"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18

Any teacher requires some sort of authority; for example, a school teacher requires authority from the community. A college professor requires authority from the university board, and that means someone does not have permission to just walk into a classroom and start teaching without first having authority by those in charge. A man could have 15 PhDs from universities around the world, but if he doesn't have permission to teach in a school, he's not allowed to teach there. Likewise, we Christians have a source of authority for our teaching, and that is the Word of God; if anyone claims to have an authority apart from the Bible, then they have no Biblical authority.
(Read "Who is an Authority in the Church?" here at creationliberty.com for more details on church leadership authority, and how it is commonly abused by corporate churches.)

This subject is NOT about ability. This subject is about authority.

So this comes down to a simple question: Do women have teaching authority in the New Testament? In this article, we'll explore many verses throughout the Bible on the subject of authority over women, and address unbiblical arguments from rebellious, unchristian sources.

Before we begin, we need to establish that this is not some misogynistic (i.e. hating women) article to oppress women. Many people pose questions that are designed to see who's better between men and women, but since the creation of mankind, there has been a separation of roles, and therefore, the two can't always be compared in the same way.

For example, ask a farmer the following question: The problem with asking whether a bull or a cow is better is that the value is always placed on the need. If you need work labor or meat, a bull is a better option. If you need milk or an increase of population, a cow is better option. One is not better than the other, but they are both necessary to complete specific jobs.

Neither men nor women are better than their counterparts; both fulfill specific roles that the other cannot. Men can't do everything women can do, and women can't do everything men can do, and that's something children understand from basic observation. This is the way God designed us to function in this world, and we either accept our given roles based on His authority, or we run off to worldly traditions, reject His authority, and seek our own path (which is what most people in this world will do).

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
-1 Peter 3:7

In mankind, women are the weaker vessel, and despite "femi-nazi" movements that try to defy that truth, it should be obvious to a five-year-old that men are stronger. There's a reason they separate a men's and women's categories in the Olympics, and other sports organizations. It is for this reason that men are instructed to give honor to the wife, obeying the Scripture to love them according to the knowledge of the Word.

However, the weakness is not just in strength of muscle concerning the flesh. Women naturally have a gentle and emotional approach to situations, no matter how tough one may try to appear, which can also make them more susceptible to being deceived. I am not writing this because it's just what I personally think; it's what the Bible tells us, and to understand it, we need to start in 1 Timothy.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
-1 Timothy 2:1-7

Paul is saying that he was ordained a preacher and apostle by the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a teacher for the Gentiles.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
-1 Timothy 2:8-9

Paul tells men that it is pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ for them to humble themselves in prayer and faith. Also that women do the same in humbling themselves, and notice he says "in like manner," which is different, but not the same because men tend to pride themselves on strength, whereas women tend to pride themselves in beauty.

We all need to humble ourselves, and Paul is making a differentiation between specific weaknesses of men and women separately, and how they need to humble themselves. For women, he continues to explain that if she claims to be a Christian, she should focus on good works:

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
-1 Timothy 2:10

There are many things listed under the category of "good works" in Scripture, but Paul gave a context earlier in this chapter of his authority as a preacher in Christ, and you can read more about that in our article: "The Christian Work Ethic." Paul comments further, and just as a reminder, this is coming from the inspiration and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
-1 Timothy 2:11-12

The context of this passage is specifically pointing to the authority of teaching when concerning the preaching of the Word of God. This doesn't mean women can never teach anything; the Word of God is telling us that women do not have the authority to teach over men in Scripture, and we are given an explanation for this:

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
-1 Timothy 2:13

There are two important points here that need to be emphasized. First, woman is made to be a help meet.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him... And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
-Genesis 2:18-23

meet (adj): fit, suitable, proper to use and purpose
help (n): aid, assistance
(See 'meet' & 'help', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved May 6, 2015 [webstersdictionary1828.com]).

Woman was designed with the specific function of being a proper and suitable aid to men, and no one else is more qualified for that particular job. From the very beginning, women were designed to help, not to take over leadership.

As we covered in our article "Hair Length in the Bible," the woman keeps long hair as an outward sign of humility that respects the authority over herself. And Paul tells the Christians in Corinth:

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
-1 Corinthians 11:7-9

Suppose you are a programmer and design a program for your home computer, but when you fire up the program, it tells you that it is going to now change all your settings in your computer to its own liking and run your computer how it sees fit. This is a program you would end up deleting from your computer because you did not design the computer for the program, but the program for the computer, and though this isn't a perfect analogy, it can help us see that women who usurp the authority Christ has given to men are also usurping Christ.

And the second point:

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
-1 Timothy 2:14

Women are more susceptible to deception because she is the weaker vessel, and Satan knew this, which is why he chose to trick Eve instead of Adam. Adam transgressed as Eve did, but the difference is that Adam knew full-well what he was doing when he ate that fruit, but Eve was deceived by Satan's words. Still today, Satan uses men and women alike to tug at the heart strings of women with new-age false doctrine, and the Bible warn us about the deception of the heart:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
-Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, so because of that, women become more prone to that deception because they are designed to be tender and gentle of heart. That tenderness and gentleness is a great asset in certain situations, especially during times of injury and illness, but when it comes to truth and Biblical division, it can be a hurdle.

I remember being in the middle of a debate on morals, and a woman spoke up and said, "Why can't we all just get along?" Why is it she asked that question, and not: "What is the truth of this matter?" Because to her, it was more important that everyone was united and happy together, even if it was under a lie, more willing that we not talk about those issues, so long as everyone was feeling good, and that is one of the many problems that occur when women take up teaching authority in the Body of Christ.

After Adam and Eve had sinned by eating the fruit in the Garden of Eden, notice what the Lord God said to him:

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:
-Genesis 3:17

Most people think Adam was somewhere else in the Garden while Satan was tricking Eve, but there is no indication of that; Adam stood by and did nothing, not putting a stop to the situation as a man should, and listened to his wife instead of the Lord God. The first sin for mankind involved man listening to the woman, instead of the woman listening to the man.

And this leads us into the final verse of 1Ti 2:

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
-1 Timothy 2:15

There have been numerous false doctrines arise because of this verse, and we have to slow down and make sure we understand this properly because most Christians make the mistake of thinking every verse that uses the word "saved," means the salvation of the soul. "Saved" has many different meanings, and it's not always talking about the soul. After Adam and Eve had sinned, each were given specific curses that carry on to us still today.

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
-Genesis 3:17-19

Adam was cursed for HIS OWN SAKE, meaning that it was for his own good that the ground was cursed. Any parent who has dealt with young boys knows that the best therapy for them is work because the less they have to do, the more they get in trouble.

Likewise, when women do not have enough to do, they also will get into trouble, typically becoming what's called a "busy-body."

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
-1 Peter 4:15

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
-2 Thessalonians 3:11

busy-body (n): a meddling person; one who officiously concerns himself with the affairs of others
(See 'busy-body', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved May 6, 2015 [webstersdictionary1828.com]).

Officious means offering help or advice in affairs that one has no business being involved in, but generally, busybodies don't do much of anything concerning real work, and definitely not good works, which is what a Christian woman is supposed to adorn herself with. These busybodies almost always involve themselves in "tattling" and "talebearing," which we typically know as a gossip, speaking things they ought not.

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
-1 Timothy 5:13

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
-Proverbs 20:19

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
-Leviticus 19:16

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
-Proverbs 26:20

Just like men, women also get themselves into trouble when they don't have enough to do, which is why the virtuous woman works with her hands:

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
-Proverbs 31:10

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
-Proverbs 31:19-20

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
-Proverbs 31:27

There are many verses I wanted to include, but read through Proverbs 31 for yourself and you'll see all the specific things that keep her busy. The virtuous woman constantly creates with the work of her hands, and cares for her family, the poor, and the needy.

When the Bible says she is saved through child-bearing, she is saved from deception. When she has a family to care for, she doesn't have time to be a busy-body, or to get involved in the affairs of others, and thus she protects herself from Satan's devices.

This doesn't mean that all women must have children, but women should find work to do with their hands. Always have a project to work on, something to accomplish or create. Finding others to care for, even if you're a single woman, is healthy for a woman who wants to be protected from corruption of the flesh.

So let's recap again, in context of teaching and learning, the Bible teaches us:

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
-1 Timothy 2:11-12

So Paul, through the inspiration of the Lord Jesus Christ, tells us that he does not suffer women to preach and teach the Word of God in authority over men. It says specifically to "learn in silence," but it doesn't say "never speak." It means that the virtuous woman learns the Word of God with a meek and humble spirit in quietness.

As a quick reminder, this does not mean women are lesser than men, and they should be given honor and love as everyone else because all brothers and sisters in Christ are heirs to the promise.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Galatians 3:26-28

This is in context of the spirit. Spiritually, there is no male and female separation, but when we are in the flesh, there is a difference, and we are instructed to act according to our role. When mankind denies the role they've been given by the Lord God, they deny the Lord Jesus Christ, and specific to this article, when women step up to take on a role that was not given to them, they not only deny the Lord Jesus Christ, but they also push men out of the role they were given by God.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
-John 14:15

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
-John 15:10

Can women be statesmen and police officers? Of course -- there's no Biblical reason women cannot be in positions of leadership in the world, but concerning the Body of Christ, she is to be in submission, and those who truly love the Lord Jesus Christ will not attempt to usurp the authority given to men.

This subject is NOT about ability. This subject is about authority.

With all this understanding, it is simple to conclude that a woman being a pastor in a church building is a clear violation to New Testament instruction; the problem is those who are UNWILLING to acknowledge it. Not only pastors, but women are also not permitted to be elders, and we'll need to read carefully out of Titus 1 to understand this:

For this cause left I [Paul] thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
-Titus 1:5

Paul explains that he gave instructions to ordain elders. He then continues to describe those instructions:

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
-Titus 1:7

In most church buildings I went to early in my life, the average church-goer could not tell you what a bishop is, or if they described it to you, they would be fairly shaky in their words because they didn't really have a good understanding of it. Here, we just saw Paul give us the context of ordaining elders, and he used the term "bishop" interchangeably with "elder," which means bishops and elders are the same thing.

This can be taken further because in all church buildings I've ever been in, the pastor is automatically considered an elder. Because of this, women are in double violation, as they are not to be teaching in authority over the men, and they are not to be elders in leadership.

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
-Titus 1:6

Did that say the wife of one husband? No, it said the husband of one wife, which means women are not qualified for this position.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
-Titus 1:9

Leadership positions within the Body of Christ are strictly forbidden for women to take, yet, many women ignore the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, and rebelliously usurp authority that does not belong to them. They rebel against the Word of God because they care not for the things of God, and they reject the role He gave them.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
-1 Samuel 15:23

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
-Hosea 4:6

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
-Mark 7:9

For example, the "Reverend" Kathryn Riss tells readers the following on her website:
"While the New Testament does not tell us specifically what pastors did, we do know that both men and women provided spiritual leadership for churches which met in their homes. In the early church, almost all Christian meetings were held in private homes. Among these house-church pastors was Mary, the mother of John Mark, who later became a missionary with the apostles Paul and Barnabas. It was to her house church that Peter came in Acts 12:12 after an angelic visitor set him free from prison. The Bible says that many had assembled there and were praying, no doubt petitioning God for Peter's release. Their prayers were answered!"
-Kathryn Riss, "Women Pastors In The Early Church," God's Word to Women, retrieved May 7, 2015, [godswordtowomen.org/pastors.htm]; The title of "reverend" is an unbiblical title for mankind; Read "Titles Are Unbiblical in the Church" here at creationliberty.com for more details.

Before addressing her argument, I laughed when I read the end of this because I find it funny when preachers, especially rebellious ones like Riss, do a little change of topic in a paragraph to get people to not think closely and carefully on what they're saying. How many were assembled there, and what they were praying about, is irrelevant to the topic of her article and the arguments she's trying to make.

An angel led Peter out of prison, and out of the city, safely, and afterwards...

...when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
-Acts 12:12

Go read Acts 12 for yourself from start to finish, and you'll see that it simply says that Christians were gathered together at John's mother's house to pray. Allow me to repeat once more what the rebellious female pastor argued: "... women provided spiritual leadership for churches... Among these house-church pastors was Mary," which means that this woman made up the position of "pastor" and "spiritual church leader" for Mary, even though the Scripture never said that.

In logical terms, this is called the "Fallacy of Presumption." (Those more versed in logical argumentation would know it as a "Converse Accident.") For example, the typical presumption fallacy would go like this:

Congressmen wear suits. Mary wears a suit. Therefore, Mary is a Congressman.

That doesn't logically follow; simply putting on a suit doesn't make you a Congressman, nor does it give you the same authority. Likewise, here is Riss's thought process:

A pastor rules over the house where Christians meet. Mary has a house where Christians meet. Therefore, Mary is a pastor.

This is ludicrous, especially when we consider that the information Riss claims to be in Scripture does not exist at all. What's really sad and childish is that she attempts this same argument multiple times.

What I would like to do this time is quote the Scripture first, have you read it, then read what Riss has to say, and see if you can point out where she is presuming things to be true:

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained [urged/compelled] us.
-Acts 16:14-15

And here is the rebellious woman's teaching:
"Acts 16:14-15... tells us about Lydia, Paul's first European convert to Jesus, who offered Paul hospitality in her home. Scripture relates that when Lydia was converted, her entire household was baptized and that her home became the first meeting place for European Christians. Lydia was a business woman who traded in valuable, dyed garments. The fact that Scripture mentions no husband or father indicates the high prominence of this woman... By virtue of her position as head of household, Lydia had the opportunity and responsibility to lead all of its members to Christ and then to establish and lead them in the faith. This put her in a similar position to the modern-day pastor... This may have been the first church planted on European soil, and its pastor was a woman."
-Kathryn Riss, "Women Pastors In The Early Church," God's Word to Women, retrieved May 7, 2015, [godswordtowomen.org/pastors.htm]

She ASSUMES that Lydia's home was the first meeting place for Europeans. She ASSUMES Lydia was of high prominence. She ASSUMES Lydia was the leader of the Christians there. She ASSUMES Lydia's position made her the equivalent of a modern-day pastor.

This is assumption after assumption after assumption, and all are Riss's attempt to justify herself in her unbiblical, self-proclaimed authority. Though Riss has more examples with the same fallacy, I'd like to quote a different rebellious woman with the same argument so we can see how these women teach false doctrines in the exact same way.

A woman by the name of Gayle L. Bobino, who calls herself a "pastor" of ROTKU Christian Center (claiming herself to be "obedient" to Christ) contacted us after reading our article and directly told me via email that I do not read, nor understand, the Scriptures in this matter. In her letter to me, Bobino said that Romans 16 speaks of a female pastor, and so that justified herself to be a female pastor, but let's take a closer look:

(Bobino's speaks out against the 501c3 Devil's Church, but promotes 501c3 organizations -- beware of the deception.)

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
-Romans 16:7

Junia is a Greek name that is attributed to the pagan god "Hera," so Junia is almost certainly a female, but again I ask the reader: Where does this say that Junia was a pastor or leader over the Church of Christ? Bobino attempts to emphasize one portion of this verse: "of note." It says that Junia, and Andronicus, were of note among the apostles, which means the apostles took notice of their works, and that is the very subject matter (context) of what Paul was writing:

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
-Romans 16:3-5

Notice that it does not say that Priscilla nor Aquila were teachers or pastors, it simply said there was a church in their house, that is, where they meet. (And it was extremely dangerous in that day to host a group of Christians in your home.) Aquila may have been a teacher or pastor, I don't know, but Priscilla would not have been. The only thing it tells us is that they were helpers to Paul on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they laid down their own lives for him, which makes those who Paul lists out here of note among the apostles.

Further still, it doesn't even say that Junia and Andronicus were apostles at all; it says they were fellowprisoners (kinsmen who were born-again), that are of note among the apostles (meaning that the apostles took note of them, not that they were a part of the apostles) so Bobino's claim to female pastoral teaching positions above the men is based on her own assumptions and imagination.

Bobino also bases her position as a "pastor" on Acts 18, claiming that Priscilla taught Apollos in authority. Let's read it for ourselves:

And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila... And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
-Acts 18:18-28

Again, where does this say that Priscilla was a pastor, or had authority over the Church of Christ? It was both Aquila AND Priscilla who approached this Christian and introduced him into the network of Christians who would help him as he preached, but nowhere does it say they were pastors, nor does it say they were even leading any body of believers, and it certainly does not say that Priscilla had authority of leadership over the Body of Christ.

These are not weak arguments, these are arguments based on imagination.

Both Riss and Bobino use Chloe as an argument:

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
-1 Corinthians 1:10-11

Again, I ask the question: Where did this passage does it say that Chloe was a pastor, elder, or leader in the Body of Christ?

It's sad and shameful that I would need to explain this at all to these rebellious women, but it's obviously to a ten-year-old that there are no claims made to authority in these verses. Paul was simply informed that there were contentions among the brethren in the house of Chloe, that is, Christians who met in her home. It does NOT say Chloe was the pastor of a church in her home, and if we read carefully, it does not say that Chloe was even the one who wrote to inform Paul of the problem.

These women who claim to be obedient to Christ are actually rejecting His authority, and they need rebuke; rebuke that, in all my experience of talking with female pastors, they 100% refuse.

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
-Titus 1:13

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
-1 Timothy 5:20

Not only are there many women who are defying the Lord Jesus Christ by claiming themselves to be "pastors," there are many men who are making excuses for these women as well. However, I first want to show an example of how someone who teaches that women should not usurp authority can deceive Christians.

For example, 501c3 preacher Gregory Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason Ministries, is incredibly deceptive in his teaching on the matter of women teaching. He brings up the matter of 1Ti 2:12, but confesses some personal struggle with it, so he claims the Word of God to be "mistranslated." "I personally think the word 'men' and 'women' are mistranslated here." -Gregory Koukl, "Should Women Teach in Church?" Stand To Reason, Mar 12, 2013, retrieved July 11, 2017, [str.org/articles/should-women-teach-in-church#.VVI67PlVhBc]

First of all, notice that he says "I personally think," which means what he's teaching is not based on facts, but what he personally wants to believe. If you continue to read through his teaching, you'll see he uses the "original Greek" scam, a method used by preachers who don't believe in the perfect and preserved Word of God, using Greek grammar dictionaries to define his new-age versions, misleading people and creating false doctrines that suits his personal thoughts. In his article, Koukl decides to change the words "man" and "woman" to "husband" and "wife."
(Read "The 'Original Greek' Scam" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)

Koukl confesses that he changed these two words on his own at his own discretion, but then concludes by saying:
"1 Timothy 2 talks about the relationship between husband and wife; it’s chapter 3 that talks about church leadership."
-Gregory Koukl, "Should Women Teach in Church?" Stand To Reason, Mar 12, 2013, retrieved July 11, 2017, [str.org/articles/should-women-teach-in-church#.VVI67PlVhBc]

Koukl was correct that chapter 3 talks about church leadership, but the first half of 1Ti 2 talks about Christ, and the second half talks about women specifically. The only reason he claims that 1Ti 2 talks about a husband/wife relationship is because he changed the text! What's sad about this is how many people Koukl deceives in his teachings because I had a man write me trying to defend Koukl on this topic, claiming Koukl was a man "faithful to the text of Scripture," when the truth is if you go read Koukl's teaching, he changes the text of Scripture to his liking.

God's Word in 1 Timothy 2 are clear, but it's quite common to see rebellious preachers perform mental gymnastics to try and get the Bible to say something other than what it clearly says, or at least, play the Greek game to change God's Word to make themselves seem really smart. On the other hand, some preachers, like Ray Stedman, just state their opinion as authority:
"Women can teach within the context of church meetings. They are certainly free to teach children and other women without question, but are free to teach men as well if what they are teaching is not a challenge to the understanding of doctrine held by the elders of the church... I, personally, thank God for the gifted woman teachers among us at PBC..."
-Ray C. Stedman, "Should a Woman Teach in Church?" Discovery Publishing & Peninsula Bible Church, Nov 21, 1976, retrieved Jan 19, 2013, [http://www.ldolphin.org/woteach.html]

This ministry claims to be "following Jesus," but they reject Christ's authority in the Body. Let's read it again:

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
-1 Timothy 2:11-12

Did you read any exceptions in there? Did he say she was to learn in silence UNLESS she has elders backing her, and as long as they approve her message? Again, these arguments are being made up out of nothing.

James Choung believes that God's Word just isn't clear enough to be understood about women teaching (after quoting chapter 2), but that we should go ahead and allow it in the church anyway.

"So, at the very least, the Bible is unclear about the prohibitions on a woman’s leadership and teaching. But, the rigorous study of the Scriptures -- and not the dismissal of problem passages -- led me to believe that women should be able to lead and teach at all levels of the Christian community. So, men, allow the women to lead and teach, even when they are called to the senior pastor position." -James Choung, "May Women Teach?" jameschoung.net, retrieved May 11, 2015, [jameschoung.net/may-women-teach.pdf]

Choung might as well rip 1 Timothy 2 out of the new-age corrupted NIV he loves to use so much because, in the end, he doesn't even believe what it's saying. In reality, most of these preachers and evangelists are afraid of the blowback from women, and that fear traps them in false doctrine.

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
-Proverbs 29:25

The fact that men are too afraid to say what's right is what gives some of these women rise to usurp authority that doesn't belong to them; because they want to see men doing what's right. If men would speak the truth, we wouldn't need girls to try to do our job.

Taking Scripture Out of Context Men and women alike have taken certain verses out of context to create extremes. Some wacky churches out there don't allow women to speak at all based on verses like 1Cor 14: 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. -1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Reading only this verse, many people take away that women are not allowed to speak at all. This is incorrect. If we go back and read all of chapter 14, you'll notice that the context is concerning speaking in tongues. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. -1 Corinthians 14:27-28 But because women are not to be in teaching authority over men in the church, therefore, they are not to speak in tongues (which is speaking different languages; it has nothing to do with the modern-day gibberish). We need to be more careful to rightly divide the word of truth when we study. (Read "Speaking in Tongues" here at creationliberty.com for more details) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -2 Timothy 2:15 Why was Anna not condemned in Luke 2 for prophesying and evangelizing? Why did Paul not scold Philip's daughters for prophesying in Acts 21? Because women can prophesy, and the New Testament has many examples of women who were knowledgeable in the Word of God and sought to lead others to Christ, but they were also in submission and willing to obey. The problem we have with these modern-day female pastors is that they falsely claim to be called by God to teach and lead, which is a flat-out lie, and they lie continually to others when the Spirit of God is not in them. These women do not have authority to teach the Word of God over men, and lead over men, in the Body of Christ, and that means pastoral and elder/bishop roles are out of the question.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
-Proverbs 21:9

There are some brawling women out there who hate the fact that they're women; they don't like being ruled over, and they don't like having authorities over them. So they reject their God-given role, and instead adopt a self-proclaimed, unbiblical authority that doesn't have any blessing of the Holy Spirit.

(Christian Scott Rodriguez rebukes "pastor" Dayna Muldoon live on stage during one of her sessions.)

Muldoon invited Rodriguez onto the stage because she claimed she had an important message to him from God, and it was a false positivity new-age message. After she was done with her false message, she invited Scott to say something: MULDOON: "Thank you tonight, I appreciate you very, very much. God bless you, you wanted to say something?" Rodruiguez: "I just wanted to say that yes, I did talk with her last night, and I didn't know much about her ministry. She was kind enough to give me as many materials as she could on the spot, and her men were perfect gentlemen to me inside. And for the rest of these seven days she's here, any of you that come, and any of our friends that come, we need to be deeply respectful, we need to show an intense love to them, but above all of those things, we need to spend all of our time at the deepest place of prayer, praying that God would indeed protect all those who hear this false message that comes from her lips. Because God's message is not miracles, but that the shed blood of Jesus Christ would cleanse humble sinners, and when miracles are emphasized, Jesus is denied."

I don't know if Rodriguez is correct in everything he teaches, but he was 100% correct in his words on stage. I'm not saying that men do not preach similar false messages, but the authority of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the One from whom we pull all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and when a woman throws that authority behind her to take on a role she was not given, she will be blinded to the Word of God.

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
-Matthew 16:4

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
-2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

When miracles are emphasized, Jesus is denied. Immediately, after teaching them the truth in loving rebuke, the women in the audience, following after this false female pastor, begin to stand up, yelling railing accusations at the man, (if I heard right, I believe one woman kept calling him "traitor") and even banded together to lay hands on him in attempt to physically remove him from their revival tent.

Continuing, MULDOON @1:23: "And his blood is upon his hands, not mine. We thank you Father God in Jesus' name, you are rebuked! You are removed from my tent! And if you don't believe in miracles, you will need a miracle one day... and when he needs it, he'll know not to come to my church." (The women then begin to crowd around him to lay hands on him to physically remove him from the tent as he tries to give them the Word of God.)

Notice that she said it's HER tent, and HER church; not the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This helps to prove the point I'm making, that these women hate authority and power over their heads, and they need rebuke.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
-Titus 2:14-15

Yes, many women will sneer at you for telling the truth. Yes, they will yell at you. Yes, they will hate you. But we Christians do not fear men nor women; we fear God.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
-Psalm 111:10

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
-Psalm 118:6

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
-Proverbs 29:25

If your mother or sister or niece or aunt or grandmother or daughter or any other woman's personal feelings about you are more important to you than the truth, then you are not worthy of Jesus Christ.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
-Matthew 10:37

Open rebuke is better than secret love.
-Proverbs 27:5

This is not about "women vs men;" this is about "women vs God." The Word of God is very clear on this matter, and I'm not sitting here telling women they need to get in submission to men, but they need to get into submission to Jesus Christ and stop trying to usurp His authority.

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
-1 Corinthians 11:3

Women do not always like the station in life they are given, and likewise men do not always like the station in life they are given either. At times, men have thought that it must be so much easier being a women, and women have thought that it must be so much easier being a man. Both have their pros and cons, so we should just submit to Jesus Christ, accept the role we are given, and be grateful for it.
(It is women who have most of the privileges, not men. Men have always been incredibly under-privileged. Read "Feminism: Satan's Plan to Destroy Your Family" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)

If you are a woman reading this, and you don't like that you are not eligible to be the leader of a church, I'm sorry, but that's the way God designed it. There are Christians that still have homosexual temptations from before they were saved, and I'm sure they don't like the way God set it up, but they have to submit to His design of marriage. There are Christians that still have alcohol addictions from before they were saved, and I'm sure they don't like the way God set it up, but they have to submit to His design of sobriety. There are many things we want our own way, but our duty as Christians is submit to Christ's authority and design for our lives.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
-Ephesians 4:14

Some of you may be a little torn on this because you may have heard a woman "pastor" preaching and she preached the truth, and you learned something from it. Let's take a close look at Acts 16:

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days.
-Acts 16:16-18

This woman was possessed with a demonic spirit, and practiced her witchcraft for her masters, but she spoke the truth concerning Paul and the others. What did Paul do when this woman spoke the truth?

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
-Acts 16:18-20

Paul rebuked the demon within her. Even though she may have said something true, it doesn't mean that she still wasn't possessed with uncleanness in the spirit, and thus it is true for these women usurping authority that doesn't belong to them.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
-2 Corinthians 11:13-15

To your eyes, they may look good, and they may look right, but the end of their ways is death.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
-Proverbs 14:12

Could there be some female pastors that are born-again? Sure, that's possible, but if they are born-again in Christ, then Christ will chasten them.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
-Revelation 3:19

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
-Hebrews 12:6

But if these female pastors aren't chastened by the Lord God for their iniquity, the Bible tells us they are not daughters in the Lord Jesus Christ:

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
-Hebrews 12:7-9

If they don't receive the chastening of God, they are not children of God, and a lack of chastening may seem good for the moment, but in the end it's grievous:

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
-Hebrews 12:11

Those who are chastened properly in the Lord Jesus Christ, if they will repent and get right with His Word (i.e. exercised thereby), then you will see the fruit of righteousness come from them. But until they stop usurping Christ, these female pastors are simply liars that will deceive the flock if we are not cautious to sanctify ourselves by purging out the leaven.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
-1 Corinthians 5:6-7

Some church-goers say, "But our elders approve of our female pastor, so that makes it acceptable." No it doesn't because now your authority is a group of men rather than God. If the Bible is supposed to be our final authority in ALL matters of faith and practice, then it doesn't matter if 99% of Christians are in support of female pastors, because God's Word trumps the authority of men.

In the end, what they're really trying to do is justify themselves for their unbiblical choices of taking on a female pastor hireling. They don't want to endure sound doctrine, and they turn to teachers that will tell them the things they want to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
-2 Timothy 4:3-4

In their refusal to hear sound doctrine, I have seen some church-goers say, "But she's such a good speaker." I know of some women who are betters speakers than men, but, one more time, her speaking ability is not the determining factor for her authority.

This subject is NOT about ability. This subject is about authority.

Some women are left confused with how they can do good things for the sake of the Gospel, but if you believe the only thing anyone can do for the Gospel is be a "pastor," then you must not have studied the Bible much. Even though she is the weaker vessel, women can be a powerful testimony though God:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
-1 Corinthians 1:27

Women can be charitable, and they can prophesy, which is giving the Word of God for warning, edification, and rebuke.

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
-1 Corinthians 14:1

For those of you who are married, there is one aspect that few Christian women seem to understand, and is almost never taught the new-age movements:

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
-Revelation 19:9

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
-Revelation 21:9

The Body of Christ, we believing Christians as a whole (i.e. the church), are the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that means Christ, just as John the Baptist before Him (Jhn 3:29), spoke of the joining of the saints with their Savior as a marriage. In perspective, the Christian husbands in marriage demonstrate to their children, and to the rest of the church, how Jesus Christ ought to act towards the church in truth, sanctification, and love, but the Christian wives potentially have a greater role in our modern wicked American society of leavened churches, and that is to demonstrated to their children, and to the rest of the church, how the church ought to act towards the Lord Jesus Christ in submission to Him.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
-Ephesians 5:22-27

And in today's American society, the proper role of a wife in submission and reverence to her husband has been severely broken, and likewise, we have also seen church-goers turn away from the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ to new-age charismatics, doing what feels good to them over what the Word of God teaches. When a Biblical born-again woman gives an example to the world of how she treats her husband, with submission and reverence, that in turn gives an example to all those who claim to be Christians of how the church is supposed to act towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Read "Feminism: Satan's Plan to Destroy Your Family - The Biblical Role of Men" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
-Ephesians 5:33

This is another reason Christians need to get a King James Bible, because many new-age versions change this to "respect her husband." Respect is a word that has been watered down, and used in TV and music to claim that everyone must respect one another, but reverence is a completely different concept.

reverence (n): The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him.
(See 'revere', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved July 9, 2014 [webstersdictionary1828.com])

You can respect a co-worker, but that doesn't mean you reverence them.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
-Ephesians 5:22

I'm not saying that this is easy to do, especially when men make mistakes, or forget their duty towards their wives, but women ought to judge themselves first, and so we should each examine ourselves to see if we're standing on Biblical grounds.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
-2 Corinthians 13:5

Hellywood TV and movies have done significant harm to American Christians humbling themselves in their Biblical proper roles, which is why I advise Christians to stop watching television. And not just them, but music as well. They always portray the independent career woman with an "I-don't-need-a-man" attitude to make themselves feel superior towards men.

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 18:3-4

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
-1 Peter 5:5

Remember who it is we are all submitting to, and who we are pleasing:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
-Colossians 3:18-20

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
-Hebrews 6:11

QUESTION: Is it acceptable for women to teach children's Sunday school?

I think there's a more important question that needs to be asked first: Should we have children's Sunday school? Because there is nothing in the Scripture concerning such a thing, nor did the Jews ever have anything like that in the Old Testament. In most cases, children's Sunday school is a day care center for parents where they don't learn much of anything.

When a child is old enough to know right and wrong (age of accountability), they ought to be sitting and learning with the adults, memorizing the Scripture and hearing righteousness preached from when they are young.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
-Proverbs 22:6

This means they ought to be hearing the same Scripture adults hear on a regular basis. Children often have an easier time memorizing things, thus if they learn good teaching from the God's Word early on, it will follow them as they travel through life.

These 501c3 church buildings, with all their leaven and corruption, spend less time in the word, and more time setting up arts and crafts for children, like pagan Christmas (Yule) decorations, than teaching them truth and righteousness. They spent most of their time singing about how much Jesus loves them, instead of learning the commandments of God which will prepare their hearts for repentance and salvation.

So if we should have a Sunday school for young children, is it alright for women to teach them? Let's read carefully:

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
-1 Timothy 2:11-12

Who is she usurping authority over? Men, not boys.

Until they are fully grown, women have full authority over their children, and even after they're grown, those children have commandments concerning their parents.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
-Exodus 20:12

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
-Proverbs 1:8

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
-Proverbs 23:22

This is repeated in the New Testament as well:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
-Ephesians 6:1-2

The purpose is for mothers and fathers to raise up sons who will one day be guides and teachers to other Christians around the world. This is not being done in modern-day "day care" Sunday schools in these leavened church buildings, and is best done at home by the parents, and if it is kept within the family structure, there really is no question of mothers teaching their children.

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