Female Preachers

aggie03 · #1 26th July 2006, 06:09 PM

This is a topic that was raised in another thread. I have created this thread so that we might discuss it more fully, and so that it would be easier to find in the future when we go back to look for it

Originally Posted by cremi

I too, would have said "no" to these questions at one time and have also turned upon further studying, but I have not turned on the elder or the preaching isssue.

Would it be alright to discuss this without it getting heated? So can we start by talking about women preaching? I am asking in all sincereity, because I have not been able to reconcile on that one. For me, women preaching is not acceptable. However, for those of you that see it as acceptable, how did you come to this conclusion?

I am all for talking about this topic. I will tell you to start off with that I do not believe that women may preach in the assembly if men are present.

Splayd · #2 26th July 2006, 06:22 PM

Might I suggest that before we get stuck into it too much, we consider what "preaching" actually is? We have a tendency to use it to mean any number of things. Is a prophet a preacher? Is a teacher a preacher? Is it preaching to share your testimony?

cremi · #3 26th July 2006, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by aggie03

I am all for talking about this topic. I will tell you to start off with that I do not believe that women may preach in the assembly if men are present.

I would agree with you on this point.

For me, preaching is teaching, so when applying 1 Timothy 2:12, I cannot reconcile how a woman is allowed to preach when men are present.

I happen to rank very high in pastoring and prophecy when taking spiritual inventory tests. I do believe God has gifted me that way, but I do not believe that he has given me the authority to "teach" men in an assembly-type setting.

Now, if we are doing a bible study in a home or small group setting, I do feel free to offer opinion or correction, but I do try to step carefully as to not usurp any authority. If that makes any sense???

I do not think sharing a testimony is preaching or even giving a "report" of some kind in the assembly is 'preaching'.

Frame1520 · #4 27th July 2006, 10:05 AM

I would say start out with I Corinthians 14:34-35, and then go to I Timothy 2:12.

Splayd · #5 29th July 2006, 07:35 PM

I keep trying to find the time to address this issue, but alas I'm just too busy at the moment. For now - I'd simply suggest a broader reading of 1 Corinthians to understand the context of Paul's comments. I'd also encourage some study into the use of gifts within the body, the fact that Philips daughters prophecied, the cultural and historical context of women in Jewish synagogues, compared to the freedom they were experiencing in the developing church and Priscilla's role in the NT church. Ultimately, I don't argue for women's "rights" to teach authoritively, but I do think we often take these verses beyond their intent today.

Emeth · #6 31st July 2006, 09:28 AM

Yes..there is a ladder of authority in Creation ie: God-Christ-Man-Woman. However, this does not mean that women are not allowed to teach the Message!

Paul's Commendation of Phoebe Romans 16:1, 2

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. 2 So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.

Peter's Sermon Acts 2:17, 18

17 And it will be in the last days, says God,

that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 I will even pour out My Spirit
on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy

(are we not in the last days?)

Acts 21:7-9

7 When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9 This man had four virgin daughters
who prophesied.

Psalm 68:11

11 The Lord gave the command;
a great company of women brought the good news

Philippians 4:3

3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers whose names are in the book of life.

seebs · #7 31st July 2006, 09:35 AM

Hello! I'm not actually in an RM church, but since I'm temporarily homeless, and I have some RM friends, I thought I'd come over.

I think it's important, in 1st Corinthians, to always read longish passages, because Paul writes often in a style called a "diatribe" in which he presents an argument and then rebuts it.

Consider:

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verses 34-40
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

I think this passage does not entirely agree with the first face-value reading of 34-35 in isolation.

(But at this point, I will stop, because I don't wish to "debate" here without permission.)

SistrNChrist · #8 17th August 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by seebs

I think it's important, in 1st Corinthians, to always read longish passages, because Paul writes often in a style called a "diatribe" in which he presents an argument and then rebuts it.

Consider:

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, Chapter 14, Verses 34-40
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

I think this passage does not entirely agree with the first face-value reading of 34-35 in isolation.

(But at this point, I will stop, because I don't wish to "debate" here without permission.)

You also have to take into account the culture in which Paul wrote this epistle. At the time, women sat on one side of the church while men sat on the other. Therefore, if a woman wanted to say something to her husband, she would have to yell across the room, and as a result, disrupt the service. That is why Paul wrote that specific direction to women.

Frame1520 · #9 18th August 2006, 10:20 AM

The church should not conform to the "cultural norms".

Splayd · #10 18th August 2006, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Frame1520

The church should not conform to the "cultural norms".

Agreed (for the most part), but noone's suggesting we should. The acknowledgement regarding culture outlined in the post above was to highlight cultural reasoning in light of the instruction when it was given, as opposed to conforming to cultural norms today.