On Women Preachers by Martyn Lloyd Jones

“Women Preachers” – Self-Deception

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“The vital principle which underlies all the causes of self-deception, even among good Evangelicals, is our failure to heed the plain teaching of Scripture. Instead of taking the plain teaching of the Bible, we argue with it. ‘Ah, yes,’ we say, ‘since the Scriptures were written, times have changed.’

Take the question of women preaching and even being ordained to the full ministry. The apostle Paul prohibits it directly (1 Tim. 2:11-15). He says quite specifically that he does not allow a woman to teach or preach. ‘Ah, yes,’ we say, ‘he was only thinking of his own age and time, but you know times have changed since then, and we must not be bound.’ But the Scripture does not say that. It says, ‘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.’

 Let a woman learn quietly ^owith all submissiveness. 12 ^pI do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 ^qFor Adam was formed first, ^rthen Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but ^sthe woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through ^tchildbearing—if they continue in ^ufaith and love and holiness, with self-control.

1 Timothy 2:11-15

‘Ah, but that was only temporary legislation,’ we say. Paul puts it like this: ‘For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. . . .’ Paul does not say that it was only for the time being; he takes it right back to the Fall and shows that it is an abiding principle. It is something that is true, therefore, of the age in which we live.

If you want to avoid terrible disillusionment at the Day of Judgment, face the Scripture as it is. Do not argue with it; do not try to manipulate it, do not twist it; face it, receive it and submit to it whatever the cost.”

⁶ An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe^[a] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:6-9 NIV