1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15
A wife should learn quietly with complete submission. 12 I don’t allow a wife to teach or to control her husband. Instead, she should be a quiet listener. 13 Adam was formed first, and then Eve. 14 Adam wasn’t deceived, but rather his wife became the one who stepped over the line because she was completely deceived. 15 But
a wife will be brought safely through childbirth, if they both continue
in faith, love, and holiness, together with self-control. -CEB
1)
Some Bible versions will say 'woman' and 'man' in the above passage,
but it's supposed to be 'wife' and 'husband,' as this is speaking to the
marriage relationship.
2) Where it says the wife is to learn quietly, that doesn't mean silently. "Quietly" is from the Greek word hēsychia which means 'peace,' 'calm,' 'a quiet spirit.' It does not mean verbal silence.
3)
Notice it's saying the wife is to LEARN. That was a radical statement
when it was written, as women in the Ephesian culture were generally not
allowed to sit under teachings of rabbis or other spiritual teachers.
4)
The Ephesian women didn't know much about Yahweh, but they knew of and
worshipped Artemis/Diana/Aphrodite/Ashtoreth/Ishtar/Isis/Easter (all the
same goddess; different names. This is the same goddess that is
worshipped in Wicca). These women and wives went around teaching
Artemis worship, which was a false teaching.
5) Verse 12 tells us
that just as Eve taught a false teaching to Adam (eating the forbidden
fruit) the Ephesian wives were not to teach their husbands goddess
worship, as was happening all over Ephesus at that time. That's why it
says the wife is not to "teach or control her husband." It's in
reference to false teachings, which is a main theme in the whole book of
1 Timothy. The wife is to learn Christianity, and put away
Wicca/Artemis goddess worship.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:31-40
For you can all prophesy in turn and in an environment where all present can be instructed, encouraged, and strengthened. 32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is the God of harmony, not confusion, as is the pattern in all the churches of God’s holy believers.34The women should be respectfully silent during the evaluation of prophecy in the meetings. They are not allowed to interrupt, but are to be in a support role, as in fact the law teaches. 35If
they want to inquire about something, let them ask their husbands when
they get home, for a woman embarrasses herself when she constantly
interrupts the church meeting. 36Do you actually think that you were the starting point for the Word of God going forth? Were you the only ones it was sent to? I don’t think so! 37If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or a spiritual person, let him discern that what I’m writing to you carries the Lord’s authority. 38And if anyone continues not to recognize this, he should not be recognized!39So, beloved friends, with all this in mind, be passionate to prophesy and don’t forbid anyone from speaking in tongues, 40doing all things in a beautiful and orderly way. -TPT
1) Notice in the above verse 31 that ALL Christians in the church are
allowed to prophesy, but just to do it one by one, in an orderly fashion. 'For ye are all able,'
clearly indicates that both men and women can prophesy in the church,
out loud.
2)
It is questionable if verses 34 and 35 were in the original manuscripts
of the Bible, since these two verses appear after verse 33 in some
manuscripts, but after verse 40 in other manuscripts, indicating the
possibility that verses 34 and 35 may have been added by an early
copyist.
3)
This chapter teaches that both men and women are to be quiet when
someone else is prophesying, but then verses 34 and 35 specifically
emphasize that the women/wives stay quiet during the evaluating of
prophecy, because Corinthian women were not educated. They'd keep
interrupting the service with basic questions that the men (who were
educated) already knew. This was disruptive. Therefore, the wives were
to keep their elementary questions for when they get home, to ask their
husbands.
4) Verse 39 is to both genders, stating that both men and women should
have the desire to prophesy, and also not to forbid any Christian, male
or female, from speaking in tongues during the proper time in the church
service.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to
another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another
distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds
of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. -NIV 2011
The
above manifestations of the Spirit are to both genders. This means
women, just like men, can prophesy, give a message of knowledge, etc.
Romans 12:4-8
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If
your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. -NIV 2011
We see that the above is equally to both genders. Therefore, just like men, women too can 'prophesy,' 'teach,' and 'lead.'
1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-28
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And
God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of
guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. -NIV 2011
Here we see that both genders can be prophets and teachers, etc. in the church.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:13
For
we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews
or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to
drink. -NIV 2011
1) In the main chapter that lists gifts
and ministrations given to Christians by God, it doesn't state that
certain gifts are only for men, or certain gifts are only for women. As we
saw in earlier Scriptures, these gifts and ministrations are offered "to
each." ALL Christians are baptized into the Body of Christ via the
Holy Spirit, and ALL Christians can therefore exercise any of the gifts
of the Spirit that God wills to give them.
GALATIANS 3:27-28
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There
is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male
and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -NIV 2011
1)
These verses parallel 1 Corinthians 12:13. Through the Spirit of God,
ALL Christians are baptized in Christ, and therefore are offered the
same ministrations, such as prophesying, teaching, giving a word of
knowledge, etc.
2) In case anyone is confused with the term "to
each" that we saw in some of our earlier 1 Corinthians 12 verses, the
above verse 28 makes it clear that "nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
"To each" means no matter the social status, no matter the genetic
heritage, and no matter the gender - the ministrations of the Spirit are
given to ALL Christians.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:3
But
I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the
head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. -NIV 2011
1) Symbolic "head" in the Corinth culture at that time didn't mean authority.
It meant source, such as the head of a river, or Rosh Hashanah, which
means "head of the year," to be understood as the source/beginning of a
new year.
2) The above is in source or origin order of human
appearance on earth. First, Adam (man) whose source (head - origin)
was Christ, second, woman (Eve), whose source/origin (head - beginning)
was Adam, and then Christ in human form, whose source (head - origin) is
God.
3) Head as source is used synomynously in this chapter also
with the terms 'glory/reflection' in verse 7, and 'come from' in verse
8.
4) Symbolic "head" in the New Testament always means source, origin, or beginning of, including also in Ephesians chapter five.
5) The Passion Translation properly translates symbolic 'head' as 'source' in 1 Corinthians 11:3 as thus:
"But I want you to understand that Christ is the source of every human alive, and Adam was the source of Eve, and God is the source of the Messiah."
1 CORINTHIANS 11:10
It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. -NIV 2011
1)
The woman has "authority over her own head," for the reason of her
coming from man - Adam, but as verse 12 points out, since then, all men
have come from women, via childbirth. Therefore the source (head) of
men is women, as well.
2) The woman also has "authority over
her own head," because she, right along the side of men, will judge
angels, as per 1 Corinthians 6:3.
3) The head covering is the woman's acknowledging that SHE has authority over her own physical head AKA herself.
ACTS 2:17-18
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. -NIV 2011
1) God says He will pour his Spirit on both
men and women to prophesy. Verse 17 - "and daughters will
prophesy," and verse 18 - "my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."
LUKE 2:36-38
There was also a prophet,
Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old;
she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming
up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about
the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem. -NIV 2011
1) Anna was a prophet, as we see in verse 36.
2)
Anna was also a teacher, teaching anyone, of either gender - anyone who
would listen, as we see in verse 38 - "and spoke about
the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem"
ROMANS 16:1-2
And I commend you to Phebe our sister -- being a minister of the church that is in Cenchrea --2
that you may receive her in the Lord, as does become saints, and may
assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you -- for she also
became a leader of many, and of myself. -Revised YLT
1) As we see in verse 1, Phebe was a minister of the church in Cenchrea. "Minister" above is from the Greek word diakonos,
which is the exact same word for minister/deacon in 1 Timothy 3,
where it gives the qualifications for the office of minister/deacon in the church:
Ministers -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre" -1 Timothy 3:8
2)
This is showing us that women can be preachers and ministers of
churches. In fact, the first time a minister of a church is mentioned by name in the Bible, it's a woman - Phebe.
3) In verse 2 we see that Paul is
telling the church in Rome to "receive her in the Lord." It is likely
that Phebe was entrusted by Paul the Apostle to deliver the Epistle to
the Romans to the church in Rome. Traditionally, the one who carried the letter to the church also taught the letter, via reading it out loud, explaining it, and answering questions.
4) Also in verse 2 we see that
Paul is instructing the church in Rome to "assist" Phebe "in whatever
matter she may have need of you." This seems to indicate that if she
needs anything for the church she is the minister of back in Cenchrea,
the church in Rome should help.
5) Verse 2 also says that Phebe
was a leader of many, and even of Paul the Apostle himself. The Greek
word underlying "leader" is prostatis, which is the feminine noun version of the verb proistēmi, which means to lead, or to rule. We see proistēmi in such verses as the following:
"his own house leading (proistēmi) well, having children in subjection with all gravity" -1 Timothy 3:4
Phebe was a female minister of the church in Cenchrea, and was also a leader, including of Paul himself.
1 TIMOTHY 3:11
In
the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious
talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. -NIV 2011
1)
In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 we see the listed requirements for a
minister/deacon. Verse 11 is specifically to female
ministers/deacons, where it is reminding them to also be worthy of
respect, not malicious talkers, but to be temperate and trustworthy in
everything.
NOTE: Any Bible translation that has the pronoun "he"
or related in 1 Timothy 3 is adding something that is not there. There
are no male pronouns in the Greek of 1 Timothy 3. The CEB Bible properly
translates this chapter.
ROMANS 16:3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. -NIV 2011
1) Priscilla is a woman, and Paul calls her a fellow co-workder in Christ Jesus.
2)
Traditionally in those times, the more prominent person was mentioned
first. When it's mentioning ministry work, teaching, and church, the
Bible lists Priscilla's name before her husband's. When it's referring
to their tent making occupation, the Bible lists Aquila first -
Priscilla's husband. What does this tell us? This tells us that Aquila
was more prominent in tent making, but Priscilla was more prominent in
teaching the Word of God to others.
ROMANS 16:7
Greet
Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me.
They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I
was. -NIV 2011
1) Junia is a female Roman name, named after the goddess Juno.
2) Junia is mentioned by Paul as having been in prison with him, and as an apostle that is outstanding.
3)
Junia is likely the same person as Joanna, who was married to Chusa, a
manager of King Herod's. Joanna was a disciple of Jesus, and followed
Him. Chusa likely divorced Joanna because she followed Christ, and then
she probably re-married a Christian man by the name of Andronicus, and
since they went to Rome, she went by the Roman variation of Joanna,
which is Junia. Junia is a female apostle.
PHILIPPIANS 4:2-3
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes,
and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have
contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and
the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. -NIV 2011
1)
Here Paul tells us of two women, named Euodia and Syntyche, and that
these women worked directly with him, in spreading the Gospel.
ACTS 9:36
In
Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas);
she was always doing good and helping the poor. -NIV 2011
1) There are several
female disciples mentioned in the Bible. Here we see Tabitha being
mentioned as a disciple.
JOHN 4:39
Many
of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s
testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” -NIV 2011
1)
In John chapter 4, we first see that Jesus purposely went to Samaria,
even though in those days the Jews and the Samaritans were in a feud,
and didn't have any dealings with one another.
2) Then, Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman, which surprised her, because Jews generally didn't speak to Samaritans.
3) We also see in chapter 4 that the disciples were shocked that Jesus was speaking to a woman
4)
And then we see that this Samaritan woman goes into the Samaritan city
of Sychar, and preaches Christ to the people of the city, and a whole
bunch of them came out to the well to seek Christ.
5) Here was a woman preacher, leading people to Christ.
1 TIMOTHY 5:16-17
If
any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue
to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the
church can help those widows who are really in need.17 The
elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double
honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. -NIV 2011
1)
1 Timothy 5:2-18 is about how to take care of Christian widows. They
are divided into four classes: those who are under the age of 60 - they
are told to remarry; those who are over 60 and have family to take care
of them - their family is supposed to take care of them; those who are
over 60 and have no family - the church is supposed to take care of
them; and those who are over 60 and were pastors/teaching
elders/presbyters - their family if applicable, or the the church if there is no
family, is supposed to give those widows double honor.
2) The above didn't suddenly
change genders mid-topic. It is still referring to old, widowed women.
The above is talking about how the widows who were pastors should be taken care
of with "double honor."
PSALM 68:11
The Lord gave the word;
great was the company of women who proclaimed it: -MEV
1) The above is talking about female evangelists.
NUMBERS 6:2
Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite -NIV 2011
1) The vow of the Nazirite was
open to both men and women.
2 KINGS 22:14-15
Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet
Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas,
keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.15 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me... -NIV 2011
1)
The male priest and other men went to Huldah, a female prophet, to get a
word from the Lord, and she prophesied to these men what the Lord had
her say.
1 CHRONICLES 7:24
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah. -NIV 2011
1) A woman named Sheerah built Beth Horon the lower and upper, and also Uzzen Sheerah, which is named after her.
JUDGES 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. -NIV 2011
1)
Deborah, a married woman, was the leader of Israel. At that time,
there were no kings. The leaders of Israel were a succession of Judges
that God chose. One of the judges/leaders of Israel was a woman. God
chose a WOMAN to be a leader of Israel, because in God/Christ, there is
not male and female (Gal. 5:28).
JUDGES 4:21-22
But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.22 Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael
went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re
looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the
tent peg through his temple—dead. -NIV 2011
1) There are women warriors as well, such a Jael.
2 JOHN 1:1
The Elder to the choice
Kyria, and to her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but
also all those having known the truth -YLT
1) This is a New Testament epistle written to a woman.
2) Some translations don't give us this woman's name - Kyria, but instead just say "lady." In the Greek, Kyria is kyria,
which is a feminine noun. Kyria means lady. Kyria was a common Greek name, seen in many Greek
writings.
Titus 2:3-4
that
the elder women in like manner be in deportment as becoming those who
have to say to sacred things, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine,
teachers of what is right; 4 that they may admonish the young women to be attached to [their] husbands, to be attached to [their] children, 5
discreet, chaste, diligent in home work, good, subject to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of. -Darby
1) The word "elder" above, is from the Greek presbytis, which is the feminine noun version of the Greek word presbyteros. Presbyteros
is Greek for Presbyter, or elder. It is used in Titus chapter 1, where
it says Timothy is to "establish elders in each city," in verse 5. The
King James says to 'ordain elders.' Therefore, the above can be taken
as instructing female church elders that were ordained by Timothy.
2)
In the Bible, church elders and overseers (pastors) are used
interchangeably, such as we see in verses 5-7 of Titus chapter one.
3)
We see that the female elders are to act accordingly as women who "have
to say to sacred things," and that they are to be "teachers of what is
right." In the above verse 4, we see that it doesn't say the elder
women are to teach the young women, but rather to admonish them.
"Teachers" in verse three is from the Greek word didaskalos, which literally means a master or teacher. The Greek for "admonish" in verse 4 is NOT teach. It is sōphronizō, which means to discipline, correct, or admonish.
4)
We see in the above verses that elder women (possibly ordained pastors)
are to "have to say to sacred things," and to be "teachers of what is
right."
2 Kings 4:8+
One day
Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who
urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop
there for a meal. -NRSVue
1) In 2 Kings chapters 4 and
8, we read of the Shunemite woman, and her dealings with the prophet
Elisha. Chapter 4 mentions her husband, alive and well, who was often
out working in the fields. This woman took the initiative, and was the
one to reach out to Elisha on several occasions, and her husband did
not. Therefore, Elisha always directed his dealings with her, and not
with her husband. This demonstrates that a man of God and a woman of
God can have dealings, without the woman having to go through her
husband, if he is not part of those dealings.
1 Corinthians 1:11
My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. -NIV 2011
At
that time, churches were in houses, and it was the householders who
pastored the house churches. The above indicates the strong possibility
that Chloe was a church pastor, and further, she may have been the
pastor of the main church of Corinth at the time of the First
Corinthians letter.
Colossians 4:15
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. -NIV 2011
A
church in Nympha's house indicates another possible female pastor.
Nympa is female, and a household church was being held in HER house.
Householders of house churches were usually the pastors of said
churches.