Posts in Role of Women
Is Galatians 3:26-28 Proof That Woman May Serve In Spiritual Positions of Authority Over Men?

Galatians 3:26-28 has been misused and abused by feminists and brethren who are seeking to restructure the church of Jesus Christ. It has been ripped out of its present context to supposedly prove that women may serve in the same spiritual positions over men such as preaching, scripture reading, presiding over the Lord's Supper, leading the prayer, and leading singing.

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Is It Authorized For Women To Be Children's Ministers?

The word “minister” is the word that is translated from the Greek word diakanos. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology states: “It means a servant in a wider sense in Matt. 20:26; Mk. 10:43, and a helper in Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7. Esp. in Paul, the word receives a specifically Christian sense; e.g., a servant of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6), of righteousness (11:15), of Christ (11:23; Col. 1:7; 1 Tim. 4:6), of God (2 Cor. 6:4), of the gospel (Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23), and of the church (1:25). Christ himself is called a diakonos in Rom. 15:8 (of Israel). In Rom. 13:4 the secular ruler is called a servant of God.” (“diakone÷w,” NIDNTT-A, 137).

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Do God's Instructions on the Roles of Men and Women Apply to Christians Only?

The answer is no. They apply to both Christians and non-Christians. For example, one of the reasons Paul gives for a female not to teach or have authority over the man is because "Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression" (1 Timothy 2:12-14). The roles of male and female have been a universal law applying to believers as well as non-believers ever since the Garden of Eden (as have murder, deceiving, disobeying God, etc.). This is true also under the New Testament as is indicated by these passages: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

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Are The Roles Of Men And Women Foundational Principles or Merely Consequences of Sin?

Some argue that Adam and Eve's sins (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12) are what caused God to establish men in leadership roles and women in submission roles until Jesus Christ came in the flesh (John 1:14). They further argue that Jesus reversed the consequence and granted equal roles in the home and the spiritual realm, twisting Galatians 3:26-29 and Genesis 3:16 as their proof-texts. [NOTE: Please consult our question in our Q & A section: “Is Galatians 3:26-28 Proof That Women May Serve In Spiritual Positions Of Authority Over Men?”].

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Have The Roles Of Men And Women Established In The Old Testament Become Obsolete?

Some have made the argument that the roles of men and women established in the Old Testament have become obsolete because we are no longer under the Mosaic law. They will even point out that Paul stated that the roles of men and women were rooted in “the law” (1 Corinthians 14:34,35).

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Who Is Authorized to Preside Over and Serve The Lord's Supper?

In order to worship God and assume our God-given roles acceptable to Him, we must do everything as authorized by the Lord by abiding by His word. If we love Him, we will humbly submit to that will (Colossians 3:17; John 14:15). The question before us is: Who can preside over and serve the Lord's Supper? Can Christian women preside over the Lord's table? Can it be the case that a Christian man leads the prayer for the emblems, yet the women be able to serve the emblems? Does the Bible answer those questions?

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What Does She Shall Be Saved Through Childbearing Mean?

In 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Paul is discussing the respective roles that God has ordained to both men and women in the spiritual realm. It is best to read the whole context along with verse 15 which states: "Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control."

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Does 1 Timothy 2:11-12 Apply To Secular Matters?

Some people have taken the doctrinal position that 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 not only relates to the spiritual realm, but also to the secular realm. This would mean that a woman could not be a boss in a business over men, a woman could not serve in a government position over men, or a woman could not teach a college class (such as mathematics or science) with men present.

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Is It Wrong For A Woman (Wife) To Lead A Prayer With Her Husband?

We must understand that the roles of men and men apply to both men and women (whether both spouses are Christian or non-Christian). [NOTE: Please consult our question: “Do God's Instructions On The Roles of Men and Women Apply To Christians Only?” for more information].

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Does 1 Corinthians 11:5 Prove That Women Can Be In Spiritual Leadership Roles Over Men?

In 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, the Bible states: “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 

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Is 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Limited To The Worship Assembly?

First, the purpose of the letter is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:15: “…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar, and ground of the truth.”

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Are Ladies' Days Authorized By The Scriptures?

A ladies' day generally occurs on the weekend where a Christian female speaker (or a variety of Christian female speakers) comes to speak to a congregation and usually, all the older female Christians (even non-Christians) and younger female Christians (even non-Christians) from the surrounding congregations in that area are invited to attend. There is often a fellowship meal that is set aside for the ladies to eat together generally after the speaking sessions are finished.

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Are Women To Still Wear Veils?

This question stems from a study of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. It is not an easy question. We must look carefully at the historical context, the immediate context, the context of the letter, and the entirety of Scripture.

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What Does “Because Of The Angels” Mean In 1 Corinthians 11:10?

“Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

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Was Junia An Apostle?

In Romans 16:7, the NKJV states: “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” Advocates who want to expand the role of women into leadership roles in the spiritual realm believe that this verse supports their case that Junia, a female, was a member of the apostolic band.

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Is Experience A Valid Point For The Church To Change Its Practice?

At the 2010 Summit Lectureship at Abilene Christian University, there was a panel discussion of several women who shared their experiences on the roles of women in the spiritual realm. It was called “Our Story: Experiences of Women In Churches of Christ.” Ken Curiowski served as the moderator for that event and started off by stating that we can “think theologically” about the issue of the roles of men and women using four sources: Scripture, reason, tradition (what we always have done), and experience. Curiowski wanted the women to share their past stories in the Lord's church by asking them several questions. In the context of this event, we must ask ourselves this question:

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Is A Woman's Role Less Valuable Than A Man's Role?

Absolutely not. A woman has a great role in being a…

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Video Q & A: Should Women Pray in Public Worship With Men Present?

In this video we address the question: "Should a woman pray in the presence of a Christian man?"  This video Q & A addresses the important question of a woman's role in worship as it relates to prayer.  New Testament references are given to support the answer from Scripture as well as for the idividual to study on their own.

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Does The “And” In “Male And Female” In Genesis 1:26,27 Mean Spectrum Or Binary? Print Friendly and PDF
Does Ephesians 5:21 Nullify 1 Timothy 2:11,12 On The Roles of Men And Women?

No.

Some teach that husbands and wives have equal roles by twisting Ephesians 5:21 (which states: “submitting to one another in the fear of God”). This verse does not teach mutual submission to the exclusion of all other passages on the divine roles of men and women.

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