What About
Women Elders, Deacons, & Preachers?
by: Ivie Powell
Godly women grace the pages of the New Testament e.g. Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Elizabeth, the mother of John the baptizer. Then there is Mary of Bethany, Martha, the widow of Nain, the Samaritan women, Dorcas, Lois and Eunice, Priscilla, and Phoebe. Entrance into the body of Christ is available to all accountable people whether they be male or female. "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women" (Acts 5:14). There is recorded in Acts 16:14-15 the conversion of Lydia and her household. In Galatians 3:28 Paul sets forth that all accountable people, be they men or women, stand on equal ground before God. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." For one to assert that this, or any other passage in the New Testament, allows women to occupy the roles of elders, deacons, or preacher is to be guilty of reading into the text what they want it to say (eisegesis), rather than studying the context and accepting what it actually says (exegesis)!
Many are quick to point out Romans 16:1-2 which states, "I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 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." Like all Christians (men and women), Phoebe was a "servant" and "helper" of Christ. She was simply helping or caring for the work, not that she was co-leader with Paul or any man. To assert that Phoebe was a "deacon" and a "ruler elder" one must produce qualifications for women as Paul did for men in 1 Timothy 3!!! It is obvious to even the casual reader of the Bible that there are no such qualifications.
So, may a woman be an elder, deacon, or a preacher in the Lord's church? The answer is yes, IF you can find authority for such roles from God's word (Colossians 3:17, 1 Peter 3:15). IF you can find an approved Bible example for such roles in the New Testament. IF you can prove that the Bible applies only to the first century and has no authority on us today. And IF you can prove from the New Testament that culture takes precedence over scripture. Since that cannot be done, one should and must submit to God's divine instructions! To do otherwise is to rebel against God and the consequences are clearly spelled out in Scripture (Matthew 7:21-23, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Revelation 22:18-19)!
Are there any limitations and restrictions regarding women preachers in the New Testament? The cry of man is that of doing away with what they call "pattern theology." If they are successful, there will be no standard to determine what is right and what is wrong! An investigation of God's word reveals that the New Testament does teach "pattern theology." In Hebrews 8:5 Moses built the tabernacle "according to the pattern." The same Greek word (tupos, pattern) is used by Paul in speaking of works and and doctrine in Titus 2:7. It was the same pattern of doctrine that Paul preached in Rome and to which the Romans gave obedience in becoming Christians (Romans 16:17). So, when one rejects the Bible as a pattern they are rejecting God's word and even God Himself, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).
When it comes to having women preachers, there is no pattern found in God's word to support the case. As a matter of fact, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 forbids women to speak in leadership positions in the assembly. "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." Now the "silence" of this passage does not forbid a woman from singing in the assembly, or of making an oral confession of her faith in Christ to be baptized. Rather it is dealing with who is to lead the congregation in the worship assembly. For further study note 1 Timothy 2:8-12 where Paul does not allow women to "usurp authority over the man."
So, may women give a public discourse over men in the assembly? According to the Bible, the answer is no. Why? Because one cannot find authority for such a role in God's word (Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 Peter 3:15). One cannot find an approved Bible example of a woman publicly preaching. One cannot prove that the Bible applies only to the first century and has no authority on us today. And one cannot prove from the Bible that culture takes precedence over Scripture.
Since there is not evidence either from Scripture or history to verify that women were given the role of preachers, this alone should settle the matter for any fair, honest, and sincere student of the Bible!