A Few Thoughts About Women in the Church Service
A few passages illustrating a different opinion:
B1 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 MKJV Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says. 35 And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church.
C1 Perhaps these women would interrupt the speaker to give their opinion or perhaps some other disturbance.
C2 Perhaps these women had an evil attitude.
B2 1 Timothy 2:12 MKJV But I do not allow a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence.
C1 The Greek word αὐθεντέω authentéō has the following meaning:
D1 One who with his own hands kills another or himself
D2 One who acts on his own authority, autocratic
D3 An absolute master
D4 To govern, exercise dominion over one
C2 This would suggest the dictator leadership style as in
D1 3 John 1:9 NKJV I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
D2 Preeminence or being first has the idea of seeking power for himself, thus a dictator. Be careful of those who seek power.
D3 A warning: 3 John 1:10-11 NIV So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
B3 A typical comment: The uniform testimony of the NT is that while women have many valuable ministries, it is not given to them to have a public ministry to the whole church. They are entrusted with the unspeakably important work of the home and of raising children. But they are not allowed to speak publicly in the assembly. Theirs is to be a place of submission to the man. (Bible Believers Commentary note on 1 Corinthians 14:34)
Yet, we have this passages
B1 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 NIV Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
B2 Luke 2:36 NIV There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
B3 Acts 21:9 NIV He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
B4 Acts 2:17-18 NIV In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Some examples of what prophesy means
B1 Luke 1:67 NIV His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
C1 He prophesied about his son, John.
C2 He spoke of his ministry so agreeing with the prophets in the Old Testament. See Isaiah 40:3-5.
C3 Compare: Luke 1:41 NIV When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
C4 Compare: 2 Peter 1:21 NIV For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
B2 Luke 22:64 NIV They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
C1 Jesus was blindfolded. He could not know who hit Him.
C2 Prophesy here would mean to know something beyond what our senses can. Here by divine assistance.
B3 Luke 2:36 NIV There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
Some other verses:
B1 1 Corinthians 14:3 NIV But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
B2 Romans 16:12 NIV Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
A Few Thoughts About Women in the Church Service
Women, Church service