Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

Jesus said, “Whoever Teaches”

July 27, 2009 on 6:05 pm | In Women in Ministry | 1 Comment

In Matthew 5 Jesus sat down on the mountain and began teaching the multitude.

We know from several Biblical texts the multitudes who came to hear Him and be taught by Him included men, women, and children. [Matt 14:21, Matt 15:38]

Jesus speaking to the multitude (which most certainly included men, women, and children) said in Matthew 5:19, “Whoever …. teaches” and “whoever keeps and teaches.”

Matthew 5:19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

When teaching the men and women who came to Him on the mountain that day Jesus did not place any restriction on who could teach. Jesus said, “Whoever teaches” in both of His references to teaching.

Can’t you just see the Pharisee’s faces scowling at His words – their faces turning purple with rage. I can see their anger filled faces as they growl, “How dare He not restrict women’s filthy voices from teaching the law!”

The Pharisee’s angry response was based upon the teachings of the Talmud. The Talmud taught “the voice of a woman is filthy nakedness” and “It is a shameful thing for a woman’s voice to be heard among men”. Rabbis widely prohibited women from reading the Torah based on these words from the Jerusalem Talmud “Let the words of Torah be burned up, but let them not be delivered to women.” [Removing the Veil, Margaret English, Chp 5 pg 67]

The more I study the Bible the more I learn how Jesus’ every word flew in the face of the Pharisees and their religious doctrines. I now see how the word’s of Jesus confronted their “doctrines of man” which resulted in their angry response of seeking to kill Him.

I now see how deliberate every one of Jesus’ words were. Each word spoken by Jesus had an intent and purpose. His words truly set the captives free and liberated them from the bondage of the Pharisee’s religion.

I now see how truly radical Jesus and His words were. His radical words confronted religious doctrines which distorted God and His truth. Jesus’ radical words of liberty so greatly angered the Pharisees and the religious of that day that they conspired to kill Him.

When speaking what has become known as The Sermon of the Mt. Jesus not only did not limit who could teach, He also did not limit women to only teaching other women and children.

Jesus gave no limitations or restrictions concerning who could teach or to whom they could teach. Nowhere in the many words spoken by Jesus can any limitation or restriction based upon gender be found.

In what has become known as the Great Commission Jesus said, “Go make disciples from all nations, teaching them ….

Matthew 28:16-20 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Even though this commission was spoken to the eleven disciples no one would dare limit its application to just these eleven (and thus ceasing the great commission at their death.) It’s application and influence is commonly understood to be to all believers and on this basis we still go preaching the gospel throughout the earth and making disciples from all nations.

If the commission to go and make disciples is commonly understood to be applicable to all believers (despite their gender), should not the commission to teach these disciples also be applicable to all? Yes, it most certainly should!

Both the men and women who waited in the upper room received the power of the Holy Spirit to go be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the remotest part of the earth. [Acts 1:8] They were all filled and commissioned to go as His witnesses making disciples and teaching them.

Jesus did not restrict who could teach based upon gender. The Holy Spirit did not restrict who received power to fulfill the great commission based upon gender.

When the church was scattered due to persecution in the city of Jerusalem (both men and women were scattered according to Acts 8:3) those that were scattered went forth preaching the word. [Acts 8:4]

These women were such powerful and effective witnesses of the gospel that Paul sought to bring them bound back to Jerusalem to be put in prison. [Acts 9:2]

These women filled with Holy Spirit power went forth fulfilling the great commission of making disciples and teaching them.

After Peter and John received instructions from the high priest and the council to no longer preach or teach in the name of Jesus they went to their own (all who believed according to Acts 2:44) and reported what had been said by them. When they heard the report they all lifted their voices to God in prayer. One of their requests was to speak God’s word with all confidence. After they prayed the place was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. [Acts 4:23-31]

All – every man and women – who was present in that place was again filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and went forth speaking the word of God with boldness.

What had caused them to pray so fervently to speak God’s word with all confidence – the council’s command to not preach or teach in the name of Jesus. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit these men and women went forth boldly preaching and teaching in His name.

Instead of the believers being silenced they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and went forth preaching and teaching God’s word with boldness!!!

Can Priscilla’s giving instruction to Apollos as a teacher of God’s word be denied any longer? I believe we have seen enough Biblical evidence to support the fact that she did instruct him as a teacher of God’s word.

Acts 18:24-26 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Priscilla and Aquila’s instruction of Apollo was so excellent and thorough that he went forth powerfully refuting the Jews in public and demonstrating by Scripture that Jesus was the Christ.

Paul refers to Priscilla and Aquila as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” [Romans 16:3]

What work was given to the church in the great commission – making disciples and teaching them. Priscilla and Aquila were Paul’s fellow labors as they made disciples through preaching and teaching God’s word in the city of Ephesus.

Priscilla and Aquila traveled from Corinth with Paul to the city of Ephesus where they were left by Paul. [Acts 18:18-19] Paul’s “leaving them there” was not just their going in different directions. Paul left them in the city of Ephesus as laborers in the work of the gospel under his apostolic oversight. In this capacity – as co laborers with Paul in ministry – Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and instructed him more correctly in the Word of God.

Paul, whom many suppose silenced and forbade women to teach men, left a woman in the city of Ephesus as his co laborer in the work of the gospel. This woman co labored with Paul to fulfill the great commission through making disciples and teaching them.

The very church where Paul left Priscilla as a co laborer with him as a preacher and teacher of God’s word is the church where he supposedly in a letter to Timothy forbid all women from ever teaching men. When we connect the dots of this church’s history we must seriously question this assumption.
Paul speaking to the whole church of Rome said, “you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? [Romans 2:21 ]

Again when speaking to the whole church of Rome, Paul makes no distinction based upon gender of whom could preach or teach in the church.

When we consider Paul’s actions – placing women in positions as his co laborers – and his words in his letters to the other churches we must seriously question the assumption that Paul ever silenced or forbid all women from ever teaching men.

Romans 12:6-7 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;

As we have found so many times in the past, the gender specific pronouns of “he” and “his” in this text were added by the translators.

Earlier in Romans 2:21 Paul did not limit or restrict by gender who could teach in the church. In Romans 12:6-7 Paul again does not restrict or limit who can teach. In fact, who can teach is not based upon gender at all in Paul’s eyes – it’s based upon gifting by the Holy Spirit! Let the gifted one teach, let the gifted one prophesy, let the gifted on serve …

1Corinthains 14:26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

This scripture unequivocally dispels any assumption that women are free to preach and teach just not inside the church. When you assemble – when you come together as the assembly of the saints – this assembling together is what we term as the church. When you assemble as a body of believers EACH ONE has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

The Greek word translated as ‘each one’ is ‘hekastos’ which means ‘each (one), every (man, one, woman)’ according to the Strong’s Greek Dictionary.

Again in this text Paul does not limit or restrict who can teach in the assembly of the saints. He says, “each one has a teaching”. When speaking of teaching in the church Paul uses a gender neutral word which has the meaning of ‘every man or woman’. In fact, the only limitation Paul gives in this text is that all things in the church be done for edification.

Which of course brings us to 1 Corinthians 14:34 where Paul supposed silences women from speaking in the church. How can this be the correct interpretation of this verse when the context of the verses surrounding it Paul is speaking of women who prophesy in the church? I do not believe Paul is double minded or speaking out of both sides of his mouth – at one moment speaking of women who prophesy in the church and the next saying these same women must not speak in the church. Paul was not double minded – it is interpretation of scripture which has been double minded.

This is the same Paul who left Priscilla in the city of Ephesus as his fellow laborer in the gospel. This is the same Paul who called Tyrpheana, Tryphosa and Persis workers in the Lord. This is the same Paul who said Euodia and Syntyche shared his struggle in the gospel and called fellow laborers. This is the same Paul who commended Phoebe in her work as a minister of the church of Cenchrea. Would he really now be silencing these women. I think not! [Romans 16:12, Philippians 4:2-3, Romans 16:1]

In verse 34 Paul turns his discourse on the use of spiritual gifts in the church to now address a statement made to him in a letter by the Corinthians. The statement Paul now addresses limited women from speaking in the church. Paul turns to address this statement after speaking to the Corinthian church of women’s freedom to use their spiritual gifts in the church.

Verses 34-35 are a quote taken from the Corinthian letter. Paul could not have possibly made this statement. Paul preached a gospel which freed all from performing works of the law and rebuked those who sought to fulfill the law, he would not now place women under the law or instruct them to keep the law.

In verse 36 Paul begins his answer to the Corinthian church. He begins verse 36 with a word which has been defined by Greek scholars as an “emotional rebuttal and expletive of disassociation. This word’s closest English equivalent is “What?”, “Nonsense!” or “No Way!” Paul used this small (and often not translated) emotional rebuttal and expletive of disassociation twice in verse 36.

Paul’s reply to the statement quoted in verse 34-35 concerning the silencing of women was “What”, Nonsense”, “No way”. He continues his correction by saying, “Was it from you that the Word of God went forth?” and replies again by saying “What”, Nonsense”, “No way”. Paul ends his correction by saying, “Or has it come to you only?”

Paul was NOT silencing women in the church – he instead spoke a strong rebuttal to those who would!!!

Galatians 6:6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

In this text Paul does not limit or restrict who can be taught or teach according to gender. Paul gave no restriction which limited women to only teaching other women or children.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

When writing to the whole church of Colossae Paul again places no limitation based upon gender who could teach. All were told by Paul to let the word of Christ richly dwell within them and to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.

We do not limit or restrict the surrounding verses in Colossians 3 from applying to women. We do not limit or restrict women from the exhortations to put on the heart of compassion, to bear one another’s burdens, to forgive each other, or to love one another in the perfect bond of unity. How can we then ignore the freedom scripture gives for women to teach?

Which brings us to 1Timothy 2:12 and its assumed restriction of women teaching.

In order to understand Paul’s words to Timothy we must first examine the context in which they were spoken. We find this context in 1 Timothy 1:3 where Paul urged Timothy to remain at Ephesus so that he could instruct certain people to not teach strange doctrines.

The gender specific word ‘man’ as used in most Bible translations is an incorrect translation. A non gender specific word is used by Paul when speaking of those whom he urged Timothy to instruct to not teach strange doctrine.

Paul in 1Timothy 2:12 instructed Timothy to not allow a certain woman who was teaching strange doctrine of domination of men or who dominated over a man to not teach and to remain quiet until she had submitted and received instruction.

Paul did not write a universal all inclusive command restricting all women from teaching and from holding positions of leadership in the church. He wrote instructions to Timothy concerning a certain woman or certain women who were teaching error and were in need of his instruction before being allowed to teach again.

It was at Ephesus that Apollos received instruction from Priscilla and Aquila. He was not restricted from ever teaching when they took him aside and instructed him in the way. He went forth after receiving instruction boldly proclaiming the word of God and refuting the Jews from the scripture.

Neither would this woman / these women be restricted from ever teaching again. Once they submitted and received instruction they would be free to go forth teaching just as we say with Apollos.

2Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Again the gender specific noun “men” is an incorrect translation. Paul uses a non gender specific word which carries the meaning of “human being”. Thus, Paul instructs Timothy to entrust to faithful men and women who are able to teach others the things he has heard from him.

Paul did not limit by gender whom Timothy was to entrust to teach others the things he had heard from Paul. Paul did not limit or restrict who could teach or whom they could teach. The only limitations Paul gives is faithfulness and ability to teach others.

2Timothy 2:24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

According to Acts 2:18 the Lord’s bond-servants are both men and women. Paul says the Lord’s bondservants – which include both men and women – must be able to teach.

How can the church continue to restrict women from doing the very thing – teaching – which Paul says they as the Lord’s bondservants must be able to perform? They do so through concentrating on one verse which seems to say women are restricted by Paul from teaching and ignoring the rest of Paul’s words concerning women and teaching.

When we consider all Paul says about teaching we find women are not excluded or restricted by him. In fact, we find he EXPECTS women to be able to teach!

Many would limit women’s teaching to consist of only teaching the younger women to love their husbands and children and to be workers at home based upon Titus 2:3.

Yet, we know Priscilla instructed Apollos – a man – and surely she did not simply instruct him to in the areas prescribed in Titus 2:3.

Paul instructed Timothy to entrust faithful man and women with all he had heard from Paul so that they could teach others. These faithful women were not limited to instructing only the areas prescribed in Titus 2:3. These women taught others all Timothy had heard from Paul and then entrusted to them.

When we look at the whole counsel of the word we find that women are not limited to teaching only what is prescribed in Titus 2:3. Titus 2:3 simply tells just one of the many functions of teaching which women perform as the Lord’s bond-servants. Women are not limited to this one and only function of teaching. No indeed, women continue to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and go forth as His witnesses preaching and teaching.

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

The author of the book of Hebrews says those to whom this letter is written ought to be teachers by this time.

Surely, the author of this letter was not writing this exhortation of the supremacy of Christ as our high priest to men alone. This letter of exhortation most certainly is written to all believers – both men and women. Thus, the author of this letter expected both men and women to be teachers by this time and was disappointed that they were not. This author expected the Lord’s bond-servants to be able to teach, just as Paul had instructed them in 2Timothy 2:24.

When we considered the whole counsel of the word of God women are not limited or restricted from teaching in the church.

Jesus did not limit or restrict women from teaching. He said, “whoever teaches”. The Holy Spirit empowered women to fulfill the great commission, be His witnesses, make disciples and teach them, and to speak the word of God with all boldness. As the Lord bond-servants women were expected by Paul to be able to teach. Timothy entrusted faithful women with all he had heard from Paul in order for them to teach others.

It is time to loose God’s women to teach in order for them to fulfill the command of God upon their lives as His bond-servants. It is time for the church to lift the limits and restriction they have incorrectly placed upon women.

Let the church consider the whole counsel of God’s word and no longer restrict or limit women from exercising the gift of teaching.