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Women in the Bible
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Lesson Five: by turtle
The battle within concerning women in ministry is probably a battle that goes on
inside because of traditions. There are many women who are equal in ministry as
men. And though I seem to have a constant battle, I feel God has called me. So
what does this mean. How can I ever justify in my own heart to stand ever
behind a pulpit. I wonder how many women struggle with this when they were
called. One passage of scripture that would refute women as minister would be I
Timothy 2.
1 Timothy 2:8-15 KJV
(8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting.
(9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly
array;
(10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
(12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence.
(13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
(14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression.
(15) Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith
and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Paul first men are instructed to have faith in the passage and lift up holy hands.
Simple fact is that Paul was addressing the men first and their own condition
before addressing the women. He went with the traditions of the time in Ephesus.
This was in Asia Minor and under Roman rule. If you live in Rome you do as
the Romans do. I guess that means I need to write like where I live. My area will
get that. I think I will explain. If you come from somewhere else it often makes
you an outsider if you do not follow the areas traditions. Being in America, we
have many traditions and many different societies inside a nation. Roman was
like that to a degree, yet their was Roman rule and still the traditions of the land
or nation where they lived. Now Ephesus was no different to having traditions.
The traditions stated that men would of been the leaders in the community and
women would not of had any authority in society.
This is the point I am getting to in the above paragraph. If Paul had liberated
the women in the church they would of thought they could in the society in
which they lived. Paul address the men first in their way of conduct.
1 Timothy 2:2-4 KJV
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
Queen Ester though a Jew who married a foreign King, had no ruling power, Yet
went before the King her husband of the land boldly to protect her people. She
was instructed to do so by her own family hierarchy. Yet when I look at what
the new testament in I Timothy says concerning authority I have to smile.
Because Paul is making it clear not to break the traditions of the land. Queen
Ester did not break any law by going before the King. Yet she could of lost her
life doing so. Remember Ester being old testament did not know Paul. What
does this mean, God instruction has not changed. If a women goes into a church
that does not allow women to preach she really should not try and preach there.
Now if there is a church that allows women to preach, then by all means preach.
Now let’s get back to the instructions and Paul reasoning for the instructions.
1 Timothy 2:8-15 KJV
(8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting.
(9) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly
array;
(10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
(12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence.
(13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
(14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression.
(15) Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith
and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Reason Paul gave to the men and women of Ephesus was simple. Adam was
made first and then Eve, but the woman was the one that sinned. Eve sinned first
according to I Timothy. Women would be saved through child bearing. Now
hold on here, you mean I got to have a kid to be saved. NO and no where else in
scripture does it say this that I am aware of. So what Paul is doing is putting the
order in the family and in the church world right in Ephesus according to the
traditions of their society as well as the church relationship to Christ. Which was
discussed last week.
Women called to preach though and to teach. See I am still waiting to be
ordained, so I am still in training and figure I will be in training the rest of my
life. Here is the thing though, women have been preaching and in ministry for
years and even worked with Paul in ministry. Paul was observing the traditions
of the land.
Romans 16:1-3 KJV
(1) I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which
is at Cenchrea:
(2) That 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.
(3) Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Phebe was a deaconess according to the only source that I could find
information on. There was also Aquila that also helped Paul. Well those are
deaconess, what about ministers. I guarantee you love this.
John 4:28-30 KJV
(28) The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith
to the men,
(29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the
Christ?
(30) Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
The first women evangelist. The first women to spread the word besides the
prophetess in chapter 2 of Luke. A prophet is someone that preaches the word,
foreseers and women in the old testament was well with her poetry of song. Now
I be honest I am a terrible poet. Yet even so There is another verse of scripture.
Acts 2:17-18 KJV
(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days
of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
There is no division in the fact both men and women would prophesy. I be
honest men and women are needing to get rid of the division of sex as well as
men in the church. Yet we also need to respect our roles in the church as
example for good leadership. I love this next verse I want to share. Look who is
in the upper room with the disciples.
Acts 1:14 KJV
(14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
My question to you today is this. Are you prohibiting women to live the life God
called them to to minister or are you enabling women to fulfill their call in the
ministry. Many women have preached and died for the sake of spreading the
gospel of Jesus.
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