Does Bible allow Women to be Pastors?

What is wrong with women preachers? Can women not share Gospel? You are demoting women! Deborah was a woman. Paul was writing to the Corinthians because of their culture. Samaritan woman preached. There is no male nor female in the Kingdom of God. Paul is not Jesus. These are statements and many others that you will hear when the subject of women preachers will come up.

In this article, we will see what Bible teaches on Women preachers and why women are not permitted to preach in the church. I hope I will have shed the light on a hotly debated topic of our times.

There exists two schools of thought on the issue of women’s leadership in the church. One is egalitarianism which asserts that men and women have equal opportunities in church leadership. On the other hand, complementarianism holds that pastoral ministry and church leadership is only reserved for men only.

Now, what would you say to these two issues? In this matter, you cannot just keep quiet and pretend nothing is happening. Sadly, nowadays we live in a culture where nobody wants to tell the truth if it seems to offend someone. In an effort to remain culture-tolerant, many Christians have chosen peace over truth.

Some of the notable women preachers are Beth Moore, Victoria Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Bobbie Houston among many others.

The Bible Verses about Women Leadership

The first Bible passage that would click in your mind when women preachers are mentioned is 1 Timothy 2:12.

I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

1 Timothy 2:12

In this passage, Paul strictly forbids women from teaching or exercising any authority over men. The Greek word translated for teaching is διδάσκειν which means speaking as in a public assembly or to direct. The same word is used in Mathew 28:5

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. 1Corinthians 14: 34-35

Why did paul refuse women to preach and teach in the church? Well, many people have gone ahead to think about all manner of the reasons why Paul did not permit women to become pastors. One of the common reasons people give is that it was because of the cultural issue. They suppose that in those times, women were not valued and therefore a woman preaching would be a shame in that culture. So Paul forbade women from becoming pastors.

Reasons why Bible Forbids Women Pastors

Well, all we know is Paul gave the reasons why women should not preach. Paul said the reason women were not to be pastors are; the man was created first and it is the woman who was deceived.

1. The man was created First

Paul pointed to the order of creation when he was writing to Timothy. He said that man was created first and then woman. In Genesis, Adam was created first, and then Eve. We also see that Adam was to be the head of the family.

2. It was Eve who was deceived

In Genesis 3, it is evident that it was Eve who was deceived by the serpent. Adam sinned by listening to the voice of his wife. Paul continues to say that women will be saved through childbearing if they continue. This implies that though Eve was deceived by the devil, women will be protected from making mistakes that Eve made if they stick to their God-given roles.

Debunking Arguments for Women Preachers

Based on these two reasons, Paul says that women should not pastor or preach in a church.

Argument#1 It was a Cultural reason

Paul does not say that it is because of the culture that women cannot preach in a church. The assertion that it was the cultural reason for prohibiting women from preaching is unbiblical. Paul makes it clear reasons for disallowing women from pastoral women are the order of creation and the fall. He says that there are two reasons; the man was created first and It was the woman who was deceived.

Argument #2 It was only one Church

This argument rises from the ignorance of the word of God. To the Corinthian church, Paul commanded women to keep quiet. He tells Timothy women should not assume pastoral roles in the church. To Titus, he outlines the qualities of an elder stating that an elder/ deacon must be the HUSBAND of one wife. Mark that he does not say, ‘wife of one husband.’ This was not the same church but a different church.

         Argument #3 Women Preached the Gospel

There is a record of a Samaritan woman telling people in her city about Christ but that was not pastoring a church. Other people also point to Deborah. Deborah was not a priest but a judge who ruled in Israel. It is even evident that she did not lead Israel to war as other judges would do but send Barak. (Judges 4:1-24).

This is a special case but generally, the liturgy was reserved for men in the Bible. This does not mean women cannot occupy leadership positions in the corporate world. But the position of a pastor is only reserved for men only.

             Argument #4 No male or Female in Christ

The verse below is one which many people quote when championing women pastors.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

Amazingly, Galatians was written by Paul who also wrote letters to Corinthians, Timothy, and Titus. The context is the King in understanding scriptures. The simple question, ‘what does this passage means?’ is very important.

For one, this verse does not suggest that gender ceases to exist when you become Christian. It means rather than in Christ we are all heirs according to promise” or “Abraham’s offspring.” and therefore we equally receive a share of the Abrahamic promise. 

The Position of the Women in the Church

Someone could object by asking what then is the role of women in the church is. Well, the Bible says much about the role of women in the ministry.

Titus 2:2-5
[3]The aged women likewise, that they are in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
[4]That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
[5]To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

This verse says that it is the responsibility of older women to teach young women to be sober, to love their husbands, and to love their children. Also, they should teach them to be discreet, chaste, keepers of the home, good, and obedient to their own husbands.

Women can do a lot in the ministry like singing, writing books, missionary work, etc but the pastoral duty is only reserved for qualified men only (not all men).

In conclusion, I believe that women should not be ordained to be pastors and those who ordain them are basically doing something the Bible says No.