Women Preachers: Working Through Scripture to  Find God’s Truth
Frank A. Jones

[A reader cited the fact that in my discussion of women preachers I had not discussed women pastors. Indeed, that was an oversight, so I republish this sermon and cover women pastors through a long footnote.]

     I was asked by a reader of the Word of Truth Ministries to address the issue of women preachers. Many inside and outside the church have argumentatively considered this subject. One can refer to scriptures on this issue but they require careful attention to understand what God is saying to His people—some of these are scriptures that seem to say two things. I am aware that this is a controversial subject, but it is controversial because it has not been fairly treated in study for a number of reasons. Needless to say, this ministry has not shied away from controversial subjects in the word of God. I have not shunned my duties in declaring unto God’s people all His counsel. [Acts 20:27]
     Many suppose the word of God is not clear on this subject (to them it may not be clear), yet the word of God is clear when rightly divided; however, many have not rightly divided God’s word on this and many other subjects for any number of reasons. Once it is rightly divided, one cannot honestly walk away from the truth thrashed out through a correct analysis and still cling to his/her own notions in spite of what God says, if he wants to obey truth. But there are many who do not want to obey God if their ideas are contrary to His, and the usually are.
     Paul wrote extensively on females in the church, first to the Corinthian church, he said, Let your women keep silence in the church, 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 anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in church. [1Cor. 14:34-35] 
     And he also wrote to the young bishop Timothy, saying the following, which seems to correspond to the above scripture: Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in transgression. [1 Tim. 2:11-14] 
     These are the two main scriptures that seem to prohibit females from being preachers of the gospel, as understood by many today. These two scriptures are definitive but must be understood in the light of other scriptures, for Peter wrote that no prophecy of scripture is with a private interpretation; it is not single and alone, it fits into the whole of God’s word, since all scripture is the breath of God and not the word of man. [2 Pet.1:20] On the other hand, those who argue that God’s word allows a female to be a minister use other scriptures to buttress their position.
     Certainly Joel 2:28  is the lead scripture they use. This scripture in Joel was used by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, the day the church was established, to explain the wonderful works of God in the midst of the people. [Acts 2: 16-19] Joel writes, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 
     The important aspect of this scripture for those who use it to bolster their argument for female ministers is this phrase, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy….” And the issue then turns on what is meant by the word prophesy.  Those in support of female preachers reach back into the Old Testament for the prophetesses Deborah and Huldah, and to the New Testament for Aquila and Priscilla, and for the instructions of Paul to help those women who labor with me in the gospel. And as you can see, each group marshals competing scriptures for their cause and claim. 
     But God is not the author of confusion, but peace as in all the churches of the saints. [1 Cor. 14:33] Usually when human beings are confused about what God says, in the complex nature of His word, we say that there are contradictions in what God is saying, as this case about female preachers.  
     The place of a wife in relationship to her husband is without equivocation in the word of God: the wife is in subjection to her own husband. Few will argue that this is not  clearly what God says. And although it is clearly what God says, many supposedly-saved wives do not obey this relationship arrangement, and many weak husbands allow their wives and themselves to disobey God’s word. There is a great struggle in far too many Christian homes over matters both significant and insignificant; indeed, many wives are not subject to their own husbands, while many are more subject to pastors, who are someone else’s husbands. This state of affairs is convoluted and distorted, yet it is a strange irony seen in God’s house and among God's people. The issue of headship in a family should be divorced from this discussion because it clouds the argument for many, especially when the subject of female pastors is also added into the mix. 
     Because I want to have a clear-headed biblical discussion on this matter, I will separate the matter of wives and husbands and the ministry of pastors and just deal with the issue of whether a female has the biblical authority to be a preacher. When we examine God’s word for the various ministries that he has commissioned and, as Paul said, set in the church, we see Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. [Eph. 4:11] And elsewhere, Paul expands that list, citing miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues. Some gifts of the Spirit are mixed with the ministries in this passage. [1Cor. 12:28]  Still elsewhere, we see the ministry of deacons and the office of a bishop. [Acts Chapters 6, 7, and 8; 1 Tim.3:2; Titus 1:7]
     But God is not the author of confusion, but peace as in all the churches of the saints. [1 Cor. 14:33] Usually when human beings are confused about what God says, in the complex nature of His word, we say that there are contradictions in what God is saying, as this case about female preachers.  
    

Preacher as Defined
     It is worth noting that preacher is not listed as a ministry or a gift, yet preaching and preachers are threaded throughout the word of God—the New Testament and the Old. A preacher is merely one who advocates and/or extols a certain position or cause on a regular or infrequent basis. Therefore, the struggle over female preachers is not a biblical issue, as such, but a church issue. However, church issues are to be resolved by the word of God, if that church is a church of God. The female preacher issue is wrongly cast as female preachers; it should be a ministry or gift of the spirit issue, if we consider what a preacher is.  
     Anyone can be a preacher, and most everyone with a strong opinion or belief will preach. What he or she is preaching varies, but any person who stands for any idea and states that idea in hope of persuading another is a preacher—whether a shoe salesman, a used car salesman, or a minister of God—and he or she preaches whenever he/she advocates for an idea or against an idea.  Indeed, Jonah was a prophet—that was his ministry—yet he was sent to preach the word of the Lord. [Jon. 3:2] Nehemiah wrote that God has sent his prophets to preach to his people. [Ne. 6:7] Jesus the Messiah went about preaching the word, etc. [Mat. 4:17]  When Jesus sent his disciples out he told them to preach as they went. [Mat. 10:7] Jesus even said, what we hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. [10:27] Jesus does distinguish between preaching and teaching however. [Mat. 11:1]
     Paul was an apostle, Timothy was a bishop, Apollos was an evangelist, Philip and Stephen were deacons and evangelists, yet they all preached. Preaching is primarily a function of most of the ministry—it advocates the gospel of Christ as a cause; it is the work of the church, regardless of one’s position in the ministry. 
     We should study to show ourselves approved of God, workmen.... As the study of God’s word is work, and those who engage in study regularly are workmen, one who preaches God’s word is a preacher. [2 Tim. 2:15] 
     In First Corinthians, Paul preaches, “Let your women keep silence in the churches….” This command is clear in this part, keep silence in the churches. 

Keep Silence in the Church
     The word silence is generally employed as a noun, not a verb. Silent is its adjective form of silence. Paul is telling the women to keep the silence that should be maintained when the word of God is going forth. Or when some other holy ministry is ongoing. Of course, to keep the silence one must be silent, that is not to say anything. But to say keep silence in the churches is not the same as saying keep or be silent in the church. There is a time for all things, but the implication of this noun is that Paul is saying that noise/chatter should not be conducted by women in the church, but that they should maintain the silence that is there, viz., that state of being quiet. This statement by Paul implies an existence of a state of quietness, whereas to say, keep silent would not imply the existence of that state of quietness, but of chatter or noise.  “Keep silent would be the same as saying, “Hush up!” Commonly, it could also mean do not say anything. That expression, therefore, would imply that someone is actively talking. While silent is an adjective and describes a state of being, silence is generally not an adjective or verb, but a noun. Again, Paul is saying to the men of the church, that their women, mothers, wives, and daughters should maintain silence in God’s house. 
     This passage speaks to the state or condition to be maintained when in the House of God. (Do keep in mind, however, that there were several church forms; Paul was not speaking of the home church format, but the general assembly church format.) This word also speaks to the type of general assembly church governance. To learn, Paul said, women should ask their husbands at home.
     There is a situation of crisis in many  churches that this passage readily speaks to more than regulating female preachers. There are many who are disruptive in the church, pretending some “holy spirit” guidance in their disruption, cloaking it with some tongue-speaking, but it is their spirit or the spirit of Satan that is guiding them. God’s spirit, which should guide them, says, keep silence as the correct state of women in the house of God. 
     Notice what Paul does. He not only states his thoughts on the subject, but he also gives his reasoning for doing so: He argues, it is a shame for women to speak in the church.  This is not merely his thought, instead, this is the word of God, as he clearly states in verse 37.   Paul is stating the general rule and word of God concerning the behavior and state of female believers in the church. That is clear. I submit, however, that this statement to keep silence does not refer to the ministry but the convention and behavior of female believers while, I reckon,  in the general assembly church format, otherwise we see confusion in the word or flawed reasoning on this matter. The home church format is much smaller and may easily accommodate questions, especially if the format is expositional.
     On the other hand, Paul tells Timothy, “I suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over a man…” and he reiterates that women are to learn in silence while in the church. In this scripture, Paul says two things that are meat for discussion here, namely, he doesn’t permit a woman to teach, and he does not permit a woman to usurp authority over the man. Paul issues the rule and rationale, not of himself, but of God.  This is what God is saying.  Again, God gives His general rule concerning the conditions and place of women in the church--I suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over the man. There is little, if any, dispute about the clarity of the above scripture, unless a person is unstable--and there are some in the church so afflicted--or cannot speak or understand language.
    Is this the last word of what God is saying on this subject? If it is, how do we reconcile the other scriptures that are outstanding and Peter’s admonition that all scriptures must fit into the whole? Are these merely confusing and contradictory? What has God done here? 
     I know of a number of ministers who argue that all means all, meaning each and everyone. This clearly is not the case. There is a distinction between the word all and each and everyone. All is general; each and everyone is specific. All allows exceptions; each and everyone allows no exceptions.  When the Apostle Paul said that all Israel shall be saved, he certainly did not mean that each Israelite shall be saved, yet he said and meant that all Israel shall be saved. Paul himself, along with Peter, delivered some to Satan, and Paul pronounced curses upon some. All does not mean each and everyone. This is a matter of understanding the language of God and language generally. 
     This distinction is comparable to the Ten Commandments, saying thou shall not kill. That is the general rule of behavior for Israel and man, but that does not mean each and everyone shall not kill under any circumstances. Indeed, God has granted a number of exceptions and delineated the reasons and causes for those exceptions. In all societies, the general rule is, thou shall not kill. But every society has exceptions to that general rule. There are times when the exceptions to the do not kill rule apply. We must be able to see when and under what conditions those exceptions apply. This is a concept of natural law and governments that God has made so we can understand His word and His behavior. [Rom. 11:26] Because many ministers breed a culture of ignorance, this is where their lack of knowledge destroys them. They get here and are lost in understanding what God is saying on this matter and cannot rightly interpret His word.
     In Numbers 27, the daughters of Zelophehad came to Moses, complaining about not having the portion of their father’s inheritance because they were female, and because there were no sons of the father they would lose their paternal inheritance. The Law was set on that point: if there were no sons, that inheritance would not pass to daughters. But these daughters  argued the unfairness of that law to them, and Moses took their issue to God. And God told Moses that these women were right, that the portion of their father’s inheritance would pass down to them. [Num. 27:18] 
     For those who would be students of God’s word, they will see that things are not always black and white, but they are not always gray either. That is why Paul says study. The Apostles gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. When things are black and white they are simple and easy, but God’s word is not simple and easy; it takes great pain, study, and intelligence to understand what the God of the universe is saying to His people.
     The gist of this above mini-discussion is this: God gives rules of behavior and exceptions to those rules; we must be able to see the rule and the exception—both are what God is saying, not one. Jesus cited David’s action of going into the temple and eating the shewbread set aside for the priests, yet being blameless before God; he cited the fact that on the Sabbath the priests do work and profane the Sabbath but are also blameless. [Mat.12:3-5] In Matthew 5, Jesus is confronted with the marriage and divorce issue, and he gives a general rule of behavior for married parties. And he said, Do not put away your wife. But he gives an exception to that general rule, namely, except it be for fornication. [Mat. 19: 8] 
     There are many such quandaries in scriptures that true students of God’s word consider and understand after much study. This is the reason a true saint of God will learn all he can from the word of God, from other books, and from those who have the spirit of God upon them and God’s word in them. But fools reject knowledge, supposing that multitude of years should teach wisdom. But that is not always the case, as Elihu recognized. [Job 32:7; Prov. 1:22; Hos. 4:6] 
     In Joel, we see that God has predicted a behavior that would occur during the last days, and Peter employed that scripture and inserted it in the first church sermon/preaching; by implication, he suggested that those and these are the last days. Joel said that during that time, the last days, the sons as well as the daughters would prophesy. But are we saying that those daughters cannot prophesy in church, since it is clear that they will prophesy? Isn’t prophecy given for the edifications of the saints? [Eph. 4:11] The answer to these questions may turn on the definition of the word prophesy.
     In Revelation 19:10, John fell at an angel’s feet, as the angel was delivering to him a word from God. The angel asked John not to do it because he too was a fellow servant of God, like the brethren who have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Then he said that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. This implies that a prophet of God will have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
     All prophets who prophesy, including females, will of necessity preach and exhort the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Did not Nehemiah write that God has sent his prophets to preach to his people? [Ne. 6:7] The very definition of a preacher indicates that it is one who exhorts a particular point. There has been no prophet who has not preached. It was Amos who wrote, The lion has roared who will not fear, the Lord has spoken who can but prophesy? [Amos 3:8]  God said concerning his prophets, if there be a prophet I will speak to him in a dream. God gives his word to his people through the ministry of the prophet, the apostle, the pastor, the evangelist, and the teacher. And Joel said that in the last days, the prophet ministry would be part of those ministries by which God’s word is given. 
     Clearly, Paul says that he did not suffer a woman to teach or usurp authority over the man. All these ministries are given to perfect the saints and to edify the body.  [Eph. 4:11]  
     To argue that to prophesy is not to preach is foolishness. All prophets preach; preaching is to extol, to exhort, or to advocate a certain position, concept, belief, etc. The idea that prophecy is merely telling the people a future event to come demonstrates a naïve understanding of the role of the prophet of God and the meaning of that word. Yes, prophecy can foretell the future, but that is not the only function of a prophet. God sent His prophets preaching His word, exhorting His people in the ways of God, as well as telling them of events to come.
     Yes, those were mainly male, but female prophets were/are the exception, not the rule, and since they are, was that not why Paul said we should help those women? [Phil. 4:3] God’s standard is the male, but God will also work with the woman, and since He does, we must also.  Whereas the female prophet was an exception, that godly exception is also what God is saying.
     Paul speaking to those exceptions writes, "...For it is not permitted for them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." [1 Cor. 14:34] Notice that Paul refers us back to the law in understanding the place of females. We all know that women were under subjection during the law, but Paul speaks here about their specific ability to lead and speak. Yet, an examination of that law also shows us females who were judges over the nation of Israel and some who prophesied.
     Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, judged the nation of Israel. She sat under a palm tree and the Children of Israel came to her for her judgments. And  it was Deborah whom God used and to call Barak and tell him what God said about going to war against Jabin's army. Barak was too afraid, even after hearing the word of the Lord from her. So his answer to her word from God was this: ""...If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go." [Judges 4:4-24]
     This was an exception from God's normal, preferred way--man is God's glory, but since these men were so sinful and weak, that is what sin will do to a man, God gave this victory to them through the hands of women. A woman led them to victory, and Sisera was captured and killed by Jael, a woman! Was this not God's way of shaming the men? Nevertheless, it was God's use of a female to judge Israel and lead them even under the law that Paul refers us to.
     Second, there was the Prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum, who advised King Josiah on God's word after the Book of the Law was found in God's house. As today, so it was then, the people of God had lost His book in His house. But, thank God, somebody found it and took it to the king, and this king trembled at God's word and sought to know what God would do as a result of the nation's disobedience through ignorance of His word.
     Huldah gave the king a word from God. And that word was not good! But notice how she functioned and how it differed from Deborah's ministry: Huldah only prophesied; she was not a judge or leader. Deborah offered advice, prophecy, and leadership to the entire nation as a judge. [2 Kings 22] But both are examples of the exceptional use of women under the law, but God's use nonetheless.

Real Problem of the ministry is not Gender
     There are real problems with preachers today, whether they are evangelists, pastors, teachers, or prophets.  Those problems have very little to do with gender. One major major problem is that the vast majority of ministers should never get into a pulpit and represent themselves as ministers of Christ because they are not saved, although some once were; some ministers should never get into the pulpit because they have not heard from God--He has not called them, and their lives blatantly say they are no minister of Christ, but of Satan; still others should never get into the pulpit because they are dumb dogs that cannot bark; they are lazy, greedy dogs who love to slumber rather than diligently study God’s word to feed God’s people correctly, preaching sermons they have prepared in a hurry and think that is a meal worthy of God’s people; some actually read sermons from books they did not write--and, sadly, the people love it so! [Jer. 5:31] These ministers have neither the ear of God nor the fear of God. Hence, they are not the voice of God!
     There is much sin and corruption among many ministers in once God-fearing churches, and they shame God’s house. This is a problem, I have seen, not only with men but also women!
     The Bible does not speak of preaching as distinct from a prophet’s function. Joel speaks of the abundance of God’s spirit being poured out on believers and the verve that such believers would have and exhibit. So mighty will be the spirit of God upon his people that both sons and daughters will prophesy of the wonderful works of God. I would not attempt to frustrate the word of God by denying our daughters the spirit of prophecy, which God has said He would give them. However, Paul expressly stated that the teaching ministry the daughters may have is not suffered to be exercised over the man, especially in the organized church, as the Corinthian Church was. And they should not usurp the authority over the man, nor should a man give it to them. Solomon said men should not give their strength (authority) to women, nor their ways to that which destroys a king. [Prov. 31] 
     Teaching is a special ministry that requires a student to give his mind over to a teacher for instructions and corrections in righteousness—that takes time and labor; teaching is a process that attempts to instill clarity of thought about a point and a concept; it permits and encourages students’ questions, and it asks questions of students to attest to their understanding of the concept under discussion. To this ministry, Paul expressly says no woman should teach a man, but they should be in obedience as also says the Law.* She may exhort all in prophecy and teach the young women, but teaching a man by a woman seemingly is not allowed, except for those exceptions allowed under the Law.

Conclusion
     The word of God is not confused on this matter of the function and role of females in the church; it is, however, complex. God, through Paul, gives the general rule for women’s behavior in the church--keep silence. But as with many rules, there is an exception to this one. The exception is this, since God has poured out His spirit on women as well as men, women are allowed by God to prophesy/preach in the church when God has given them the spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus Christ. [Rev.19]
     Paul refers us back to the Law, but under the Law we see exceptions with God’s use of some women, a certain number that was not comparable to the number of men He used. The only way we can reconcile these scriptures in Corinthians and Joel is to see that God speaks concerning the general rule of behavior in one and specific behavior in another, which specific behavior is the exception God has allowed in the Old Testament and the New Testament. To expressly say that females cannot exercise their gift of prophecy in the church for the edifying of the saints is to frustrate the will and word of God, it is to continue a process that has occurred that is contrary to the word of God. On the other hand, to expressly say that there is no male and female in Christ, using Paul words in Galatians 3:28, that there is neither male nor female in Christ should look at that more carefully. That refers to being saved not the various ministries in the church, and certainly not the roles of women and men. To interpret Paul's writing that way is wrong, confused, and disingenuous. It is a wrong division of God's word.  God's word is too complex for us to put simplistic interpretations on it. [Prov. 1:22] Those types of analyses shame God’s true saints in light and God’s true ministers**
  

_____________
*This brings up the complex matter of pastoring by women when men are involved. Pastoring is a process of sheparding, leading, and that often requires one to take authority over those led. But God has expressly said that the man is not to give his strength/authority to a woman and that the woman should not take/usurp that authority from a man. [Prov. 31:3; 1 Tim.2:12-13] Regardless of the wishes of this modern society, the man has been designated by God as head of the woman, and God does not want that position voided. So how do this position and this prohibition of God in 1 Timothy 2:12-13, function where a female pastor is officiating?
     We must be careful in analyzing and rightly dividing God’s word. We must obey it to the doing, not just to the saying. When a prophetess has an assembly in her home or outside her home, the man must be regarded, as God’s word regards him. There can be no superficial analysis of the scripture that says there is neither male nor female as to mean that God does not regard gender in this instance. He does and has made it clear that He does!
     To use Galatians 3:28 to void God’s word that designates the man as the head of the woman and the federal head of mankind is a travesty of true analysis of God’s word that is never to be done by a true prophetess of God. Paul is, in that scripture, talking about the egalitarian nature of faith in bringing all to Christ. But in this new testament/covenant, God has expressly stated that the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. And in the very scripture that talks about usurpation of authority, Paul writes that the man was formed first and was not deceived, implying and suggesting that man is the head of woman. [Eph.5; I Tim. 2:13]
     Therefore, when a prophetess has oversight over an assembly of the saints through the position of pastor, and there are men in that assembly, it would be wise for that prophetess (that she not offend the word of God or appear to offend the word) to seek out a truth teaching assembly with a male leader to direct that brother. I am sorry if this offends my dear preacher sisters, but the word of God must be obeyed more than our own desires.
     Of course, there may be exigent circumstances when there is no true church around with a male leader—and a sister preacher cannot play games with this matter because it is God that tries the heart of all of us—then this prophetess sister should openly declare the scripture on this matter and why she is functioning as she is; furthermore, she should ask the brothers to seek an assembly that is constructed in conformity to God’s word for them. This should be done whenever the assembly of the saints meets and brothers are in the midst. This act demonstrates their honesty to the word of God and honesty to those assembled.
     If there is no male-led assembly nearby, that prophetess should pray and ask God to raise up or send a male leader to assist in this ministry. This seems like the wise action in the face of the complexity of this situation. A true sister preacher of God will not allow her ego to corrupt the truth of God’s word.
      Clearly the idea of a woman being the pastor of her husband is in direct and absolute contradiction of the word of God that says a husband is the head of a wife and that wives should be in obedience to their own husbands. (This also expressly prohibits a pastor from having headship of another man's/brother's wife--her own husband!) Yet these types of anomalies are present in a number of churches.  They should not be; both the husband and the wife are in clear violation of God's word! [Eph. 5]

**It seems as if we have carelessly and purposely violated and disregarded God’s word on every level that is possible. And we do not seem to concern ourselves at all about these violations.
     I have been pastor of four churches and have seen many ministers who have elevated the ministry of pastor far beyond what God ever intended that position to be—they have elevated it above all other ministries. I have seen that position used in a frenzy of financial feeding off God’s people, and many have become wealthy off God’s people.
     I have seen the doors of God’s house locked shut by ministers who will not allow the gifts of the spirit or the various ministries of God to function in God’s house. Yet, while some are struggling over female preachers because of our ignorance of the word, we have brought shame to God’s house. Ministers untutored in the word of God and other matters are straining at gnats and swallowing camels of ignorance. [Mat.23:24]
Another principle of the doctrine that needs much consideration is the role of the female preacher, a subject that often generates more heat than light.
     I was asked by a reader of the Word of Truth Ministries to address the issue of women preachers. Many inside and outside the church have argumentatively considered this subject. One can refer to scriptures on this issue but they require careful attention to understand what God is saying to His people—some of these are scriptures that seem to say two things. I am aware that this is a controversial subject, but it is controversial because it has not been fairly treated in study for a number of reasons. Needless to say, this ministry has not shied away from controversial subjects in the word of God. I have not shunned my duties in declaring unto God’s people all His counsel. [Acts 20:27]
     Many suppose the word of God is not clear on this subject (to them it may not be clear), yet the word of God is clear when rightly divided; however, many have not rightly divided God’s word on this and many other subjects for any number of reasons. Once it is rightly divided, one cannot honestly walk away from the truth thrashed out through a correct analysis and still cling to his/her own notions in spite of what God says, if he wants to obey truth. But there are many who do not want to obey God if their ideas are contrary to his.
     Paul wrote extensively on females in the church, first to the Corinthian church: “Let your women keep silence in the church, 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 anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in church.” [1Cor. 14:34-35] 
     And he also wrote to the young bishop Timothy, saying the following, which seems to correspond to the above scripture: Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in transgression. [1 Tim. 2:11-14] 
     These are the two main scriptures that seem to prohibit females from being preachers of the gospel, as understood by many today. These two scriptures are definitive but must be understood in the light of other scriptures, for Peter wrote that no prophecy of scripture is with a private interpretation; it is not sole and alone, it fits into the whole of God’s word, since all scripture is the breath of God and not the word of man. [2 Pet.1:20] On the other hand, those who argue that God’s word allows a female to be a minister use other scriptures to buttress their position.
     Certainly Joel 2\:28  is the lead scripture they use. This scripture in Joel was used by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, the day the church was established, to explain the wonderful works of God in the midst of the people. [Acts 2: 16-19] Joel writes, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” 
     The important aspect of this scripture for those who use it to bolster their argument for female ministers is this phrase, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy….” And the issue then turns on what is meant by the word prophesy?  Those in support of female preachers reach back into the Old Testament for the prophetesses Deborah and Huldah, and to the New Testament for Aquila and Priscilla, and for the instructions of Paul to help those women who labor with me in the gospel. And as you can see, each group marshals. []

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