Women in Ministry

Why I do not agree with John MacArthur’s view that women may not teach or lead in church:

(Article by Bob Edwards. Copied with permission)

This is how the Greek New Testament describes the ministry of women:

• Phoebe: διάκονον (deacon) and προστάτις (leader), Romans 16:1-2

• Priscilla: one of the συνεργούς (co-workers) of Paul, Romans 16:3; ἐξέθεντο (expounded, interpreted) “the way of God more accurately,” to a man Acts 18:26.

• Junia: ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις (outstanding among the apostles), Romans 16:7

My understanding of why 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 do not prohibit women from teaching, leading, or speaking in church:

1st Timothy 2:12 is not a prohibition against “all” women teaching or leading in the church of Ephesus.  Priscilla taught a man the way of God more accurately, in Ephesus.  

The context of the verse is in a letter against “false doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3), “godless myths” (1 Timothy 4:7), “opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20).  A woman *engaged in false teaching* should learn before teaching.

I do not believe 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 was a command from Paul telling women they must be silent in church; nor do I believe Paul was saying it is “shameful” for women to be heard in church.  The rabbinical oral law of the day said those things:

“A woman’s voice is prohibited because it is sexually provocative” (Talmud, Berachot 24a).  
“It is a shame for a woman to let her voice be heard among men” (Talmud, Tractate Kiddushin).

I believe Paul’s response to the oral law appears in 1 Corinthians 14:36-39:

“What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? … Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”

In other words, oral tradition should not be used to prevent women from expressing their spiritual gifts in church, everyone must simply express their gifts in an orderly manner (see verse 40).

Ministry roles are not given according to gender.  They are given according to spiritual gifting: 

“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;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  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.” (Romans 12:6-8)  

The Greek word used to describe the gift of leading is προϊστάμενος; it is the verb cognate of προστάτις, the word used to describe the leadership role of Phoebe in Romans 16:2.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). 

 Paul really believed this.  When Peter related to Gentile Christians differently than Jewish Christians (by refusing to eat with them) in Galatians 2:11-14, Paul rebuked him.  As in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul explained that it is wrong to “force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs” (Gal 2:14).

When John MacArthur tells women that they may not teach or lead in the church, I believe he is acting like Peter in Galatians chapter 2, he is nullifying the word of God by holding on to human tradition (see Jesus’ remarks to the religious leaders of his day in Mark 7:13