Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 9/29/2005

Question
Some friends and myself had a discussion concerning whether a woman should or shouldn't be a pastor of a church.  One said yes and three said no.  The no's used 1 Timothy vs.11-13.  The one yes said that the verses refer to a woman not having authority over a man in marriage only not in the church.  He believes a woman can be a pastor of a church.  I tend to believe a woman should not be in authority over a man in the church, like 1 Timothy vs 12 says.  Can you help provide me with any information, scriptures or reasons, why a woman should or should not be a pastor or a person of authority ove a man.

Answer

Hi David,
The New Testament clearly states that a pastor Must Be A Man.
       1 Timothy 3:1-9 and Titus 1:5-9 clearly establishes that a bishop (pastor) must be a man. Verse 1, says "If a 'man' desires the office of a bishop he desireth a good work." This verse prohibits women from holding this position of service in a local church. Throughout all of the Bible God has given the man the responsibility as the head of the household as Ephesians 5:23 states,. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

       Ephesians 5:24 continues and says that women are to be submissive to their husbands in the same way that the local congregation is to be submissive to Christ. "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." The verse specifically says that women are to be submissive to their husbands in "everything" and certainly that would include in the leadership of the local church.

        The principle that men are to be leaders in the local church is affirmed in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and prohibits a woman from speaking publicly in a worship service saying "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."

       Further 1 Timothy 2:11-15 establishes further restrictions on the place of women in the local assembly. "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." Thus God's stated commandment is that the church is not to not allow a woman in the church to usurp authority over a man. That would preclude them from being a pastor, deacon, or teacher of men. It should be said that God has provided important responsibilities and opportunities for women in the home and local church to lead and teach other women and children. (see Titus 2:3).

       1 Timothy 3:2 in presenting these qualifications the Bible uses the word "must" (dei' ) which is an impersonal verb meaning "it is necessary, one must, or has to." (William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 171. ) The New Testament then as a whole establishes that a bishop must be a man. Further, 1 Corinthians 14:37, states that accepting this truth is a test of spiritually and obedience to God as this was not given as a suggestion or guide line, but a commandment from God. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:34-37).

       Titus 2:3-5 is addressed to aged women and instructs them: "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Here older and spiritually mature women are instructed in godliness. Note that the instruction includes "keepers at home" which mean they are to care for and work at home taking care of household matters. This reiterates the biblical principle that God's plan is that the role of women is within the family and teaching younger women. (V4) Further they are instructed to be obedient to their own husbands.

A woman who assumes the role of a pastor will have to minister to the men and husbands of other women in the local congregation. Clearly this violates this biblical principle of a wife ministering only to her husband. The passage states the reason for these instructions to women as being that the word of God be not blasphemed. In other words the woman who violates these instructions blasphemes God's word.

God cannot bless or be a part of that which goes against He stated word.   This means that a woman preacher is operating in her own strength and intellect....and having the blesses, empowering or direction of God.   The Holy Spirit cannot bless such "ministries" or churches that violate God's clear instructions.

I hope this helps your group biblically understand what the Bible teaches about this matter.

Thank you for you question and if you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org