Can Women be a Pastor or Preacher at church?
Apostles Paul's theology
1. Galatians 3:28“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Explanation:
Paul is teaching about spiritual equality in Christ. The phrase “male and female” echoes Genesis 1:27, showing that in the new covenant, old divisions do not limit participation in God’s promises.
Original Greek
ouk eni arsen kai thēlu = “there is not male and female”
This is stronger than just social equality; it implies removal of spiritual hierarchy in Christ.
Support for women pastors:
If spiritual status and calling are not determined by gender, then ministry leadership should not be restricted by gender either.
2. Acts 2:17–18 (Prophecy of Joel)
Explanation:
Peter quotes Joel to explain Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is poured out on both men and women, and both will prophesy. In the New Testament church, prophecy was a public, authoritative speaking gift (1 Corinthians 14:3).
Original Greek
- prophēteusousin = “they shall prophesy”
- This means to speak forth God’s message publicly under divine inspiration.
If women were empowered by the Spirit to publicly proclaim God’s Word, that supports women preaching in church.
3. 1 Corinthians 11:5 (read more below)
“Every woman who
prays or prophesies…”
Paul assumes women were: Praying publicly & Prophesying publicly
The issue in the
passage is not whether women speak — but how they do so (head
covering).
Support argument:
Paul regulates
women speaking in church; he does not forbid it.
4. 1 Timothy 2:12 (read more below)
“I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man…”
Key Greek word:
-
authentein = a rare word meaning “to dominate” or “to usurp authority”
Paul was addressing:
-
False teaching in Ephesus
-
Abusive authority, not healthy leadership
-
A local cultural issue, not universal ban
🌷 The Corinthian Church
Regulations for Order (1 Corinthians 14:26–33)
Paul stayed with the Corinthians for a year and a half. Previously, he apparently did not give them these regulations. This shows that these instructions were established because of the specific situation in Corinth.
The house churches in Corinth may have had no more than 50 people. Jewish worship often included psalms, teaching, revelations, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, these became characteristics of Christian worship.
📖 Key Scriptures - 1 Corinthians 14:33–35
When Paul was discussing church order, he mentioned women interrupting the teaching during worship. When he said that women should remain silent in the church, he was addressing the disturbance described in verse 34. The issue here was their lack of knowledge of Scripture, not their gender.
There is no specific command in the Law of the Bible that requires women to be silent or submissive. Paul may have been referring to his argument based on creation in chapter 11, verses 8–9 "8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.", which traces back to the earliest consequence found in Genesis 3:16.
📖 Background Scripture
“Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” [1 Corinthians 11:5]
In this verse, Paul does not say that women cannot pray or prophesy. He is saying that women were publicly praying and publicly prophesying. The issue is not whether they can speak, but whether they should cover their heads according to the cultural customs of that time.
☘️ Therefore, this verse itself directly shows that women can speak publicly in spiritual settings and proclaim God’s message.
👉 When Paul discusses “head covering,” he is addressing the cultural situation in Corinth at that time, not denying women the right to pray or preach. In fact, the Bible clearly indicates in many places that women can pray, prophesy (proclaim God’s Word), and participate in ministry.
❓ How should we properly understand “women should remain silent in the churches”?
“Women should remain silent in the churches” (1 Corinthians 14:34).
1 Corinthians 14:34 must be read together with these two verses:
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (14:33)
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
👉 The real issue is not gender, but disorder in the worship gathering.
🥭 Background: At that time, Corinth was a prosperous city where idol worship was very widespread. There were many temple prostitutes, so if a woman did not cover her head, it could be seen as selling her body.
In ancient times, a woman’s hair was often considered an object of desire. In the customs of the eastern Mediterranean region, women were required to cover their heads; those who did not were regarded as flirting with or enticing men. In Jewish Palestine and some other places, women also covered their heads, sometimes even wearing veils.
Here, Paul was presenting an argument based on the cultural context of his audience, applying it to the culture of that time. The ones he was persuading to cover their heads were the women in Corinth, not women in the modern world.
🍁 Conclusion 🍁
Women can pray, prophesy, teach, and proclaim God’s Word; but it must be done in truth, submission, and order.
The key point is:
🌵 Paul used a cultural argument to require the Corinthian women to cover their heads. He was not establishing an eternal law that “women cannot preach.”
Rather, it was for the purpose of: avoiding being mistaken for temple prostitutes, protecting their witness, honoring marriage, and not causing others at that time to stumble.
🌷 The Ephesian Church
1 Timothy 2:11–12
1 Timothy 2:11 — “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.”
1 Timothy 2:12 — “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”
❓ Can 1 Timothy 2:11–12 support “women can preach”?
Strictly speaking:
👉 These two verses, by themselves, are not passages that support women preaching.
👉 They place a restriction on a certain type of teaching and authoritative leadership; these verses are restrictive statements.
👉 However, they cannot be interpreted to mean that “all women in all times are permanently forbidden from preaching or leading” So, let’s examine it carefully.
🔍 The Key Greek Words
The interpretation largely depends on two Greek terms.
1️⃣ “Teach” — didaskein
This usually refers to authoritative doctrinal teaching, not casual sharing or testimony.
2️⃣ “Assume authority” — authentein
This word is rare in the New Testament (used only here).
Scholars debate its meaning:
-
Traditional view: “exercise authority”
-
Some scholars: “domineer,” “control abusively,” or “usurp authority”
If it means domineer, Paul may be prohibiting abusive or false teaching authority, not all leadership.
🏛 Context: The Ephesian Situation
1 Timothy was written to Timothy in Ephesus.
Elsewhere in the letter, Paul warns about:
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False teachers (1 Tim 1:3–7)
-
Myths and genealogies
-
People teaching error
-
Some women spreading false ideas (5:13–15)
Some scholars argue:
👉 The restriction may address a specific false teaching crisis, not establish a timeless ban.
Paul prohibits a specific type of teaching + domineering authority.
-
The instruction is situational.
-
Women may teach and lead when properly trained and not promoting false doctrine.
-
Therefore, the passage does not forbid women pastors in every era.
The context is temporary, it must be harmonized with women prophesying (1 Cor 11), Phoebe (Rom 16), Junia (Rom 16:7), etc.
🎯 Final Answer
1 Timothy 2:11–15 does not directly support women being pastors.
It is a restrictive passage.
However, whether it permanently prohibits women from pastoral leadership depends on:
-
How “teach” and “authentein” are defined
-
Whether the appeal to creation is cultural or universal
-
How it is harmonized with other New Testament passages where women minister publicly
Why did Paul use the creation order (the Adam and Eve argument) in 1 Timothy 2:13–15?
🔎 Verse 13 – “Adam was formed first, then Eve”
- Paul appeals to creation order.
- Some interpret this as a permanent
principle: men are first and therefore have authority.
- Others argue:
- This is historical, not
hierarchical.
- Paul is reminding women why
deception occurred, not creating a universal ban.
Key idea: It references history, not gifting or calling.
🔎 Verse 14 – “Adam was not the one deceived…”
- Paul points out that Eve was
deceived by the serpent.
- In context, this is connected to
the false teaching problem in Ephesus:
- Women were being misled by false
doctrines (likely about angels, myths, or ascetic rules).
- The instruction to “learn in
quietness” addresses this specific situation.
Key insight: The warning is situational, not a blanket statement about
all women for all time.
🔎 Verse 15 – “Women will be saved through childbearing…”
- Greek phrase: sōthēsontai =
“will be preserved/saved”
- “Childbearing” can be interpreted
literally (having children) or broadly (God’s providential plan and role
of women in family/church).
- Many scholars see this as illustrative
of faithful living, not doctrinal salvation from pregnancy.
Key point: The verse emphasizes faith, love, holiness, and propriety.
It encourages women to live faithfully in their cultural roles.
⚖️ Putting It Together
Paul’s argument
in 2:13–15:
- Cites historical creation
order
- Points out Eve’s deception
- Encourages faithful living
The passage does
not explicitly discuss spiritual gifts (teaching, prophecy, preaching).
It must be read together
with the rest of Scripture, where women:
- Prophesy publicly (1 Cor 11:5)
- Teach others (Acts 18:26 –
Priscilla)
- Serve as leaders and deacons (Rom 16:1; Rom 16:7)
🌿 Practical Takeaways for Ministry
- Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2 are culturally
and situationally specific, aimed at preventing false teaching in
Ephesus.
- They do not remove God’s
calling or gifts from women.
- Women can exercise ministry gifts when
done in order, faith, and proper teaching, just as men do.
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