In my previous post, I discussed my basic reasons for advocating for women speaking in the church. Now, moving deeper into the issue, I’ll start with the basics: What are preaching and teaching?
There are differing opinions on women’s roles in preaching and teaching. Some believe women can preach but not teach, while others see preaching and teaching as synonymous and interchangeable. Therefore, they believe women can do neither, that is, if men are involved. Of course, as most agree, they can teach other women and children.
Confusion arises when we intertwine our cultural values, traditions, and worldly ways with the teachings of Scripture instead of seeking to understand the Bible within its context.
So, let’s start by covering the basics to do our due diligence. What exactly constitutes preaching? How should teaching be defined? Are preaching and teaching synonymous, or do they hold distinct meanings? Let’s look further into this matter.
Does Speaking Equal Authority?
In this post and any subsequent posts, unless I specify otherwise, I’m referring to women teaching men whenever I mention women preaching or teaching.
Some maintain that women shouldn’t preach or teach because these roles are linked to having authority over others and women aren’t to have authority over men. I’m not sure where this idea originates as preaching and teaching in the Bible aren’t associated with ruling, power, or authority.
I suppose it may come from 1 Timothy 2:12, but the Scriptures don’t establish this connection. Sure, prophets, apostles, and overseers had direct authority from God to instruct the church, giving it directives concerning obeying God’s commandments and practical matters (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Jn. 5:13; 2 Thess. 3), but that was mainly to build up the church in its early stages (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:10-11; Eph. 4:11-12; Eph. 2:19-20).
Additionally, the believers dwelt together in a communal environment, where they shared everything they owned and lived in close proximity to each other (Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35). Therefore, they faced unique challenges within their community (1 Cor. 6:7; Acts 6:1; Matt. 5:25; 1 Cor. 5:11-12) that aren’t typically experienced by those of us who only see each other briefly once or twice a week, often portraying a false image of ourselves.
They required initial instructions for establishing and managing the church, along with practical advice on interacting with each other in daily life. I imagine the elders might have held the same type of function in those situations as the Old Testament leaders, who judged matters concerning God’s people (Ex. 18).
This kind of authoritative instruction was not the responsibility of a pastor, preacher, or teacher, but rather of the apostles, overseers, and elders whom the Lord himself appointed (Acts 1:2; Acts 20:28; Mark 3:13-19).
Today, this is rarely the type of teaching and authority many refer to when they oppose women speakers. So, it seems this misconception—associating authority with speaking within a church— has been perpetuated without factual basis. Nevertheless, for the sake of argument, I’ll entertain it.
How do preachers use this authority? In what ways do they exercise this “male-specific” power over individuals in the church? Be sure that those who preach or teach shouldn’t rely on their own authority but on the Spirit’s (Acts 1:8). Furthermore, the Apostle Paul stated:
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Cor. 3:5-7 NIV)
We could very well switch out the names “Apollos” and “Paul” in the above passage to “man” and “woman.” “What is man? And what is woman? Only servants.” Together, they are one, with one purpose (v. 8). The ultimate authority lies with God, not with humans, and he imparts it through his Spirit to make the message powerful and effective (Is. 55:11; Jer. 15:16; Jn. 6:63; Heb. 4:12; Rom. 1:16) to edify his church and to lead the lost back to him—not so that a preacher can rule, or “have authority” over others.
Additionally, given that the Spirit of God transcends human gender, if you’re delivering a message or guidance under a “gender-specific” authority, then frankly, I’m not interested, as it doesn’t originate from God.
The Lord’s ultimate desire for mankind is repentance (Acts 17:30). Using human lips, he pleads for our reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20). People of all nations must be turned back to serving him alone, and he won’t be constrained by human flesh in this process.
So again, when we open our mouths and speak his Word, the Lord has the authority, not us.
It seems this debate is heavily influenced by human pride, which leads mankind to elevate ourselves and each other above God. However, we are merely vessels. In the Potter’s hands, the clay is completely under his control. So, if he wants to fashion a female preacher from it, he can, but she will still have no authority over anyone, the same as a male preacher.
What is Preaching?
The Greek word translated as preaching is kerusso (κηρύσσω). The term kerusso means “I announce, make proclamation, or publicly command.” It carries the idea of a herald or town crier. Heralds—messengers or ambassadors—were often appointed by kings to make announcements during tournaments and wars.
A town crier, a town official who would walk along the streets announcing news, often good news, would cry out “Oyez! Oyez!” (“Hear ye!” “Hear ye!) to get the people’s attention before making a proclamation.
These titles are often used interchangeably, but it’s been argued that though they are similar, they are not the same. Nevertheless, both convey the idea of kerusso, which describes the job of one who is sent by an authority to announce an authoritative message.
A preacher, then, is an announcer of news or information. Mary, sent by Christ, informed the Apostles about the joyful news concerning his resurrection from the dead (Jn. 20:11-18). Therefore, like it or not, Mary, a woman, preached; and she preached to men within the church or ekklesia—-the assembly of believers.
In Luke 4, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah,
““The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”“ (vv. 18-19 NIV)
Afterwards, he sat down and announced, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (v. 21) He didn’t teach anyone anything. There was no instruction involved. He simply preached or “proclaimed” this good news.
When we declare any part of the Gospel, we are merely relaying the news, affirming the truths about our Lord. For generations, the people of God, both men and women, have been continuously spreading this good news as first told by the original eyewitnesses, and we will continue to do so, united as one body and one voice, until his coming.
Regardless of how some twist verses to support their belief that women shouldn’t preach, there are no prohibitions against women preaching anywhere in the Bible. Absolutely none.
What is Teaching?
Next, let’s look at teaching. The Greek word usually translated as teaching in the New Testament is didasko (διδάσκω). The term didasko means “I instruct, direct, explain, or teach.” What is being taught? What is it that one instructs or explains to another?
Often, in accordance with the Gospel, they are teaching God’s principles, his will, and his commandments, and explaining how to live according to them (Matt. 5:19; Rom. 2:21-22; Matt. 28:20; Titus 2:7; 2 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:16; Prov. 22:6; Psalm 78:5; Ex. 18:20; Rom. 15:4; Hebrews 6:1-2; Deut. 4:8-13).
Let’s be for real. A biblical saint’s concept of teaching probably didn’t require one to exegete a passage and explain how it benefits us. It’s unlikely that their references to teaching were envisioning a situation, where someone would stand behind a podium in a prominent position before a congregation, reading from a book assembled by later Christians, containing the Torah, personal accounts of their own lives, and letters to specific churches.
No, the teaching they would have mentioned and the teaching that Jesus and the saints imparted, were aligned with God’s commandments. They were essentially fundamental principles for daily living and the truth of the Gospel.
From Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and Paul’s warnings against drunkenness and idolatry, to Titus’ guidance on self-control, faith, love, and endurance for men, and respect, sobriety, and homemaking for women (Titus 2), biblical teaching is firmly grounded in God’s divine principles.
If any teaching emphasizes man-made doctrines that come from seminary training, theological terms and ideas that are only understandable to a select group of MDiv graduates, teachings that stress personal gain, or doctrines that rely on personal experiences and traditions, then be sure, these teachings are not from the Lord. As a result, such teaching is irrelevant, and it makes no sense to argue about it in the first place.
On a separate note, I think the word “teach” often triggers thoughts of a traditional classroom environment, where a teacher leads, guides, and imparts knowledge to students. While we typically associate “teach” with a classroom setting and a key individual instructing and disciplining students, this image doesn’t always align with the diverse ways teaching, or instructing can occur. In reality, it can encompass a broad range of scenarios beyond this conventional setting.
A person can teach or instruct another in anything or about anything. Therefore, instructing can refer to a more general concept such as directing someone to do something. For instance, Mary and the other women instructed Jesus’ disciples according to his instructions.
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matt. 28:8-10 NIV)
Did these women not instruct these men? Did they not give them a directive? They did, and the men obeyed. But, as with all authoritative preaching and instruction, the fact that they were the King’s words is what made them authoritative. Over no one did they, themselves, have authority.
So, women not only preached to men in the church but also provided instruction to them. While there may be debate over the interpretation of “didasko” in 1 Timothy 2:12, the reality is that this particular verse in the Bible, supposedly addressing women teaching men, doesn’t specify the nature of the teaching or instruction involved—at least, not in any of the translations available to us.
Don’t just take my word—check out the commentaries. How many of them discuss details of this “teaching” with Scriptural support?
Now, I trust that Paul was a wise and intelligent man. He wouldn’t have left such an important detail to Timothy’s imagination. I believe he stated plainly what he means, but we just have yet to understand it.
Nevertheless, if one infers from the text that women should not teach men—without specific instructions it would be a universal ban on women directing men. This would mean that a woman is not to instruct a man in anything or about anything, under any circumstances, ever.
However, we know this is inaccurate based on the above passage and other relevant verses. Therefore, it’s absurd to assert that women can’t speak about God, based on these translations and interpretations.
And don’t give me that spiel that “he’s talking about in church when everyone is gathered together,” because they were always gathered together. They were the assembly, or the “church.” So whatever instructions he gave were for everyday life, not what we think of when we think of “attending church.”
No, it’s not a matter of splitting hairs. It’s just that in Christianity, obvious truths are often ignored and dismissed in favor of clinging to traditions and personal interpretations.
Women As Teachers In The Bible
To reiterate, many teachings within Christianity today are irrelevant, since many teachings stray from biblical doctrine. So, if one says, “Women aren’t supposed to teach,” the first thing we should ask is what kind of teaching are they referring to? Is it biblical or unbiblical? If unbiblical, such is the case with the doctrine of “election,” no one should be teaching it, man or woman.
If biblical, the Bible mentions different types of teaching (Deut. 4:9-10; Deut. 6:6-7; Ex. 18:20; Psalm 34:11; Matt. 5:19; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 5:42; Acts 17:10-11; Titus 2; Rom. 15:4; Eph. 6:4). Who are you and I to determine with full authority what kind of teaching 1 Timothy 2:12 refers to? Also, does it refer to a woman giving a one-time or temporary instruction to a man, in a specific situation, or to her teaching on an ongoing basis?
Clearly, these are basic questions that need answers from scripture, not from assumption or opinion. Surely, if you’re going to ban someone from doing something and claim that God is the author of the command, you’d want to be sure your facts are 100 % accurate.
Furthermore, in some cases, I may have to agree with you. Obviously, a woman shouldn’t teach a man how to love his wife and provide for his house. That’s a job better suited to a man, not a woman. Similarly, women, not men, should teach other women how to treat their husbands and children, and to do other “womanly” things. Those are just practical tips and common sense that can be applied to all generations and cultures.
The Lord, however, can and has used both men and women to reveal his will and explain the principles of his kingdom to his people. It is God who gives wisdom, grace, and understanding to a person so that they can effectively and simply communicate his Word to his flock.
Being “ordained” by human beings or holding a degree from the Master’s Seminary or similar institutions, does not grant the qualification to teach.
Who are teachers and instructors? Per Scripture, apostles (Acts 5:17-25), prophets (Ex. 24:12), evangelists (Acts 8:26-40), and pastors (Jer. 3:14-15), can all be teachers by God’s grace (Eph. 4:11).
However, the Bible is full of common instructors who were effective and authorized by the Lord to direct others in his ways, including women who instructed men in righteousness such as Abigail (1 Sam. 25) and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26), and women who revealed God’s plan such as Huldah (2 Chr. 34).
Additionally, in 1 Peter 3:15, the author, whom we assume to be Peter, addresses everyone, both men and women, and states,
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV).
The initial point to emphasize is that he is talking to everyone. Second, it’s important for everyone to always be ready—that means in whatever setting—to offer a defense to any person, regardless of gender.
The third observation we can make is that a well-prepared defense for the faith will certainly involve preaching and teaching. Therefore, we can draw this conclusion from Peter: Anyone should be ready to preach and teach to anyone else, anywhere, at any time. Hence, in the words of Apostle Paul, “What then shall we say to these things?”
Somethin’ ain’t right.
Are Preaching And Teaching The Same?
Teaching and preaching are not the same thing (Matt. 11:1; 1 Tim. 4:13; 1 Tim. 5:17), but they go hand in hand. Chances are, when someone proclaims something, people are going to want more information or for them to elaborate on it, explain it, or provide reasoning.
Throughout Scripture, we see that prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles both preached and taught. For the maturing and edification of his people, God has used, and will continue to use, both men and women—boys and girls even if he chooses—-to preach and teach.
I believe a primary problem with the persistent belief that women aren’t allowed to preach or teach to men, whether in a congregation or, as some apparently believe, even on platforms like YouTube, stems from the discrepancy between our perceptions of teaching and preaching and what is actually outlined in the Bible. Thus we deviate from God’s intentions and the effects are detrimental.
In the end, to make such claims shows that we don’t really know the God we claim to worship. Because no matter how wild our imaginations are, the Almighty God who created and sustains all things, who transcends creation, cannot be limited by human gender.
If you disagree with anything I’ve said, point out my lie or my misunderstanding for yourself.
Otherwise, I urge you: Stay away from these women and leave them alone. Because if this plan or activity is of human origin then it will come to nothing. But if it is from God then you cannot stop these women. You will only find yourself fighting against God (ref. Acts 5:17:42).
Don’t find yourself fighting against God by relying on the understanding of men.
In the next post I’ll address some common arguments that oppose women preachers and teachers.
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