Page 668 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WOMEN PREACHERS

Third, in 1 Timothy the Apostle gives the very same emotional, psychological, and rational makeup are
instructions concerning women, and this epistle was said geared perfectly for this, but she was not designed for
to have been written to teach the proper order for churches leadership. In the garden of Eden the devil deceived her.
in general (1 Ti. 3:15). The things contained in 1 This was not true for Adam. He sinned, but he was not
Timothy are general instructions about church order to deceived. Eve had allowed herself to be thrust into a
be obeyed by all churches in every century; and it is in position of decision making she was not supposed to
this book, the book which contains standards for church occupy. It is no coincidence that women have been
leaders, that God has forbidden women from taking responsible for starting many of the false Christian
authority over or teaching men. movements and have played key roles in spiritism, new
Fourth, in giving the instructions about women in the age, mind science cults, and such. Human nature has
church, the Holy Spirit referred back to the original order not changed and neither has God’s restrictions against
of creation—Adam first, then Eve. The Holy Spirit, in women preachers.
guiding Paul’s pen, used this order of creation to prove Seventh, Paul commanded that his instructions were to
that women must not take authority over men. be kept until Christ’s coming (1 Ti. 6:14). This command
Therefore, since the order of creation has not changed is given at the end of the epistle in which the Apostle
since 1 Timothy was written, and since it does not had so clearly required that women be in subjection to
change in our culture or century, we know that the men in the church (1 Ti. 2:9-15). Since Jesus has not yet
instructions of the New Testament about the woman’s appeared, we are to continue to maintain these
role in the church apply to us today. restrictions.
Fifth, Paul referred to man’s fall to support his teaching Eighth, Paul’s letter to Corinth, in which he spoke of
regarding the Christian woman’s subjection to the man (1 women being in subjection to men, was for all Christians,
Ti. 2:14). Again this shows that the Apostle’s teaching not just those in Corinth. In his introduction to this
about the woman transcends any one culture or epistle the Apostle tells us plainly to whom he is
generation. Though we have been saved from the speaking: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,
eternal consequences of the Fall when we receive the to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
Lord Jesus Christ, we are still living under the abiding saints, WITH ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON
consequences and conditions of the Fall as long as we THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, both their’s
remain in this world. Redemption has three aspects that and our’s” (1 Co. 1:2). It is clear that Paul’s instructions
must never be confused—past, present, and future. The were not intended merely for some peculiar situation at
three are seen in Romans chapter eight. Ro. 8:1-10 Corinth.
speaks of the past aspect of our salvation—we have Ninth, while Galatians 3:28 says there is neither bond
been saved from the eternal consequences of sin. nor free in Christ, other passages teach that this does not
Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us on the mean there are no servant/master relationships. The
Cross we have been made eternally free from any fear of Christian servant is free in Christ—free from the eternal
the wrath of God or punishment for our sin by God’s wages of sin—but he is not free from his earthly
holy law. Hallelujah! Ro. 8:11-17 speaks of the present position and responsibilities of servitude toward his
aspect of our salvation—we are being saved from the master (Ep. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-25; 1 Ti. 6:1, 2; Tit. 2:9-10;
power of sin in our daily lives by the Spirit of God who 1 Pe. 2:18-25). In fact, anyone who teaches against
indwells us. Ro. 8:18-25 speaks of the future aspect of these instructions regarding submission of servants to
salvation—we will be saved from the very presence of masters is labeled proud and evil. See 1 Timothy 6:1-5.
sin when Christ gives us our resurrection body and These are strong words, and they refer directly to those
comes to renew this fallen creation. We have eternal who try to contradict the Apostle’s teaching requiring
redemption right now as a present possession, yet we subjection of servants to masters, such as those who
still “groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, promote communistic “liberation theology,” and those
to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). who stir up all sorts of strife between workers and
Likewise, the woman who trusts Christ receives eternal business. These words also apply to those who are
freedom in Him from the wages of sin, but she is not yet trying to throw off the apostolic teaching referring to
free from some of the consequences of Eve’s rebellion in woman’s subjection to man in the church and home.
the Garden of Eden. She still is to be in subjection to the Such are proud, ungodly, and destitute of the truth, and
man. are to be separated from! We can see how serious this
Sixth, Paul referred to human nature to support his matter is. Galatians 3:28 says there are no servants and
teaching regarding women (1 Ti. 2:14). The woman has no freemen in Christ, yet other New Testament passages
a different makeup than the man. She was designed for teach there are indeed Christians who are servants and
a different role in life—that of a wife and mother. Her Christians who are masters. Galatians 3:28 also says

668 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity