The Ministry of Women

The Ministry of Women

     It should always be our endeavor to strike the right balance with regard to a truth, but to achieve that, we need to be guided by the principles of Scripture. Our days are seemingly days of doctrinal extremes and in the very matter under consideration, extreme positions have been taken.

Positive Aspects

     Prayer was made for Peter without ceasing by the entire church (Acts 12:5). No doubt the women were included in these general designations and had a real part in the prayer meetings of the church. This thought is already anticipated in the Old Testament. “Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” (Psalm 148:12, 13). In another place we read, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). There should not exist the slightest doubt, then, as to the participation of women in prayer meetings.

     Phebe is mentioned in Romans 16:1 as a servant of the church, or, more literally, a deaconess of the church. This is an important ministry much neglected today. A study of the positions and responsibility of the deacons according to the New Testament would be most interesting. Phebe and other women would exercise those same functions with regard to their own sex.

     In Acts 2:17 mention is made of a distinctive sign of the new dispensation, namely, that the Spirit of God shall fall upon sons and daughters and they shall prophesy (Acts 2:17, 18). Similarly we read in I Corinthians 11:5: “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head.” That prophecy or teaching is permitted to a woman to a certain extent, is obvious. A clear example of this is found in the book of Acts where we read of four virgins who prophesied (Acts 21:9). In Romans 16:6 we read of Mary who bestowed much labor on us (or perhaps according to the best manuscripts “on you”). Similarly in verse 12 of the same chapter we read of greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa who labored in the Lord, as well as Persis who labored much in the Lord. What the exact nature of this labor was, we do not know.

Negative Aspects

     On the other hand, we find certain limitations in the Word of God to the ministry of women. There are two main passages which come under consideration with regard to this. First of all, in I Cor. 14:34, 35 we read, “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.” When we read that the woman should not speak, the reference is not to congregational singing, but to the exercise of the “gift of tongues” or the “gift of prophecy” according to the context.

     The second passage is I Timothy 2:11 where the injunction is: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.” This passage very clearly indicates that women should not teach. This does not mean that they cannot teach others of their own sex and thus be active in a more private sphere. In that connection it is well to note Acts 18:26 where we read of Aquila and Priscilla who expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly. The same thought is found in II Timothy 3:14 where we are informed that Timothy had learned a number of things and had been assured of them, and that it was his mother and grandmother who had been instrumental in imparting these things to him (II Tim. 1:5). Also in Titus 2:3 we learn that the aged women should be teachers of good things This all leads to the inescapable conclusion, then, that the reference in I Cor. 14 and I Tim 2 is only to public teaching.

     It has been said that even this prohibition was temporary and necessitated by the social conditions of the times. This does not seem to be correct. “There can be no doubt that the distinction which he makes between the respective duties of men and women lies deep down in the facts of human nature as originally constituted.”

Indeed the reason that the Apostle Paul gives, is first of all the order of creation (I Tom. 2:13). Secondly, he appeals to the history of the fall (I Tim. 2:14). Then he indicates the sphere of the woman and points to the true fulfillment of the duties of a mother. “Far be the thought that the true fulfillment of the duties of a mother, as each might perhaps fear, can hinder the salvation of women; on the contrary, she will then obtain it, when she remains in her allotted sphere of home.” (Lange Commentary). Paul appeals to a guiding principle of universal and abiding value. The sphere of the woman is not public teaching but private edification in the home.

     A further limitation to women’s ministry is stated in I Timothy 2:12: “I suffer not a woman…to usurp authority over the man.” The expression, “to usurp authority over the man” means “to lord it over the man” or “to be an autocrat.” Comparing that with what has already been pointed out, namely, that women are not to teach the Bible in public when men are present, it becomes crystal clear that men, not  women, should exercise leadership in spiritual matters and organization. It is worthy of note that the apostles ordained men, but never women, for the Gospel ministry (I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

Exceptions

     Having said all this, it is of interest to notice that even in the Old Testament there are exceptions to the preceding rules. Remember the case of Deborah (Judges 4:4, 5), the case of Miriam (Ex. 15:20), also of Huldah the prophetess (II Kings 22:14), as well as Anna in the New Testament (Luke 2:36).

     Martin Luther stated that in case no man was available, a woman could be used of the Lord even to teach publicly. That is true particularly on the mission field. It seems that here in the United States, sufficient men should be available so that such a necessity ought not to exist. On the mission field, however, it is undoubtedly true that there is a tremendous shortage of men and as has been said, too “many stations are manned by women.” This is not ideal but an abnormal situation which should and could be corrected if more dedicated young men would volunteer for the mission field.

     The sphere of the woman is very large. If she has the gift to teach she can teach those of her own sex, as well as children, or teach in the home; if she has other gifts she may be a deaconess, etc. The one restriction is public teaching in the church and, as has been mentioned previously, even this restriction must at times be overlooked because of the lack of dedicated men on the far-flung mission fields of the world.-Richard Wolff

Chaplain LEWolfe www.btmi.org  I-85  Exit 35 SC McPilot Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!