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How about women preachers?


Introduction. There is much interest today relative to women's roles. Not a few women are entering to pulpit ministry in a number of denominations. More pressure is being placed on the Catholic church to allow women into the priesthood. Human thinking, practices and trends aside – what do the scriptures teach about women preachers?


God has assigned a role to women. I know that moderns do not like God's role; nonetheless, God has ultimate authority (Matt. 28: 18). The chief role of woman is that of wife and mother (Gen. 3:16). This primary role, however, does not preclude the possibility of certain secondary roles or functions (Prov. 31:16,24). It is in the sphere of wife and mother that women experience fulfillment in their design.

Women and the pulpit. When one begins to study the Bible, it becomes evident that, as a rule, women were not the leaders in religion. For an example, can you read of a woman being one of the twelve apostles? (Matt. 10:2-5). Out of the total fourteen apostles, not a one was a woman. You read of different preachers. There was Apollos (Acts 18), Phillip the evangelist (Acts 21:8), Timothy who was an evangelist (2Tim 4:1-5), etc. But there is not a "Sue the evangelist." In fact, women are expressly forbidden to "preach." Hear the scriptures: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2:12). Paul is discussing public worship. In the assembly, men are to pray (Gk. "men only"), that is, lead in prayer (vs.8). Women are to properly clothe themselves in a way not to attract or distract from the service (vs. 9). The role of women is stated in verse fifteen.

Conclusion. God's place for women does not render her inferior. Women do have a valuable part in spreading the gospel (Acts 18:26). Women cannot be praised enough, however, they have no authority for occupying pulpits!
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