On Women Preachers
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On Women Preachers
On Women Preachers
Introduction
Introduction
I hold to a doctrine known in the Latin as "sola scriptura" or "scripture alone". Sola scriptura means that Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Biblical references used to affirm women preachers (with my commentary)
Biblical references used to affirm women preachers (with my commentary)
Junia: "of note among the apostles”
Junia: "of note among the apostles”
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Junia has been called an apostle. But, it is clear that the phrases "noted among the apostles", "outstanding among the apostles", "well known to the apostles", and "ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις (prominent or outstanding among the apostles) all denotes the reputation, testimony, or high regard of she and Andronicus. They are not apostles, but rather known by them.
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
"note among the apostles" KJV
"outstanding among the apostles" NASB
"known to the apostles" ESV
"ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις" Greek (Berean)
"...they told all these things unto the eleven"
"...they told all these things unto the eleven"
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
It is indisputable that the first testimony of the risen Lord was given by women. At a time when a woman was not allowed to testify in a court, it seems ironic that Jesus' resurrection was first given to women and then first spread by women. Rather than being a proof text for women preachers, it should be seen as it is: further proof that the resurrection was not a conspiratorial concoction of Jesus' disciples. No conspiracy would have dared employed the testimony of women in their plot.
“Because of the woman's testimony”
“Because of the woman's testimony”
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
The call to be a witness is never given only to men. The Great Commission is to all. That fact does not, in any way, negate other portions of scripture where women are expressly forbidden from positions of leadership.
“Until I, Deborah, arose”
“Until I, Deborah, arose”
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until that I Deborah arose,
That I arose a mother in Israel.
The Old Testament position of Judge should not be mistaken for that of a spiritual leader. It is a fact that Deborah was used as a political leader of Israel. But it must also be aknowledged that she operated through Barak. Additionally, the role of judge is not equatable to the New Testament office of pastor/elder/bishop in any way.
Huldah: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me”
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book. And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect. And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.
God's usage of Huldah here is a clear rebuke to the men who had neglected their offices and duties. Huldah's prophecy is to their open shame for being derelict in their duties. This is clear in 2 Kings 22:15-20 where a curse is placed upon the men who had neglected their responsibilities, but a blessing is pronounced upon the king. This position is strengthened by the similarities with Deborah where the enemy was defeated by a woman and not by a man. Again, this was to the shame and rebuke of the failure of men to lead and should not be lifted out of the context so as to associate these examples with that of the New Testament pastor/elder/bishop.
Miriam: “All the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing”
Miriam: “All the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing”
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
While Miriam was used to save Moses alive and while she was called a prophetess, Exodus 15:20 states that "all the women went out after her with tembrels and with dances". The very scripture that tells us that Miriam was a prophetess tells us that the women and only the women followed her. It must also be noted that when Miriam attempted to assert herself over and against a man (Moses), she was struck with leprosy (Numbers 12:10).
Biblical references that refute women preachers
Biblical references that refute women preachers
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Corinthians 11:3-9
1 Corinthians 11:3-9
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1 Timothy 3:1-2
1 Timothy 3:1-2
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Titus 1:5-6
Titus 1:5-6
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.