"Woman, You're Not Supposed To Teach!"

Nothing can strike a chord more deeply than to be told by another Christian, "Why can't you women just shut up. You are forbidden to teach God's Word according to the Apostle Paul." Being told to "shut up" might be something one would expect to hear from a non-believer and not a brother who follows the Lord. Over the years my ears have been pummeled with the admonition that women should not teach, preach, prophesy, evangelize, exhort, or counsel. Let's look at a Biblical quote regarding this subject, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (NASB) "Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." Now, to the untrained eye, this seems straight forward, doesn't it? Paul went further to say, "do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent" (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Can women give testimonies? Can women prophesy? Can women teach? Do women need "permission to do so? Hmm. Well, let's look a little deeper.

First of all, almost every person I know skips over those two verses without careful examination. Go to verse 34-35 above and read it again very carefully. Did you notice a particular part of Paul's words beside just that a woman is not supposed to speak? Let me point it out in case you missed it. Verse 34, "Let the women keep silent IN THE CHURCHES." And verse 35, "For it is improper for a woman to speak IN CHURCH." As far as my blogs, they "speak" outside the confines of a church. Joyce Meyer or Robyn Dykstra for example, are authors and speakers who teach, inspire, exhort, and testify of the saving grace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ but do so outside the boundaries of a church! There are many women who teach the Word of God and lead others to Christ but do so OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH. There are female prophets as well! If you happen to open your Bible today, go look at Luke 2:36-38. You will see that Anna was a prophetess. Yes, even in Jesus day women prophesied! Miriam, Joseph's oldest sister was also a prophetess. There are many examples of women who made a difference throughout Biblical times. The Gospels record that women were among Jesus' earliest followers. Some Jewish 'disciples' who were women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, had accompanied Jesus during his ministry and supported him out of their private means. From Mary to Sarah, there's no shortage of incredible women in the Bible who made their mark on the Christian world who were not only eager to speak but did speak.

It is clear that women are given the gift and responsibility to teach in God’s kingdom. Certainly, as Paul wrote in Titus, they are to teach other women (Titus 2:3–5). Throughout the Bible we see women instructing and exhorting mixed audiences as well, both publicly and privately! In the Old Testament, Deborah dispensed wisdom to Israel by her tree (Judges 4:4), and both Miriam’s and Deborah’s songs were given publicly to instruct and edify Israel (Exodus 15; Judges 5). In the New Testament, Priscilla, together with her husband, tutored Apollos (Acts 18:26). Women prophesied publicly in the New Testament church (Acts 2:11, 17; 1 Corinthians 11:5; 14:26), and the whole congregation (men included) learned from those prophecies (1 Corinthians 14:31; Romans 15:14). Furthermore, Paul commands the congregation to admonish and teach one another, and these “one another” commands are given without gender distinction (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19–20; 1 Corinthians 14:28).

Women can teach informally, as Priscilla did with Apollos, or in the context of group discussion (as might occur in a small group). Though people contend women should not teach according to Paul, that her “teaching” must never happen in the formal setting of the church assembled or in the public ministry of the church, so many women publicly explain, exhort, and edify God’s people and the substance of what is shared can only be called “teaching.” Not only women of the Bible but women today, such as speaker and writer Joyce Meyer as well as Robyn Dykstra. They touch the world with their teachings. Even the blogs I write VIA the Internet are actually public addresses filled with explanations, content, and exhortations to repent and believe, to teach and instruct, to exhort and fill with hope. Were you aware both Miriam and Deborah instructed and exhorted through prophetic expression? The women in the Corinthian church gave prophecies, hymns, lessons, or revelations in worship services from which members could learn (1 Corinthians 11:4–5; 14:26–32). If it is true that women should not teach in any public capacity as I've been told so many times, then it must follow that a pastor should never recommend a book to his entire church written by a woman, right? Nor should a woman be allowed to give a testimony in church that includes an explanation of scriptural content or exhorts the hearers to obey? If a female teacher extols of the mighty works of God (as in Acts 2), and along the way she intentionally explains gospel content, you're saying she should shut up or worse has somehow sinned? Should a woman never lead in song in church since song lyrics also have both teaching and exhorting capacity? Paul said, "it is improper for a woman to speak in church." That said, and for the record, I'm not speaking or teaching within a church or behind a pulpit.

I don't believe women should bury their gifts or let anyone else bury them. There's a lost world (of men and women) waiting to hear what God's gifted women have to say to them. The eternal destiny of these souls may depend on it. God said "'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" Acts 2:17 (NIV). I do believe God's Spirit is working and speaking through both men and women to spread His Word in these last days. As our world grows darker and more ominous, we need people to rise up and take the gospel to the lost world. I have a calling on my life to do just that. And as long as I have breath, I will continue.
Until next time,
-Pat-