What Does the Bible Say About Women Preachers?
It is remarkable how much culture impacts the church in every generation. One of the issues now confronting Christians is the ever-increasing use of women as preachers in denominations. The pressure to be politically correct has kept some from speaking clearly about this matter lest they be viewed as male chauvinists or as discriminating against women. The reality is not “What does our culture demand?” but “What does the Bible say about women preachers in the assemblies of the church?”
Today, it is not uncommon to find women preachers.
The answer is found in Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. The apostle mentions, in more than one place, of that time when the whole church came together in one place. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, he described the abuse they had made of the Lord’s Supper in that assembly, and then instructed them as to how it should be observed properly.
Then, in 1 Corinthians 14:23-40, he addresses behavior in worship again. Because of the abundance of spiritual gifts (1:7 shows that no N.T. church had more gifts) the worship was chaotic (14:26). He regulates this by giving specific instructions to those who spoke in tongues, the interpreters of tongues, the prophets and the prophets’ wives who were part of the problem. Tongues speakers were told to limit the number to two or three of them, and if there were no interpreters present they were not to speak at all. Prophets were told to be limited in the number who spoke unless something was revealed to another prophet in the assembly. The wives of the prophets (let your women, with the antecedent your being the prophets) were told to not interrupt their prophets but to ask their husbands, the prophets, questions when they got home.
The key verse to answer our question is found in the last phrase in verse 35. The prophets’ wives could not speak because “it is shameful for women to speak in the church” (1 Cor. 14:35). All women are included in these words. Two verses later, Paul shows that this was not a cultural, optional matter, but “the things I write unto you are the commandment of the Lord.”
Keep in mind that this letter was written to a Greek society where women were far more prominent in society than in a Jewish world (see Acts 17:12, 34). Paul’s words were against the normal practice in the culture of Corinth! His instructions are not tied to culture, but to the law (14:34) and to the commands of Jesus (14:37). Suggesting these words only deal with a first-century Greek culture ignores what God said.
What did God say about women preachers? That is all that matters. God said, Let your women keep silent . . . for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”