Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to
mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ …
The call to accept and encourage female
preachers is not new, nor is the support for it new. The argument goes
something like this. “Only Paul opposed women speaking up in the assembly, only
in a couple of passages, and only in specific cultural settings. Maybe Paul
contradicted Jesus, but Jesus was right and Paul was wrong. Jesus would have
accepted female preachers; He said nothing against it. Besides, women who ‘have
the gift’ or ‘feel the call’ must be allowed to preach. It’s a God thing! Those
who resist are legalists who lack love and do not understand grace. However,
they are still to be loved and somewhat pitied for their lack of
enlightenment.”
As we begin let’s note that there is a bigger
issue at stake here. It is quite surprising to me that anyone would discuss the
specific question of female preachers apart from the wider question: “What does the
Bible teach about the distinctive nature and roles of men and women?” After all,
Paul (by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) finds God’s answer to this question in Genesis! Creation and the fall, not any first-century culture or problem, are
said to be the basis for addressing this matter. Note the following:
1 Tim 2:11–15 (ESV)
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I
do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she
is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and
Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet
she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and
holiness, with self-control.
Now look at 1 Cor 14. Some claim that 1 Cor 14
has to do only with the problems in that one setting, because of particular
problems in Corinth. The text will not permit that inference. Note that Paul
(again by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) says regarding this instruction, “As
in all the churches of the saints …” That seems clear enough.
There is more. The text makes it clear that this
teaching is “as the Law also says.” The Law stipulated this arrangement, long
before the gospel came to Corinth. The culture did not precede or
determine the principle. Rather the God-given principle was the unchanging
basis that was applied to the culture. Read the following carefully:
1 Cor 14:33–35 (ESV)
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all
the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in
the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission,
as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to
learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to
speak in church.
So let’s return to the underlying issue: the
distinctive roles of men and women. The subject of male spiritual leadership
and responsibility, a mega-theme throughout Scripture, runs counter to our
modern secular culture. Today’s politically correct (and “religiously
correct!”) society seems almost to say that men and women are basically
interchangeable and that there is no inherent distinction between the sexes and
the roles they may fulfill.
The Bible’s message, however, has not changed.
And it is unmistakably clear. Here are some principles and truths it declares.
God created both man and woman in His image to
have dominion over all creation under His authority. Implication: man and woman
are equal in value, in significance, and in esteem. Gen 1
God created man first and created the woman from
the man as a suitable helper for him. Implication: man and woman are different
in order of creation and in respective roles. Gen 2
The woman was deceived by the serpent and gave
the forbidden fruit to the man. Implication: the woman disqualified herself
from taking spiritual leadership. Gen 3; 1 Tim 2:11-15
God then said to the woman, “I will surely
multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Gen 3:16
God chose a man named Moses. Moses chose “able
men” to serve as judges. He chose twelve male spies.
God chose a man named Aaron and his male
descendants to serve as High Priests.
God chose a man named Levi and his male
descendants to serve as priests and to lead the worship assemblies.
God chose male judges to deliver His people from
oppression. The notable exception of Deborah is just that, an exception, which
shows what happens when men like Barak refuse to lead.
God chose a man named David and his male
descendants to be kings.
God chose numerous male prophets to preach.
What about the New Testament? Does the creation
order no longer apply? Are men and women interchangeable, with no distinctions
between their roles? Did Jesus change the original framework, and did Paul then
contradict Jesus? Far from it.
Jesus chose twelve men to be His apostles. He
commissioned these men (minus Judas Iscariot) to take the gospel to the entire
world.
Jesus affirmed the Genesis account of creation
and quoted it regarding marriage. Jesus never said anything that challenged or
contradicted the truth of Genesis. Matt 19:1-9
Jesus in His parables consistently portrayed the
father as the leader of the home. Cf. the Prodigal Son, the Marriage Feast,
etc.
Jesus in His teaching consistently portrayed the
father as the provider of the home. Luke 11:11-13
Jesus in His teaching consistently portrayed the
Father using male terminology.
On the Day of Pentecost, the preachers were all
men. They were the apostles. Note that this occurred in Jerusalem, not Corinth,
before Paul ever became a follower and supposedly “invented” this idea to
address a need in Corinth. Acts 2:7, 14, 37
Before Paul even became a Christian, the Holy
Spirit directed the male apostles to appoint male servants to oversee the care
of the Greek-speaking widows in the church. Acts 6
Before Paul even became a Christian, the Holy
Spirit directed two men, Stephen and Philip, to preach. Acts 7, 8
Before Paul ever wrote 1 Cor or 1 Tim, the Holy
Spirit directed that males would be appointed as elders to oversee every
church. Acts 14:23
The only person specifically called an
“evangelist” (one who preaches the good news) was a man named Philip. Acts 21:8
Women in the first century prophesied, but they
were not permitted to do so in the church assembly. Acts 21:9; 1 Cor 11:4-5;
14:33-35
Paul (by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) wrote
that elders and deacons were to be men, each “the husband of one wife.” 1 Tim 3
Paul appointed males – Timothy and Titus – to
preach and to lead churches in Ephesus and Crete.
Peter (by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) also
understood and stated the principle of male spiritual leadership. 1 Pet 3:1-7
According to the Greek text of Eph 4:11-16, the
terms apostles, prophets, pastors / shepherds, and teachers were all masculine.
They referred to male leaders in the church.
Male spiritual leadership is a grave, sobering
responsibility. The fact is that men will give account to God for this stewardship. This is not the time
for women to do what God expects of men. It is time for men to be men. "Preach the Word."
Cory Collins
