Expert: Joe Norman - 5/28/2008

Question
Hello. I was wondering, what is the Bibles view on women in the Church? Also, could you please explian to me the roles of Pheobe, Priscilla,Euodia and Syntyche, and Junia. What were they're roles in the Bible? What did and didn't they do?

Answer
Hi David,

You questions are pretty general and so I will do my best to answer you. Keep in mind that my time is limited and so my answer will probably not be as long and detailed. Depending on your point of view, that might be considered a good thing. I am in the middle of moving into a townhouse this week. Also, I have two other questions I received from one person regarding the necessity of water baptism.

Let's look at the Bible's view of women in the church together. I am sure you are aware of this passage:

1 Cor.14:33-36
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

It is clear that there were restrictions placed upon women during Christian worship. They could not show authority over men in general at worship.

Paul tells the church in Corinth that the women are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission as the Law also says. But let's see what else the Bible reveals.

1 Tim.2:8-15
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

This is another passage in a letter to Timothy regarding the behavior and dress of the women in worship. The details of modest adornment were limited to that time period. One reason we know this is because prostitutes braided their hair and today such a thing is not viewed as dressing like a prostitute today. Wearing gold and pearls and costly attire still applies because although it is not an indication of being a whore, it is still an attempt to draw attention to oneself. Wearing jewelry is not wrong, but it should not be over done.

Also, Paul repeats his words about the woman learning "quietly" and not to teach or show authority over a man - she must be in submission. Then in verses 13 and 14, Paul explains the reasons for the restriction. So again, we know it was not a cultural thing, but because of the order of creation and the fact that the woman was deceived in the garden. Here is another passage:

Tit.2:3-5
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Now we see that older women are to have reverent behavior, avoid slandering and drinking much wine. Then he says the older women are to teach and train the young women to be good Christian wives and mothers themselves. This is not limited to worship services at all here.

But what else can we learn about what the role of women was in the church?

Php.4:2, 3
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

All we can know about Euodia and Syntyche is what is written in this passage from the book of Philippians. It seems they were assisting Paul "side by side" in the gospel. Any details as to what they did specifically would be nothing but pure assumption. Yet, I think because of other passages in the New Testament it is possible that they were able to spread the gospel to the lost - although they might have been limited to speaking and studying with women, I don't necessarily think that is to be known for sure.

Rom.16:1, 2
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Phoebe was a servant of the church. The word translated servant here is diakonos which some translate as deaconess. Yet there is nothing to tell us this is an official title in the church. The indication is just what the word means - she was a servant of the church. She probably taught the gospel, but we cannot know to whom she taught. Since we already know a woman cannot show authority over a man, we can know she did not do anything that would be authoritative over men.

Rom.16:3, 4
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.

Priscilla or Prisca depending on the version you have was the wife of Aquila. They risked their necks for Paul. We also know that they pulled Apollos aside privately to teach him correctly regarding Christian baptism. (Acts 18:25, 26)

Rom 16:7  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

I cannot be sure but it seems that Junia was also put in prison while helping to spread the gospel message.

Rom 16:15  Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Unfortunately, I do not have the time to get into more detail, but I do recommend an excellent book on women in the church. In fact, that is the title and it is written by Dr Everett Ferguson. It is not a thick book, but it is very detailed and excellent. He did deep research and that is clear when you read it. I think it only cost me about 7 or 8 dollars.

If you have any further questions or need any clarification on what I presented, please let me know.

             In Christ, Joe Norman