Just the Bible
F a l s e t e a c h i n g s e x p o s e d
Women in Leadership
1 Who is allowed to be an elder?
2 What roles do men and women have?
3 Why shouldn't women lead?
4 What about Deborah, Miriam, etc.?
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1 Who is allowed to be an elder?
1st Timothy 3,1-7
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of GOD? 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1,5-9
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of GOD; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
According to GOD's will, every Christian comm should have elders or church leaders as overseers. The duties of an elder primarily include teaching and instructing the believers in GOD's Word and guiding them to a holy and godly lifestyle. To become an elder, a person must fulfill certain requirements clearly stated in the New Testament. Among other things, it states that an elder should be "the husband of one wife." This formulation makes it clear that the office of elder is intended exclusively for believing men. This is also supported by the use of the pronoun "he," as well as the requirement that an elder should rule his household well. This task, in turn, is reserved only for men, since according to GOD's will, the man is to be the head of the wife.
Wives of elders are not considered elders, even if they may support their husbands with advice and action. Accordingly, the wife of an elder does not possess the authority of an elder. No reason is given why the qualifications for elders would apply only to a specific congregation or only in a certain culture; especially since Paul repeats the same requirements in Titus. They are therefore universally valid. In this respect, GOD recognizes only men as elders. Women, however, are not intended for this role. Violation of these requirements constitutes a disregard for the church order established by GOD. Feminism, which is increasingly spreading in more and more societies and emphasizes the role of women in leadership positions, is also a direct rebellion against GOD'S order of creation and therefore has no place in a Christian assembly.
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2 What roles do men and women have?
Genesis 2,21-23
21 And the Lord GOD caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord GOD had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Adam and Eve were the first people GOD created. First, GOD created man, then woman. This already demonstrates the natural order of creation, according to which, according to GOD's will, man should be the head of woman. While Adam was created by GOD from the dust of the earth, GOD formed Eve from Adam's rib. The Bible says that, according to GOD's will, woman should be the helper of man. As such, a woman stands at her husband's side, not above him. Furthermore, it was man to whom GOD gave the privilege of naming the animals in the Garden of Eden. In Hebrew, "human" (Adam) and "man" mean the same thing. Therefore, these two terms are often used synonymously.
Men and women are fundamentally equal before GOD, and their respective services are of equal importance to the church. Nevertheless, according to GOD's will, women should submit to their husbands in everything. This makes men neither better nor more valuable than women. Rather, GOD assigns roles and authority in the church according to the natural gender-specific gifts and strengths of men and women. This does not mean that there are no women who are theoretically capable of teaching or leading. Nevertheless, according to GOD's will, men should serve as leaders and women in support roles. GOD expects us to humbly acknowledge His ordinances, even if they deviate from our personal ideas and ambitions. GOD knows us humans best and therefore knows how men and women tick. In this way, God wants to ensure harmonious and peaceful coexistence. This, in turn, should contribute to the optimal building up of the church. The roles and services for women in the church include:
→ pray 2nd Corinthians 11,3
→ prophecy 2nd Corinthians 11,3
→ instruct/guide younger women Titus 2,4-5
→ Giving birth and raising children 1st Timothy 2,15
→ provide practical service / provide support / take care of food supplies Proverbs 1,8 / Proverbs 6,20 / Proverbs 31,10-31
→ Exercise spiritual gifts; except teaching/leading 1st Corinthians 12
→ share the gospel Acts 18,26
Genesis 3,16
16 Unto the woman He (GOD) said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
1st Corinthians 11,3
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.
Ephesians 5,21-23 + 33
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of GOD. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 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. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (...) 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
1st Peter 3,1-6
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of GOD of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in GOD, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Over time, GOD's order of creation became increasingly perverted. Immediately after the Fall, GOD showed Adam and Eve the consequences their disobedience would have for them and for humanity: It states that woman would exalt herself above man. "Desire" (Hebrew: teshuqah) does not refer to sexual desire between man and woman, as the context makes clear. Rather, it is about exercising power, control, and dominance over man, which a woman is not entitled to.
At the same time, GOD indicates that the man will rule over the woman according to His will, i.e., be master over the woman. The word "will" can also be translated as "shall." It expresses the natural destiny of the man as head of the woman, as the New Testament also confirms. That the man should be the head of the woman represents a universally valid ordinance; just as Christ is the head of the man and GOD is the head of Christ. As such, it is independent of historical and cultural background. Furthermore, Paul commands that men should love their wives as Christ loves the church. This, too, makes it clear that this is a general commandment, not limited to a specific group of people.
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3 Why shouldn't women lead?
1st Timothy 2,11-14
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
The ancient Greek word "goonay" can be translated as both "woman" and "wife." In this case, it refers to all women; not just married ones. In both Semitic and Greco-Roman cultures, women had extremely limited opportunities for education; quite different from today. While men, especially from wealthier families, received an education, women often had no education at all. Therefore, Paul's instruction that women should learn can be considered progress, given the social circumstances of the time. Like all Christians, believing women should learn continuously and undisturbed in order to grow in the knowledge of GOD and His Word. Paul does not fundamentally forbid women from speaking in the congregation—as is common in some churches—but merely from interrupting without being asked, thereby disrupting the meeting. If women don't understand something, Paul recommends that they ask their own husbands at home.
On the other hand, Paul explicitly forbids women from both teaching and leading (ruling). Paul bases this instruction on the original order of creation. This order of creation clearly shows that GOD first created man to be the head of woman. This order of creation has universal applications, both in the family and in the church. Paul cites Eve's deceit as one reason why women should not serve as pastors or have spiritual authority over men. Accordingly, women should not teach because they are more easily misled; this is repeatedly confirmed by practice (especially in charismatic circles). Paul's command that women should guide younger sisters and children refers to setting an example in the way they live, not to teaching the Word (Titus 2:3 f.).
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4 What about Deborah, Miriam etc.?
Judges 4,4 f.
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
2nd Kings 22,14
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college; and they communed with her.
Luke 2,36 f.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served GOD with fastings and prayers night and day.
Deborah was the only female judge among 13 male judges. Miriam, Huldah, and Hannah were the only female prophetesses among dozens of male prophets mentioned in the Bible. Moreover, a prophet is not automatically an elder. Miriam was Moses and Aaron's sister and led the women's hymns and dances. She was not the leader of the congregation. Athaliah and Jezebel—the two most prominent women during the reign of the kings—can in no way be considered role models for female leaders. Both the kingship and the office of (high) priest were reserved exclusively for men. All of the apostles Jesus personally chose were also men. Likewise, only male elders are mentioned in the New Testament. In contrast, there is not a single example of women as leaders. This continued with the post-apostolic "church fathers" into modern times.
Furthermore, the authority of women in the Old Testament is not relevant in the context of elders. The letters to Timothy and Titus present the Body of Christ as a new model order for GOD's church. Furthermore, the Mosaic Law is only a shadow of what is perfect. Many laws and commandments were given for a limited time (see the right to divorce, the right to polygamy, the right to revenge, etc.). Therefore, Israel and the Mosaic Law do not serve as a standard for Christians, and examples like Deborah and others do not serve as a model for the church today. In the book of Hosea, we read how GOD commanded the prophet to take a prostitute as his wife. This was not only a sin according to Mosaic Law, but also absolutely socially frowned upon. However, it shows that GOD allows exceptions under certain circumstances without abrogating the rule.