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Re: Women Teachers
Posted by caf - April 23, 2002 at 10:53:38am
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In Reply to:
Women Teachers
Posted by Mike Babb - April 23, 2002 at 5:23:33am:

Here are some verses, with very short comments. I recommend that you look them up and consider them in context, as I suppose you intend to, rather than just the portions listed here.

Christians, in general, should aspire to become teachers of God's truth.
Heb 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! NIV

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. NIV

Women are to teach what is good, with a particular responsibility of teaching younger women and supporting the family structure.
Titus 2:3-5 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. NIV

A woman euphemistically called Jezebel was teaching Christians in Thyatira. In this case, there doesn't seem to be a complaint about the fact that she was teaching, but rather with the content and apparently false claim of divine authority. We don't know when or how she was delivering her teaching or "prophetic" messages, but that they were false.
Rev 2:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. NIV

Paul taught that there is a propriety of authority to be observed. There may be a need to be especially observant of this in the assembly of the church. Do note that in the context in 1 Cor. 14 below (see verses 26-32) there are several besides women who are directed to be quiet in the assembly.
1 Tim 2:11-12 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

1 Cor 14:33-35 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 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 in the church. NIV

However, the gift of prophecy was specifically for the good of believers, and some women did have the gift of prophecy. If not in the assembly itself, then at some other time they must have been able to exercise that gift for the good of the church.
1 Cor 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
NIV

1 Cor 11:3-11 3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. NIV

Acts 21:8-9 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

Priscilla and Aquila (wife and husband) worked and taught together, at least in private.
Acts 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. NIV

Various women are mentioned by Paul as his fellow workers, church workers, gospel workers. Paul's writings above tell us they didn't teach in all circumstances, but they must have taught in some circumstances
Rom 16:1-4 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. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.NIV

Rom 16:6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. NIV

Rom 16:12 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. NIV

Phil 4:2-3 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, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. NIV


1 Tim 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; KJV

1 Tim 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. KJV

Titus 1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. NIV

When Paul talked about authority and submission, one thing he didn't mention was talent. In various contexts the sisters may demonstrate great ability as teachers. Biblical limitations in this area seem to be based on a propriety of design which is to be accepted, not a rationale of value or ability or taste or culture.

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