What Does The Bible Say About Women Teaching

What Does The Bible Say About Women Teaching? What does the Bible say about women Pastors? This is a very controversial topic so let’s get straight to the point and be very clear about it so there is no confusion.

Can women be Pastors? The Bible is very clear that women cannot be head Pastors, lead a church or be the head authority of a church however….. women can be Pastors for Women’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry or worship leaders.

Quick Summary

Can women be head Pastors? NO.

Can Women be a Pastor? YES, but ONLY of Women’s and Children’s Ministry.

Can Women have other roles in a church? YES, Chaplain, worship leaders, youth leaders, administration, secretary, support worker, Christian counselor.

Women Cannot ‘Teach’ Does Not Mean What You Think

In 1 Timothy 2:12 it says “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” Now many people think this means a woman cannot share the Gospel. On the contrary we are all called to share the Gospel.

The actual word in 1 Timothy 2:12 the words in Hebrew are didaskein and authentein which translates to that women cannot give authority by teaching. Which specifically means women cannot be head Pastors and head authority in a church. This doesn’t mean teaching in general, but refers to the head of a church.

We know the Bible calls ALL to spread the Gospel. When you share the Gospel with someone who has never heard the Gospel you are in a sense teaching them the Gospel, which once again we are all called to do. So 1 Timothy is not saying women can’t teach at all, but that women can’t be the head ‘teacher’ or Pastor of a church.

Women’s and Children’s Ministry

While women cannot lead a church or be the head Pastor, women are permitted to be Pastors for Women’s or Children’s Ministry. Not only are women encouraged to teach other women and children but God commands it.

In the Book of Titus chapter 2 this discussed what women are called to do in terms of being a good Christian woman. Part of those instructions include teaching other women how to live as Christian women and to teach children how to be Christians.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 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 2:1-5

Where There Exceptions of Female Pastors In The Bible?

One of the arguments people make for female Pastors today is that there were exceptions of female Pastors in the Bible. However this is not accurate.

In the New Testament Phoebe is referred to as a Deacon or ‘Servant’ of the church and is highly commended by Paul. Likewise is mentions Priscilla went and shared the Gospel with her husband. None of these scriptures indicate however that either Phoebe or Priscilla were lead or head Priests or head Pastors.

It’s also important to remember Deacons do not lead churches. They are ordained to give Baptisms and proceed over weddings but they do not lead a church or sermon. The scriptures do not indicate they led a church. While Phoebe was called a Deacon the more correct translation is servant. Again that does not indicate she led a church but was merely a worker for the church.

In terms of Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah this was all Old Testament. We do not follow the rules of the Old Testament today. The Old Testament does not apply to whether women can be Pastors or Priests today. We follow the laws of Christ as Jesus fulfilled the Laws of Moses.

In Conclusion, women cannot be head Pastors but they can lead Women’s and Children’s Ministry or hold other positions in the church such as a Chaplain.

Ask a Question

What do you think? Do you think the Bible allows or disallows female pastors? Let me know in the comments!

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