Women in the Ministry, Is it acceptable to GOD?

UPDATED JUNE 18, 2009 PLEASE READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Most people do not accept any women in the ministry in any form. Let's STUDY this subject:

1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

We see Very Clearly in the above verse that a woman is NOT to usurp authority over men, AND we see very clearly that a woman is not to be the Lead Teacher of men. It even says they are to be in silence. However, let's Continue in our Study:

Please read all of Judges 4 and 5 where we see Deborah as a Deliverer and Judge of Israel and Prophetess. She had multi-roles in the service to her people at that time. The men would not even go into battle without her! It reminds me of men today. Now look at:
Miriam Ex. 15:20
Huldah 2 Kings 22:14
Noadiah Neh. 6:14
A prophetess in Isa. 8:3
Anna Luke 2:36
Acts 21:9 daughter of Philip

What good is a prophet or prophetess if he/she does NOT proclaim the prophecies?

In 1 Cor we find instructions for women in the ministry!:

1 Corinthians 11
1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3But 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.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth (works of the ministry) with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6For 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.
7For 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.
8For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

We see in 1 Cor. the instructions that when a woman is doing the works of the ministry, she is NOT silent while performing works of the ministry, she is to have a headcovering to show that she is in line with the main pastor (bishop) who is a male of course, but she is to wear the headcovering only if it is among same believers and if it does not cause contention. vs. 16. The spiritual context is more about ensuring that the woman is under the authority of the man. Many women do not like those words! But the Bible is the Word of GOD! But please keep reading!

What about 1 Cor. 14:34-35 forbidding women to speak?
Lets Read 1 Corinthians 14:34-35:
34 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.
35 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.

Please read the Entire Context and realize the setting. This is talking about women talking in the synagogue in an effort to learn. This is NOT talking about women giving a prayer or prophesying or giving an edification. This is NOT forbidding women from ministering in the church setting. Otherwise there would not be instructions on how she should do it in Chapter Eleven. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 is talking about not interupping the flow of services as each person takes turns sharing what GOD has placed on their hearts. The context is that women in this setting and era were sitting in the back of the synagogue (by mans customs, not GOD's directive). They could not hear what was being said, therefore they would yell up to their husbands sitting in the front & ask what was being said in an effort to learn. But this caused noise confusion. So to avoid chatter & confusion in the synagogue, the women were here instructed to wait until they got home & then ask their husbands what was said. That is the context! The context has nothing to do with whether women could minister (serve). But when a woman does minister (serve)(Ch.11), she is to be in obedience, under authority of her husband or pastor.

Phebe the Deaconess

Romans 16:1-16:
Romans 16 1I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant (diakonos) of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: (wife & husband and fellow tent makers Acts 18:2-3)
4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us (laboured in the Lord).
7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, (Perhaps sisters, even twins possibly) who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, (means Persian Woman) which laboured much in the Lord.
13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

The word servant is the word diakonos, from which we get our word deacon. It can mean minister, servant, or deacon. Many people assume the word "servant" in Romans 16:1 to mean something similiar to the word "servants" in Philippians 1:1 which means "bond slave". Phil. 1: 1 "Paul and Timotheus, the servants (bond slaves or servants) of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers, elders, pastors) and deacons (diakonos! same word as in Romans 16:1)"
The ending of the book of Romans says "Written to the Romans from Corinthus, & sent by Phebe servant (diakonos) of the church at Cenchrea".
Acts 6:1-6 shows the first people put into the office of deacons.
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve (diakoneo, From diakonos; to be an attendant, i.e. Wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon -- (ad-)minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon) tables. (serve tables, as a waitress, waiter, server, deacon, deaconess)
3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And thus we had the first 7 deacons. 1 Tim. 3 shows us more about deacon(ess).
1 Timothy 3
1This is a true saying, if a man (Greek means anyone or person) desire the office of a bishop (overseer), he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife (not given to polygamy, this is NOT an instruction that they must be married & not single), vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine (not in access), no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth (over sees, maintains, presides) well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care (maintain) of the church of God?)
6Not a novicen, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons (diakonos) be grave (honest), not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11Even so must their wives (if they have one) be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife (this is not commandment that the deacon be married males! Paul himself was NOT married! 1 Cor. 7), ruling their children and their own houses well. (Notice this time children is put first instead of house!, whereas the house was put first in the office of bishop, i believe this is because Paul is recognizing that the teachers of the children are women and that there are female deacons)
13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Hey, Notice where we are! 1 Tim. 3, just immediately after 1 Tim 2 where it was talking about women in 1 Tim. 2:11 "Let the woman learn in silence (if sitting in the back of a synagogue) with all subjection (under the male bishops/husbands authority)". We have come full loop. We now see the context better. 1 Timothy 2:8-15:
8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9In like manner also, that women (Paul is preparing the women for ministry) adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works (of the ministry).
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection (when in the case of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 when/If she is sitting in the back and is not currently doing a ministry work)
12But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man (as the bishops/overseers/pastors would in the context of a formal worship meeting), but to be in silence.
13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Paul was teaching that the women should not be in the highest offices of the church and he was NOT saying that they cannot minister at all, give opening prayer, sing, prophesy, teach children, teach younger women and fulfill the roles of deaconess which teaches one on one. The Bishop is the main overseer or Pastor and is the middle contrast between the 1 Tim 2 guildlines and 1 Tim 3 deacon requirements. The role of a deacon or deaconess includes answering indiviual questions of the ekklesia, personal bible studies with the members, etc., freeing up some time for the main overseer, Bishop/Pastor.

Also notice: Philippians 4 (Amplified Version)
1THEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
- 2I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.
3And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow, help these [two women to keep on cooperating], for they have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

FAMILY STRUCTURE = CHURCH STRUCTURE
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE WOMENS MINISTRY BE IN RIGHT CONTEXT:

In todays society of women wearing the pants of the household and bearing rule over men, We must return to the ancient paths of having a right family structure. There are many children suffering as they are being raised in single mother households. Male children and even female children NEED a Male Father in the House!!! This is a necessary component of the family structure and when it is missing, the house will be disfunctional! The right structure must also be followed in the House of GOD. There is An Order. The Order should be followed.

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Ephesians 5:21-33:
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives (women ministers), submit yourselves unto your own husbands (pastors), as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband (pastor)is the head of the wife (women ministers), even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives (women ministers) be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Acceptable Roles of Women Ministers

-Teachers of Children
-Teachers of younger women
Titus 2:3-5 (ESV) "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
-prophetess (but not the Office of Prophet)
-deaconess (indiviual counseling & bible study)
-internet website ministries
-singing ministry
-piano or other musical instrument ministry
-prayer ministry (including opening & closing prayers, 1 Cor. 11)
-visitation of ophans, widows, nursing homes, hospitals & women prisoners

So in conclusion, Yes a woman can be in the ministry (service to the church) IF the Good Lord calls her. Why would GOD call a woman? Because you men do not pray! Many of todays men do not get on their knees and cry out to the Lord. I don't know how many times i have seen both men and women fail to do the will of GOD. But more so the men. I know of many holy women that the Good Lord has raised up in this season of the Latter Rains. Many of them are fulfilling their holy callings, whereas many of the men are laying around failing in their callings. It's time to Stand up and follow GOD, whether you are a man or women, we are all ministers in one form or another. But it is also very clear that the main pastor of a congregation should be a man.


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