Womeninthechurch5

Women in the Bible

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 letâ€™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.