WOMEN PREACHERS
First Word
I found a tract at the
Flea Market renouncing Women as preachers in the Church pulpit.
This topic is certainly a
heated one with supporters on both sides of the argument.
It sparked my interest on
what the scriptures might reveal.
The GNOSTIC Mindset
This stuff is far out and probably more than you want to know
- Gnostics
–The
“People in the know” – Taught secret
revelations combined with a mixing of myths and rites drawn from a
variety of religious traditions.
- If you can just
comprehend the Gnostic thinking, that women were part of a time continuum; starting with plants, then bugs, then
animals, then women, then men and finally a god. So, ultimately as you progress along the
continuum you would be like the gods.
- A non-reproductive
woman is “on her way” to becoming a “man” and thus entering the kingdom of
heaven. Is this some messed up
stuff or what?
- A “female” in the
time continuum, was actually a “male” that had just not yet “arrived”.
– So a female was considered a “second class” person. – An
inferior human being – inferior to men.
- With the Gnostic mindset,
it would be inconceivable that Jesus would have appeared to a woman
and not a man. – That’s why the disciples did not believe Mary and went to
the grave to see for them selves that Jesus had actually risen.
- With that said, I can
see how the scriptures and other writings might be “tilted” to overlook the work of women in the spreading of the “Good
News”; THE WAY movement.
Acts 24:14 – Followers of
THE WAY
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our
fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I
believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the
Prophets, NIV
Acts 24:22 – Acquainted
with THE WAY
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the
Way, adjourned the proceedings. NIV
Luke 24:9-11 – They didn’t
believe the WOMEN
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all
these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary
the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the
apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women,
because their words seemed to them like nonsense. NIV
WOMEN'S LIB Movement
- Women were considered
“second class” to their father,
brothers and husband.
The message of Jesus was of freedom and equality of the sexes; liberation
from the constraints and restrictions of Jewish Law concerning women. This may be why so many women were
attracted to the teachings of Christ.
- Women’s Lib was not
the agenda of Christ, as all twelve of His inner circle of disciples were
male, although women were certainly liberated to function as they desired.
Back to the Tract
- The
Flea Market Tract in its sincerity points to the “Look alike Churches”
that teach a homogenized doctrine that mixes tradition and humanism
with scripture instead of the “strictness” of the scriptures. - Satan
cannot stop or PREVENT
scripture, but he can PERVERT
it, and I think this is where the writer is coming from.
- The tract argues
against Women Preachers, pointing
to the blindness of the Church in its interpretation of scripture that
accepts women pastors. – The writer feels that these Churches are the
blind leading the blind and they both will fall into the ditch.
- The primary scripture
identifies the NT Church as in confusion – Customs of Jewish Life
indicates that the men set in Church on the lower main level and the Women
in balconies on each side and would call out in an elevated voice to ask
their husbands questions.
- Paul in the “Order
of Church Discipline” required the women to be silent in church and if
they needed to know something to wait and ask their husbands at home. He further expresses that a woman should
not usurp the authority of a man. - Both men and women were allowed
by law to pray and prophesy in the Church.
- The
tract is correct that the Bible never actually instructs us to have women
pastors, but in the O.T. as well as the N.T; scriptures show that when a
man will not take the leadership role, God will raise up a woman to lead. – Example is Deborah the Prophetess
and Judge.
Isa 8:20 – The Church teaches with no light in them
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. KJV
Luke 6:39 – Can the blind lead the blind
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the
blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? KJV
1 Tim 2:11-12 – A woman
should not be permitted to teach
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full
submission.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man; she must be silent. NIV
Gal 1:9 – You were not
taught to have women pastors
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If
anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let
him be eternally condemned! NIV
Acts 19:32 – The Church was in confusion
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some
another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not
wherefore they were come together. KJV
1 Cor 14:33-35 – Women
should be silent in Church
33 As in all the congregations of the saints,
34 women should remain silent in the churches.
They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
35 If they want to inquire about something, they
should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman
to speak (call out) in the church.
NIV
Judg 4:9 – The Lord will
give the honor to a Woman
9 "Very well," Deborah (a prophetess) said, "I will go with you. But because of
the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD
will hand Sisera over to a WOMAN." NIV
Women Apostles
- Webster: Disciple – A pupil
or follower of any
teacher or school of religion; an early follower of Jesus.
- Webster: Apostle – A person sent out on a special
mission. – One who is sent
- Mary
Magdalene
is always mentioned first among the women in the NT and thus by
interpretation, she can be assumed to be the leader of the
- I like to think of
Mary Magdalene as the first
Woman Evangelist sent out by Jesus Christ to bring the Good News
of His resurrection to the eleven remaining disciples as Judas had already
left the inner circle as was prophesied. - Mary was commissioned to go and
tell what had happened. That would
make her the first Woman Apostle.
– She was sent.
- I know that this is a
stretch,
but Mary Magdalene could be said to have established or originated
“Christianity” as she was the first
to believe that Jesus Christ was “raised from the dead” and
went on to tell the others. – You may recall that at the resurrection none
of the chosen Twelve Disciples were even present.
- So; up until THAT
time the Apostles had preached the
coming of the
- God used a woman;
deemed “second class”,
to spread the Gospel - He used the weaker vessel, considered
foolish, to confound those who think themselves wise.
- The
Flea Market tract says… NOT SO… Mary was just sent on
an informal errand; not commissioned to make a public address.
Mark 16:9 –
Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene
9 When Jesus rose early on
the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of
whom he had driven seven demons NIV
John 20:17-18 – Jesus sent Mary Magdalene
17 Go instead to my
brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God
and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene went
to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she
told them that he had said these things to her. NIV
Matt 28:5-7 – Women commissioned to go and tell
5 The angel said to the
women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who
was crucified.
6 He is not here; he has
risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and
tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead
Mark 16:6-7 – Commissioned to go and tell
6 "Don't be
alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was
crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his
disciples and Peter, ` NIV
1 Cor 1:27 – God uses the weaker things to confound the wise
27 But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty KJV
Luke 24:9-11
– Peter had no respect for Mary’s words
9 When they came back from
the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who
told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not
believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
NIV
More Women Apostles
- The scriptures record
other Apostles that were women - Junia is a female name and so is
Priscilla.
- The woman at the well
evangelized the town’s people – An Apostle, she was sent.
Rom 16:7 - Junia was a woman apostle
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia,
my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles,
who also were in Christ before me. KJV
Rom 16:3 – Priscilla was a woman apostle
3 Greet Priscilla and
Aquila my helpers in Christ
Jesus: KJV
John 4:28-30 – “Woman at the Well” Evangelist
28 Then, leaving her water
jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
29 "Come, see a
man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
30 They came out of the
town and made their way toward him. NIV
New Testament WOC
- There were many “Women of the Church” who worked tirelessly for the Lord; Phoebe was
commended for her service, then there was Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa,
Persis, Julia, Euodia, and Syntyche.
Rom 16:1-2 - Phoebe
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a
servant of the church in Cenchrea.
2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way
worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she
has been a great help to many people, including me. NIV
Rom 16:6 - Mary
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
NIV
Rom 16:12-13 - Tryphena
and Tryphosa
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa,
those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another
woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his
mother, who has been a mother to me, too. NIV
Rom 16:12-15 – Persis and
Julia
12 Greet my dear friend Persis, another
woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his
sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. NIV
Phil 4:2-3 – Euodia and
Syntyche – Leaders of the Church
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche
to agree with each other in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help
these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel. NIV
Old Testament WOC
- Let’s take a look at
the OT - Men were coming to Women to receive a word from God.
- There was Aaron’s Sister
Miriam, and Deborah, Huldah and
Noadiah; all Prophetesses.
- Men,
Priest and Kings sought the advice of these prophetesses.
- Flea
Market Tract
– When God permitted Women to
act inconsistently with the commands of the OT, it does not become a
standard for His will in the NT
Judg 4:4-5 – Deborah a
prophetess decoded disputes in court
4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of
Lappidoth, was leading Israel
5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah
between Ramah and Bethel
Ex 15:20 – Aaron’s sister Miriam was a prophetess
20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's
sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with
tambourines and dancing. NIV
2 Kings 22:14 – The Priest went to the prophetess Huldah
14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor,
Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the
wife of Shallum. NIV
2 Chron 34:22 – The king
sent people to the prophetess Huldah
22 Hilkiah, and they that the king had
appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the
son of Tikvath, KJV
Neh 6:14 – Prayer in remembrance of the prophetess Noadiah.
14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat
according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, KJV
NT Prophecy Definition
- Prophecy –The Bible word is “Propheteuo” which
means “to magnify God”-“To speak of
divine things”, and has nothing to do with foretelling the
future, but of witnessing to the grace of Jesus Christ and magnifying His
name. Paul wanted everyone to
prophesy. NYOBS 6 When you read about
people “prophesizing” they are praising God’s name and His
attributes.
- Speaking
of Divine things
is the ability to “Unpack”, unveil, enlarge and project forward, the
scriptures for the edification of the Church as the spirit enables.
- Prophets
of God – John
the Baptist was the last of the PROPHETIC Prophets - NYOBS 10 – Today there are no more Prophets
that reveal the future. No
Matt
11:12-14 – John was the Last Prophetic Prophet
12 From the days of
John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully
advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and
the Law prophesied UNTIL John.
14 And if you are willing
to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. NIV
NT Prophetesses
- Philip was an
Evangelist who had four daughters who were all prophetesses;
they were Evangelist just like their father. – I’ll say it another way –
They were
Joel 2:28-29 – The Spirit
will be poured out on daughters
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
NIV
Acts 21:8-9 – Philip had
four daughters who prophesied.
8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house
of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
9 He had four unmarried daughters who
prophesied. NIV
Women CAN speak in Church
- Scripture encourages
the believer, both man and woman to seek the gift of prophecy.
- God promised to pour
out His Spirit on women who would then prophesy
- A person that
prophesies edifies the whole church.
- This means that women
would prophesy IN CHURCH to women and to men for their
strengthening, comfort, encouragement and edification.
- Paul’s Book of Church Order; Women will
speak in Church “in order” and with no confusion.
- Flea
Market Tract
– Women can only teach other women and children – They can not speak in
church, but can pray silently and are “privileged” to enter into
congregational singing and to give of their means. They also need to have
a hat or veil on their head – The woman’s chief work is in the home
rearing children and caring for her own family and entertaining.
1 Cor 14:1 – Desire the
gift of prophecy.
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Acts 2:17-18 – Women will
prophecy
17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my
Spirit on ALL people. Your sons and daughters will
prophesy,
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy NIV
1 Cor 14:3 – The prophesy
is spoken to MEN
3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men
for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. NIV
1 Cor 14:4 – prophecy
edifies the Church.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but
he who prophesies edifies the church. NIV
1 Cor 14:24-25 – Prophecy
will convict the unbeliever of his sin
24 If an unbeliever or someone who does not
understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced
by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,
25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.
So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really
among you!" NIV
1 Cor 14:31-33 – The “Book
of Church Order” – No confusion
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that
everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the
control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
NIV
Disciples & Apostles
- Just so you can get
the concept of Disciples (followers)
and Apostles (those sent) you
have to think past the first TWELVE men chosen.
- Christ chose 12
Ordinary men at the beginning of His ministry to an extraordinary service,
then there was 72 more, then 120 more (men
and women) , then 3000 more (men
and women), then finally the “Apostle” Paul came along AS a Disciple born out of
time. NYOBS 10
Luke 10:1-2 – Then he
sends out 72 more disciples - (72 = base 12)
10:1 After this the Lord
appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of
him to every town and place where he was about to go. NIV
Acts 1:15 – Then 120 – (number of Priestly
Government - base 12 multiple)
15 And in those days Peter
stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together
were about an hundred and twenty,) KJV
Acts 2:40-41 – Then 3000 more accepted the message
41 Those who accepted his
message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their
number that day. NIV
9 Then Saul, who was also
called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, NIV
1 Cor 15:8 – The Apostle
Paul born out of due time – A Disciple
8 And last of all he was
seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. KJV
Talk from his Ass
- I thought it was
certainly interesting to see in scripture the way God chooses the weaker things to show
forth His Glory.
- Balaam was beating
his beast of burden, his ass trying to get him to move forward on the trail when the Ass spoke to
him. Balaam was not amazed at all that
his ass was talking to him and proceeded to have a normal conversation
with him. (That’s were we get
that term)
- God
used the weaker things like Balaam’s Ass – Ravens – Fish – Cock –
Worm – Aarons Rod – Ram’s Horn – Jawbone – Oxgoad – Tent Peg – Millstone –
Trenches - Pitchers – Empty Vessels – Cruse of Oil – Barley Bread – Elijah’s
Mantle and the Wind to show forth God’s glory and wonder.
- With all that said
about God using the weaker things
to show forth His Glory; I think we should also consider that it is
POSSIBLE that God can use the weaker vessel; a WOMAN.
1 Cor 1:19 – I will frustrate the wise
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." NIV
1 Cor 1:20-21 – God uses
foolishness to save those who believe
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of
the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world
through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness
of what was preached to save those who believe. NIV
Num 22:27-30 – Balaam’s
Ass
27 When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she
fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass
with a staff.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass,
and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast
smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast
mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I
thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?
was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. KJV
1 Kings 17:4 - Ravens
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the
brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. ASV
Jonah 1:17 - Fish
17 And Jehovah prepared a great fish to
swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three
nights. ASV
Mark 14:72 - Cock
72 And straightway the second time the cock
crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before
the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he
wept. ASV
Jonah 4:6-7 – Worm - Gourd
6 And Jehovah God prepared a gourd, and
made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to
deliver him from his evil case. So Jonah was exceeding glad because of the
gourd.
7 But God prepared a worm when the morning
rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered. ASV
Ex 4:2 – Aarons Rod
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in
your hand?" "A staff," he replied. take this staff in your hand
so you can perform miraculous signs with it." NIV
Josh 6:5 - A Ram’s horn
5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the ram’s
horn, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will
collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.
Judg 15:15 - Jawbone
15 And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass,
and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith. ASV
Judg 3:31 - Oxgoad
31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who
struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel
Judg 4:21 – Tent Peg
21 But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg
and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She
drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. NIV
Judg 9:53 - Millstone
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone
upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull. ASV
2 Kings 3:16-17 - Trenches
16 And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, Make this
valley full of trenches.
17 For thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not see wind,
neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye
shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts. ASV
Judg 7:19 - Pitchers
19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with
him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle
watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and
brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.
2 Kings 4:3-4 – Empty
vessels
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of
all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And thou shalt go in, and shut the door upon
thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and thou shalt set
aside that which is full. ASV
1 Kings 17:16 – Cruse of oil
16 The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse
of oil fail, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Elijah. ASV
Judg 7:13 – Barley Bread
13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a
friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf
of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the
tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." NIV
2 Kings 2:8 - Mantle
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped
it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so
that they two went over on dry ground. ASV
Jonah 1:4 - Wind
4 But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon
the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like
to be broken
1 Peter 3:7 – The Woman –
The weaker vessel
7 Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with (your
wives) according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the
weaker vessel,
I’ve just got to say it
- Pastors have a pulpit in the
church to preach sermons to edify the church – They have a tender
“Pastors heart” to lovingly bring the congregation along in the
word.
- Teachers don’t have a pulpit
to teach from, except maybe a Sunday School class or a Bible Study
group. They have a “Teachers heart”
– Exhorting Hard Truth that can shake your bones. – They give you
the word and can’t understand why you just don’t do it.
- Sometimes a Teacher finds
himself in the role of a Pastor just so he has a pulpit where he can
exercise his gift. We need both
– My wife seeks a “Pastors heart” and I seek a “Teachers heart”.
- I personally don’t
want a “feel good” MILK message,
I want some MEAT. - Just saying
- It seems good to me
that you should go to the Church that feeds your spirit, a place where you
can fellowship with like minded believers.
It doesn’t matter where
- Consider that it is
POSSIBLE that God might use a WOMAN; a weaker vessel to preach.
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Prov 11:14
I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further than I otherwise ever could have.
All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen
American Standard Version Bible - ASV
Annotated
Reference Bible – Dake
Antiquity of the Jews – Josephus
Bible Almanac; The - Nelson
Customs and Folkways of Jewish Life – Theodor H. Gaster
Google Internet
Harper’s Bible Dictionary – Harper & Row
How to Save your Marriage Alone – Ed Wheat
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The - Tyindale
King James Version Bible – KJV
Landmark Baptist; The – Brian Willis
New International Version Bible – NIV
New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney
This Momentary Marriage – John Piper
Victor Journey through the Bible; The – V. Gilbert Beers
Who’ Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wikipedia
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The
- Tenny
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