CALLED & GIFTED
WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND MARRIAGE
Watch "Should Women Be Silent in the Church?"
Should Women Be Silent in Church?
The foundational biblical case for women serving as pastors, preachers, and church leaders includes biblical examples of women in leadership, the ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and properly understanding the intended meaning of any corrective passages from the Apostle Paul including the historical, cultural, and grammatical context of each passage. Below is an overview of these arguments:
1. Biblical Examples of Women in Leadership
Several women in the Bible exercised spiritual authority and leadership, demonstrating that women led in the Bible and can lead in the church today.
PROPHETS
Miriam (Exodus 15:20) - A "prophet" who led Israel alongside Moses and her brother Aaron.
Deborah (Judges 4-5) – A "prophet" and judge who led Israel, providing spiritual and civil leadership.
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20) – A "prophet" consulted by King Josiah’s officials, affirming that women spoke authoritatively in spiritual matters.
Unlike priests and kings who inherited their positions by birth, prophets were appointed by God and spoke for God. Modern-day preachers fulfill the same role of proclaiming God’s truth as the biblical prophets and certainly do not hold a higher spiritual office than the biblical prophets. Therefore, if women could be prophets then, women can be preachers now.
The foundational biblical case for women serving as pastors, preachers, and church leaders includes biblical examples of women in leadership, the ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and properly understanding the intended meaning of any corrective passages from the Apostle Paul including the historical, cultural, and grammatical context of each passage. Below is an overview of these arguments:
1. Biblical Examples of Women in Leadership
Several women in the Bible exercised spiritual authority and leadership, demonstrating that women led in the Bible and can lead in the church today.
PROPHETS
Miriam (Exodus 15:20) - A "prophet" who led Israel alongside Moses and her brother Aaron.
Deborah (Judges 4-5) – A "prophet" and judge who led Israel, providing spiritual and civil leadership.
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20) – A "prophet" consulted by King Josiah’s officials, affirming that women spoke authoritatively in spiritual matters.
Unlike priests and kings who inherited their positions by birth, prophets were appointed by God and spoke for God. Modern-day preachers fulfill the same role of proclaiming God’s truth as the biblical prophets and certainly do not hold a higher spiritual office than the biblical prophets. Therefore, if women could be prophets then, women can be preachers now.
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If women could be prophets then, women can be preachers now.
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APOSTLES
Junia (Romans 16:7) – Paul identified Junia, (“Ἰουνίαν”, feminine) as being “ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις” or “outstanding among the apostles,” implying she was a prominent leader in the church. Apostles spread the gospel of Jesus Christ all around the world, planted churches, discipled believers, trained church leaders, and guided the doctrine and spiritual health of these churches.
Modern-day pastors fulfill the same role of of discipling believers, training church leaders, and guiding the doctrine and spiritual health of their churches. Therefore, if a woman could be an Apostle then, a woman can be a pastor now.
Junia (Romans 16:7) – Paul identified Junia, (“Ἰουνίαν”, feminine) as being “ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις” or “outstanding among the apostles,” implying she was a prominent leader in the church. Apostles spread the gospel of Jesus Christ all around the world, planted churches, discipled believers, trained church leaders, and guided the doctrine and spiritual health of these churches.
Modern-day pastors fulfill the same role of of discipling believers, training church leaders, and guiding the doctrine and spiritual health of their churches. Therefore, if a woman could be an Apostle then, a woman can be a pastor now.
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If a woman could be an Apostle then, a woman can be a pastor now.
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Mary Magdalene (John 20:17-18) – She was the first to witness the risen Christ and commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the resurrection to the disciples, making her a “sent one” (apostolic in function). Therefore, if a woman could proclaim the resurrected Lord to men then, a woman can proclaim the resurrected Lord to men now.
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If a woman could proclaim the resurrected Lord to men then, a woman can proclaim the resurrected Lord to men now.
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DEACONS
- Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2) – Paul describes her as a "deacon" (Greek: diakonos) in the church of Cenchreae, which suggests an official church role. Today, many churches identify “deacons” or the “diaconate” as those who are in positions of lay leadership. Phoebe also carried Paul’s letter to the Romans, read it to them, answered their questions, gave more explanation of the teachings of Paul, and provided guidance to the people of the young church in Rome. This certainly included the men.
- Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; Romans 16:3) – Alongside her husband Aquila, she taught and discipled Apollos, an influential preacher, and was recognized as a fellow worker by Paul. If a woman could teach and disciple men then, a woman can teach and disciple men now.
- Romans 16 – Paul greets multiple women involved in ministry, demonstrating their significant roles in the early church. None of them were identified as only serving or leading other women.
PASTOR
The apostle Paul doesn’t identify anyone in his letters as a pastor (poimēn). There is only one place in the New Testament where the word pastor (poimēn) is used as a noun or title regarding an office in the church. That is Ephesians 4:11, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” (NIV). Notice that Paul doesn’t name anyone specifically, nor does he prescribe any gender to the role. The same goes for elders (presbyteroi) and bishops (episkopoi) except where Peter and John name themselves as the senders of 1 Peter, 2 John, and 3 John. In other words, the Bible never names a specific man or a woman as the pastor, elder, or bishop of any specific church.
Yet, some unnamed women were identified as elders (presbyterai) in 1 Timothy 5:2 and, as elders, would have been included in Paul’s statement in 5:17 about “elders who lead well … especially those who labor by speaking and teaching” (LEB). For more about women as elders, see this series of articles from Marg Mowczko.
However, the word most commonly used by Paul referring to those with the sacred responsibility of shepherding local churches was diakonos (minister, servant, deacon). These diakonoi included Paul himself (Rom. 15:25; 1 Cor. 3:5; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23, etc), Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-9), and Apollos (1 Cor. 3:5), as well as the woman Phoebe (Rom. 16:1).
Most modern-day church and ministry lay leaders fulfill the same roles and functions as did the deacons, elders, and coworkers of the New Testament.
Therefore, if women could be deacons, elders, and coworkers then, they can be church leaders now.
The apostle Paul doesn’t identify anyone in his letters as a pastor (poimēn). There is only one place in the New Testament where the word pastor (poimēn) is used as a noun or title regarding an office in the church. That is Ephesians 4:11, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” (NIV). Notice that Paul doesn’t name anyone specifically, nor does he prescribe any gender to the role. The same goes for elders (presbyteroi) and bishops (episkopoi) except where Peter and John name themselves as the senders of 1 Peter, 2 John, and 3 John. In other words, the Bible never names a specific man or a woman as the pastor, elder, or bishop of any specific church.
Yet, some unnamed women were identified as elders (presbyterai) in 1 Timothy 5:2 and, as elders, would have been included in Paul’s statement in 5:17 about “elders who lead well … especially those who labor by speaking and teaching” (LEB). For more about women as elders, see this series of articles from Marg Mowczko.
However, the word most commonly used by Paul referring to those with the sacred responsibility of shepherding local churches was diakonos (minister, servant, deacon). These diakonoi included Paul himself (Rom. 15:25; 1 Cor. 3:5; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23, etc), Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-9), and Apollos (1 Cor. 3:5), as well as the woman Phoebe (Rom. 16:1).
Most modern-day church and ministry lay leaders fulfill the same roles and functions as did the deacons, elders, and coworkers of the New Testament.
Therefore, if women could be deacons, elders, and coworkers then, they can be church leaders now.
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If women could be deacons, elders, and coworkers then, they can be church leaders now.
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2. Both Men and Women are Empowered with the Spirit and Affirmed by Paul.
God proclaimed through the prophet Joel that both men and women would prophesy by the pouring out of his Spirit. And, the Apostle Paul not only taught that in Christ, there is no male nor female, but also affirmed that both men and women would prophesy in the church.
3. The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus broke cultural norms by treating women as disciples and allowing them to learn from Him.
5. Interpreting Restrictive Passages in Context
Some passages are often cited against women in leadership, but many scholars argue these were contextually specific rather than universal prohibitions.
God proclaimed through the prophet Joel that both men and women would prophesy by the pouring out of his Spirit. And, the Apostle Paul not only taught that in Christ, there is no male nor female, but also affirmed that both men and women would prophesy in the church.
- Joel 2:28-29 (quoted in Acts 2:16-18) – "Your sons and daughters will prophesy... Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit." This shows that prophetic ministry is not limited by gender.
- Galatians 3:28 – "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This teaches equality in Christ regardless of gender.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 – Paul acknowledges that women prophesy in the church, indicating they had speaking roles.
3. The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus broke cultural norms by treating women as disciples and allowing them to learn from Him.
- Luke 10:38-42 – Jesus affirms Mary’s choice to sit at His feet as a disciple, a position traditionally reserved for men.
- John 4:27-30, 39-42 – Jesus engages a Samaritan woman who then shared the gospel with others and evangelized her entire village.
5. Interpreting Restrictive Passages in Context
Some passages are often cited against women in leadership, but many scholars argue these were contextually specific rather than universal prohibitions.
- 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 – "Women should remain silent in the churches..." However, this must be reconciled with 1 Corinthians 11:5, where women are permitted to prophesy. Paul was addressing a specific issue of disorder in worship. In particular, the women of the church of Corinth were heavily influenced by the revolutionary movement of what some today call “The New Roman Woman.” These rich Greek (Gentile) women who were new to the Christian church, were provocatively flaunting their wealth and bodies and were boldly speaking out of turn during church gatherings, questioning the teachings of church leaders, despite their own lack of education and understanding of these teachings.
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Paul’s corrective statements in 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 were directed at specific somen for their specific behaviors and were about orderly worship, speech ethics, and learning before teaching. They were not establishing gender norms.
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- 1 Timothy 2:11-12 – "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man..." The Greek word for "authority" (authentein) is rare and refers to abusive or domineering authority, not a general prohibition on teaching. Furthermore, many of these specific women converts in Ephesus were heavily influenced by other ideologies outside the Christian church.
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Paul’s corrective statements in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 command the women to not dominate over the men and to submit themselves to learning before speaking out.
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6. Practical Considerations
Conclusion
While some passages are used to argue against women in pastoral roles, a broad scriptural and theological perspective shows that women served in leadership in both the Old and New Testaments. The equipping of the Holy Spirit and the examples of female leaders support the view that women can serve as pastors, preachers, and church leaders.
Application
- If women can be missionaries, evangelists, and teachers in various in other countries and cultures, then restricting them from pastoral leadership here is inconsistent.
- Many churches and denominations recognize the spiritual gifts given to women, allowing them to lead based on their calling rather than gender.
Conclusion
While some passages are used to argue against women in pastoral roles, a broad scriptural and theological perspective shows that women served in leadership in both the Old and New Testaments. The equipping of the Holy Spirit and the examples of female leaders support the view that women can serve as pastors, preachers, and church leaders.
Application
- Women: Embrace God’s Call Without Hesitation
Throughout Scripture, God calls and equips women for leadership, teaching, and prophecy (e.g., Deborah, Priscilla, Junia). Just as these women led with wisdom and courage, every woman today should embrace her God-given calling without hesitation. If God has gifted you to lead, teach, or preach, step forward with confidence, knowing that your voice matters in building His kingdom. - Men: Be Willing to Learn from Women and Grow in Humility
True discipleship requires a willingness to learn from all whom God calls, regardless of gender. Just as Apollos learned from Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26), men in the church should be open to receiving wisdom, guidance, and spiritual leadership from women. Humility and a teachable spirit reflect the heart of Christ, who often defied cultural norms to affirm and uplift women in ministry.
Additional Resources
Sermon from Pastor Jim
"Should Women Be Silent in the Church?"
Bible Study
Called and Gifted Bible Study (9 weeks)
Books
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight
Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westfall
Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta
Why Can't Women Do That by Philip Payne
Men and Women in the Church by Sarah Sumners
How God Sees Women by Terran Williams
Nobody's Mother by Sandra Glahn
The Bible vs Biblical Womanhood by Philip Payne
Websites/Blogs
CBEInternational.org (Christians for Biblical Equality)
margmowczko.com
"Should Women Be Silent in the Church?"
Bible Study
Called and Gifted Bible Study (9 weeks)
Books
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight
Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westfall
Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta
Why Can't Women Do That by Philip Payne
Men and Women in the Church by Sarah Sumners
How God Sees Women by Terran Williams
Nobody's Mother by Sandra Glahn
The Bible vs Biblical Womanhood by Philip Payne
Websites/Blogs
CBEInternational.org (Christians for Biblical Equality)
margmowczko.com