel with the lost.

In this way, women are both restricted in one area (headship over the church) and powerfully affirmed in another (teaching and discipling within their God-given sphere). Both men and women are essential in the life of the church, working together to build up the body of Christ in truth and love.

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