Women in the Leadership role in the Bible

Women in the Leadership role in the New Testament.

1. Phoebe 非比

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.  I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. [Romans 16:1–2]

16 我對你們舉薦我們的姐妹非比，她是堅革哩教會中的女執事。 ² 請你們為主接待她，合乎聖徒的體統。她在何事上要你們幫助，你們就幫助她，因她素來幫助許多人，也幫助了我。

Explanation

Paul calls Phoebe a deacon (diakonos). This same word is used for:

• Paul himself (2 Corinthians 3:6)
• Official church deacons (Philippians 1:1)

Original Greek

• diakonos = servant, minister, deacon
• prostatis (v.2) = patron, leader, protector

In the text, Phoebe held an official leadership role. If a woman could serve as a deacon and trusted church representative (possibly delivering Romans 甚至可能宣講《羅馬書》), leadership was not restricted to men.

 

2. Junia 猶尼亞

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. [Romans 16:7]

又問我親屬與我一同坐監的安多尼古和猶尼亞安，他們在使徒中是有名望的，也是比我先在基督裡。

Explanation

Junia is identified as:

• A woman (early church unanimously understood this as female 早期教會一致認為這是女性的象徵)
• “Outstanding among the apostles”

Original Greek

• episēmoi en tois apostolois
  This most naturally means “notable among the apostles,” implying she was counted as one.

Support argument: If a woman was recognized among the apostles, that strongly supports women in high leadership roles.

 

3a. Priscilla 百基拉

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. [Acts 18:26]

他在會堂裡放膽講道，百基拉、亞居拉聽見，就接他來，將神的道給他講解更加詳細。

Explanation

Priscilla (a woman) helped teach Apollos, a learned preacher. Interestingly, in several passages, Priscilla’s name appears before her husband’s, which may suggest prominence.

Support argument: She participated in theological instruction of a male preacher.

 

3b. Priscilla 

1 Corinthians 16:19 

The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 

亞細亞的眾教會問你們安。亞居拉和百基拉並在他們家裡的教會，因主多多地問你們安。

Priscilla is repeatedly associated with house church leadership.

Important Pattern

In Romans 16:3–5 and Acts 18, her name often appears before Aquila’s — unusual in ancient patriarchal listings.

Support argument:
Indicates significant teaching or leadership prominence.

4. Women in Jesus’ Ministry

Luke 8:1–3 

1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

8 過了不多日，耶穌周遊各城各鄉傳道，宣講神國的福音。和他同去的有十二個門徒， 2 還有被惡鬼所附、被疾病所累已經治好的幾個婦女，內中有稱為抹大拉的馬利亞，曾有七個鬼從她身上趕出來， 3 又有希律的家宰苦撒的妻子約亞拿，並蘇撒拿和好些別的婦女，都是用自己的財物供給耶穌和門徒。

Explanation

These women were not casual followers — they traveled with Jesus and supported His ministry. In first-century Jewish culture, this was very unusual.

Greek Note

• diēkonoun autois = “they were ministering to them.” (verse 3)
  From diakoneō (to serve/minister), same root as deacon.

Support argument:
Women were recognized as ministry partners in Jesus’ public mission.

5. Women as First Witnesses

Matthew 28:9–10 & 28:18–20 

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared first to women and commanded them to tell the disciples.

“Go and tell my brothers…”

Explanation

In that culture, women’s testimony was often not legally valued. Yet Jesus entrusted them with announcing the resurrection — the core gospel message.

Support argument:
If Christ entrusted women with proclaiming the resurrection to the apostles, this shows divine approval of women proclaiming authoritative truth.

6. The Samaritan Woman (First Gentile Evangelist) 

John 4:28–30, 39

“Many of the Samaritans… believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.”

Explanation

After encountering Jesus, she evangelized her town.

Greek Note

• emarturei = “she testified”
  From martureō, meaning to bear witness.

Support argument:
She functioned as an evangelist, leading many to faith.

7. Euodia & Syntyche

Philippians 4:2–3 

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

我勸尤阿迪婭和循都基要在主裡同心。 3 我也求你這真實同負一軛的，幫助這兩個女人；因為她們在福音上曾與我一同勞苦，還有革利免並其餘和我一同做工的，他們的名字都在生命冊上。

Greek

• synēthlēsan moi en tō euangeliō
  Meaning “struggled together with me in the gospel.”

This is strong ministry language, used for co-workers in gospel labor.

Support argument:
Paul identifies women as co-laborers in gospel ministry alongside him.

8. Nympha

Colossians 4:15 

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 

請問老底嘉的弟兄和寧法，並她家裡的教會安。

Explanation

House churches were the primary meeting places of early Christians. The host was often the leader of that congregation.

Support argument:
If a church met in her house, she likely had leadership authority within that community.

9. The "Elect Lady"

2 John 1: The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—

The letter is addressed to:
“The elect lady and her children…”
Some scholars believe this refers to a female church leader overseeing a house church.
While debated, it is possible this was a woman with pastoral responsibility.

10. Philip's Four Daughters

Acts 21:8–9 

“He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.”

Greek
prophēteuousai = prophesying (public Spirit-inspired speaking)
In the early church, prophecy was highly respected and edifying to the congregation (1 Cor 14:3).

Support argument:
Women were recognized as Spirit-gifted public speakers within church life.

The Larger New Testament Pattern

• Women prophesying (Acts 2; 21; 1 Cor 11)

• Women teaching men privately (Priscilla)

• Women hosting churches

• Women called deacons

• A woman possibly called an apostle (Junia)

• Women publicly proclaiming the resurrection

• Women called Paul’s co-workers in the gospel

Women in the Leadership role in the Old Testament.

1️⃣ Deborah – Judge, Prophet, and National Leader

📖 Book of Judges 4–5

Deborah is the clearest example.

Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.

4 有一位女先知名叫底波拉，是拉比多的妻，當時做以色列的士師。 5 她住在以法蓮山地拉瑪和伯特利中間，在底波拉的棕樹下，以色列人都上她那裡去聽判斷。

Key Words:

• נְבִיאָה (nəvi’ah) – prophetess (feminine of נביא, prophet)

• שֹׁפְטָה (shofetah) – “she was judging”
  From שָׁפַט (shaphat) = to govern, judge, rule.

• Hebrew Meaning

• Nəvî’āh = prophetess
• She gave authoritative judgments and military direction.

Deborah was: A prophetess & A judge (national leader of Israel)

This verb is the same root used for the male judges (e.g., Gideon, Samson).
The text does not use a lesser term. It uses the same governmental verb.

👉 Grammatically and functionally, Deborah exercised full judicial authority over Israel.

She also:

• Summons Barak (military commander)

• Delivers God’s command

• Leads the nation spiritually

In Judges 5:7 she says:

“Until I, Deborah, arose — a mother in Israel.”

This reflects recognized national authority.

2️⃣ Huldah – Authoritative Prophetess

📖 Second Book of Kings 22:14–20

When the Book of the Law was discovered during Josiah’s reign, the king’s officials consulted:

אֶל־חֻלְדָּה הַנְּבִיאָה
ʾel-ḥuldāh han-nəvi’āh
“to Huldah the prophetess”

Again:

• נְּבִיאָה (nəvi’āh) – same word as Deborah.

She delivers a binding prophetic judgment to:

• The high priest

• Royal officials

• The king of Judah

Her word determines national reform.

👉 This is spiritual and covenantal leadership over the nation.

3️⃣ Miriam – National Spiritual Leader

📖 Exodus 15:20

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.

📖 Micah 6:4

God says: “I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

All three are presented as national leaders of the Exodus generation.

The verb:

וָאֶשְׁלַח (va’eshlaḥ) – “I sent”

Miriam is included in divine commissioning language.

4️⃣The “Wise Woman” of Abel – Political Negotiator

📖 2 Samuel 20:16–22

A woman negotiates with General Joab and saves her city.

She is called:

אִשָּׁה חֲכָמָה
ishah ḥakhamah – “a wise woman”

Her counsel determines military action. While she is not holding formal office, she exercises civic authority.

Leadership Language in Hebrew

The Old Testament does not use a separate “female” word for political ruler like “queen” in these cases. Instead:

• שָׁפַט (shaphat) – judge/govern (used of Deborah)

• נָבִיא / נְבִיאָה (navi / nevi’ah) – prophet/prophetess

• שָׂר (sar) – prince/ruler (occasionally applied in feminine contexts elsewhere)

• חָכָם / חֲכָמָה (wise person) – leadership through wisdom

The key point:
👉 When women lead, the Hebrew uses the same governing and prophetic terminology used for men.
There is no grammatical softening.

Important Observation

The Old Testament does not contain a universal prohibition against female civil or prophetic leadership.

However:

• Priestly office (כֹּהֵן, kohen) was male (Aaronic line).

• Kingship (מֶלֶךְ, melek) was male in Israel’s monarchy (though queens existed).

So leadership categories differ:

• ✅ Judges – yes (Deborah)

• ✅ Prophets – yes (Deborah, Miriam, Huldah)

• ❌ Priests – male only (Torah requirement)

• ❌ Kings in Israel – male (though Athaliah reigned, but irregularly)

Theological Summary

From the Hebrew text itself:

1. Women can hold:

   • Judicial authority

   • Prophetic authority

   • National influence

2. The language used does not diminish their authority.

3. Their leadership is presented as legitimate and divinely recognized.