Women Teaching and Preaching in the Church

Women Teaching and Preaching in the Church

Alexander MAK

In the last decade, the issue of women preaching has become more heated with large volumes of anthologies being published by both egalitarians and complimentarians. The focus of the debate often centers on two New Testament passages: 1 Timothy 2:11-14 and 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36. This paper also focuses on these two passages, but does so by first giving attention to the following three areas: (a) the process of oral transmission of Jesus' teachings; (b) the authorization and appointment of teachers ; and (c) the method of instruction in the church and the home.

Jesus never wrote a book; he transmitted his teachings orally to his disciples. The only way for the early church to have access to Jesus' teachings was through the careful oral transmission of apostles and teachers who had such knowledge. A number of New Testament passages show that the apostles and teachers who had firsthand knowledge of Jesus' teachings were held in higher regard than those who received it secondhand and those who were further down the line of transmission.

The teaching ministry in the church was carried out by those who were trained and appointed to be teachers (bishops/teaching elders). It was either a part-time or full-time work as it involved much study. This type of training would have been much more rigorous than the type of training a Christian woman would receive from their husbands at home. Also, in the line of transmission, women in the church were, in a sense, “last” to be taught in the church. These reasons form the background to why Paul forbade women to teach in the church.

In 1 Timothy 2:11-14, the Adam and Eve argument is interpreted not in terms of the order of creation, but as an analogy that was applicable to the first century situation, in that Eve's information about the prohibition was secondhand as she received it from Adam. Thus, Eve was deceived, but not Adam. The situation was similar to that of the first century where women were the “last” to be taught in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:33b-36 forbids a woman to speak in the church because their lack of understanding of the word would interrupt the meeting and betray their ignorance. Not only would this bring disgrace upon herself, but also her husband who was supposedly her teacher .

As to how 1 Timothy 2:11-14 and 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36 applies to us today, the article closes with the argument that if oral transmission is no longer our method of teaching, if women can have equal opportunity as men in receiving rigorous training in the word of God, then there is no reason why we cannot allow women teachers in the church today, provided that they are faithful teachers.