WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL WRONG
when he said in 1
Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence? Was
this just Paul's opinion, or did God really say this? Can a woman be
a pastor and overseer in the Church? These are very difficult
questions, mostly because the idea of not allowing a woman to be a
pastor does not fit our twenty first century way of thinking. It
would be very easy to say Paul was speaking to the first century
Church only, not to todays twenty first century Church.
We can easily dismiss this by simply stating the society in the apostle Paul's time was much different than it is today, or that we have come a long way since the first century Church. After all, times have changed, cultures have changed, society has changed. Surely there is no problem with a woman pastor in todays Church...is there? I will show this mandate from scripture was not only for the first century Church, but it is also for the Church today.
The scriptures are very clear as to the requirements for pastors, or overseers, in the Church:
1 Timothy 3:1-5 - This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
There are several points to note in these five verse of scripture. First, notice it says “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.” This scripture refers to the bishop and or overseer as being the HUSBAND of one wife. There can be no argument Paul is referring to the man here. Also take note where Paul says “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”
Notice in these verses of 1 Timothy 3:1-5 it speaks of the man as the ruler of the home, and if he cannot rule his own home, he cannot rule in the Church of God. Ask yourself this question: If God mandates the man to be ruler in his home, would He expect any different in His Church? I have never heard an argument about whom God calls to be the spiritual head of the home. Most everybody in Christianity agrees it is the man, not the woman, who has the responsibility of leadership and authority in the home. Scripture makes this very clear
Ephesians 5:22-24 - Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
1 Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Why should this be any different in the Church? It is very interesting to note how 1 Timothy 3:1-5, Ephesians 5:22-24 and 1 Corinthians 11:3 all tie in together. All three passages of scripture mention the man in the place of spiritual authority and leadership. Also take note 1 Timothy 2:12 clearly says the man's place of authority in the Church is not to be undermined by the woman. Please understand; this does not mean a woman cannot teach or be in authority in the universal sense. I have worked for women employers in the past, and they were some of the best bosses I ever had! I also wish to mention the governor of my great state is a woman. I want to be very clear, I am not saying a woman cannot get involved, nor be in ministry in the Church. However, I am saying is when it comes to church leadership and direction, scripture mandates the man holds the place of authority and oversight.
As I have mentioned, most people tend to respond by saying this was only for the first century Church of Paul's day. I would like to address this, so let's go back to 1 Timothy 2:12, but we will also look at verse 13 as well. 2 Timothy 2:12-13 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. Verse thirteen is very important. This verse clearly shows this scripture is not just for the first century Church, but also for the twenty-first century Church as well. How, you may ask?
Paul states in verse twelve “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” But notice verse thirteen “ For Adam was first formed, then Eve”. To reinforce his point in verse twelve, the apostle Paul goes all the way back to God's origin of creation in verse thirteen. He is pointing out God's order of creation has not changed from the Garden of Eden to the very day Paul penned this verse of scripture. Question is, has God's origin of creation changed since the time Paul wrote the epistle to this very day? We all know the answer to this, as the nature and character of God never changes, neither does His origin of creation. So this mandate is very much for the Church today.
SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!
Some are also quick to point out the role of Deborah in Judges 4:4 - And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. This is also used as a means to justify women overseers in the Church. However, please take note Deborah was a judge over Israel, not the Church, which did not even exist at that time, so to use this as a defense would be invalid as I am referring to the Church, not the nation of Israel.
This topic will no doubt continue to be debated among many, however, the scriptures make it perfectly clear whom God has appointed in the office of pastor and overseer in His Church. This responsibility has been given by God to the man. There is more I can say to substantiate my point, but for now, I have said enough!
Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!
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