Search the Scriptures: April 1, 2001
WOMAN’S ROLE IN THE CHURCH - 5
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another edition of the bible study
program - Search the Scriptures. On behalf of the Danville church of Christ, I am delighted to
have you join us in our continuing series of a woman’s role in the church. Today’s study marks
the fifth sermon, and we have one more to go. In next week’s study we will examine the words
of Paul as he wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 14:34-35 where he said: Let your women keep
silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the
law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home;
for it is shameful for women to speak in church. In that study we will note some modern and
commonly accepted positions and then we will conclude with a contextual study of the verses
and show their current applications. But, today we wish to continue the theme we began
developing last Sunday.
B. Some might question the need for such a study as this. Others simply wonder what would
prompt one to spend as much time as we have on the role of women in the church. If you have
been with us from the start of this series, then you know we pointed out from the beginning that
we are attempting to defeat the success of feminism as those successes impacted the role of
women in the church. Feminism, from its inception, had as its goal the restructuring of society
from one recognizing and respecting the different roles men and women occupied into one that
was genderless. And, whenever a society became genderless [that is, without clearly defined
roles and responsibilities] - then it wouldn’t be long before the church experienced these
changes. The church of the twenty-first century is feeling these changes, because many among us
have no misgivings about changing the clear and distinct teaching of the bible to fit society’s
changing mores. The bible, however, reveals in Heb. 4:12, for the word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
My friends, if the bible were a dead document, then it could be molded to accommodate
changing trends and customs. However, it isn’t a dead - lifeless - archaic document, yet, this is
precisely how those who have sought changes in the established divergence of roles between
men and women in the church have treated the bible. To them the bible is a dead letter, and it
needs to be resuscitated with the breath of modern feminism. This is why more and more women
(and men) are saying what a sister-in-Christ wrote in a popular magazine among brethren some
years back that we read in our last study. She said, “I believe it is time to reconsider (and stop
assuming) in practical terms the attitudes and restrictions (spoken or ‘understood’) imposed
upon Christians who are women. Let us not be afraid to re-examine the Scriptures to determine
what is God’s law and what is the tradition of men. I believe the Lord and His church are being
robbed of much talent and ability which should be utilized.” Good people, we do not have the
liberty to alter, amend or change in any way what God’s word says about the role of either men
or women. And, insofar as a woman’s role and her accompanying responsibilities in the church
are concerned there are relatively few germane verses. First there are the verses outlining that
men and women share absolute equality in spiritual blessings, such as. Gal. 3:27-28 that says,
for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. And there is the statement of Peter when he said in 1 Pet. 3:7 of husbands and
wives who were Christians that they were heirs together of the grace of life. Without a doubt in
the New Testament whenever and wherever the gospel was preached both men and women
equally were partakers of its blessings. Acts 5:14 says and believers were increasingly added to
the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. Also, Acts 8:12 says when they believed Philip
as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both
men and women were baptized. In Christ there is absolute and unabridged equality of men and
women. Yet, there are certain verses outlining constraints or restrictions placed upon women by
God pertaining to their role. To deny this is to deny the bible! Three such verses are, first: 1
Tim. 2:11-12. These are words we’ve read several times over the past few weeks. This text says,
let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to
have authority over a man, but to be in silence. The second is, 1 Cor. 11:3, I want you to know
that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
And, then there is 1 Cor. 14:34, which says let your women keep silent in the churches, for
they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. My friends,
in our history there have been those who have not been able to reconcile equality of blessings
with some distinctions of roles. Often this ignorance results from mental laziness. Some who
claim to be Christians are often too lazy to study the bible, and as a result are the most
unenlightened as to its teaching. For example, some have completely rejected the equality of
blessings and banished women to second class citizenship. That is, some people, throughout
the years have taken the position that a woman could neither sing, nor articulate any words when
the church was assembled. That is, from the moment she entered the building, a woman was to
become mute. Instead of confessing Christ a woman could only nod in affirmation when asked if
she believes Jesus is the Son of God. And, some congregations, especially in the past, segregated
the genders during worship, with women sitting to the left and men to the right. In these
churches, and in this atmosphere neither women nor girls were encouraged to study their bibles.
In these churches brethren spent considerable time debating whether songs written by women
could even be sung. Such narrow-minded approaches to the understanding of women’s role in
the church cultivated a fertile breeding ground for feminism. That is, when ignorant men [and I
don’t mean stupid, I mean uninformed men], began taking such unscriptural and unreasonable
positions, this created a climate for the liberal views being promoted by the agents of change
among us. And, therefore, today because of the influence of feminism in our culture, many are
redefining the role of women within the local church. And, this redefining of roles has led to
the appointment of women as elders and deacons in some churches of Christ This has also given
rise to wholesale rebellion within many Christian homes. Men and women today, in the church,
are beginning to view marital roles as partnerships, resulting in homes with two-heads. But, my
friends, a two-headed home is a monstrosity totally unable to survive. Also, this influence of
cultural feminism has caused many churches to begin having congregational meetings in place
of business meetings, where men and women (boys and girls) all have an equal say. (Sort of a
one-person, one-vote democracy). In many churches women outnumber men, resulting in female
rule, even where there are men serving as elders. This ought to disturb any who are wise enough
to see what’s happening.
C. Ladies and gentlemen, in our last study we began focusing upon women of the New
Testament, because it is apparent that women occupied a prominent role in the first century
church. It is equally obvious that she was able to do this without leaving her place of submission.
And, this place of submission is clearly drafted in the verses we noted earlier. 1 Tim. 2:11-12,
which reads, let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to
teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. My friends, please remember that
submission is a noun with the prefix SUB, which means “under or beneath.” The woman is
under the authority of man, and she is NOT to have authority over a man. Ladies and
gentlemen, let’s consider the context of this parameter God places upon women. The context
noticeably begins, I believe, in 1 Tim. 2:8. There, Paul writes, I desire therefore that the men
pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Let me ask you, what did
Paul teach? First, he taught that the men are to take the lead when praying, everywhere,
including the worship assemblies. This verse refers to the male gender and not to mankind in
general. We know this because men, in the Greek, has the definite article the - and Paul uses the
Greek word aner, which means the male gender, not mankind. And verse 9 then begins with in
like manner also as he starts to address the conduct of the women. That is, with the same
holiness and faith that must characterize the men as they lead in prayer, women must adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good
works. This is reading verses 9-10. Continuing, he writes in verses 11-12 that a woman must
learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man, but to be in silence. Now, stay with me and pay close attention because
the apostle says two things are forbidden here. The two things forbidden here are to teach and to
usurp. If we were to diagram this sentence, the conjunction nor would tie both of these verbs
together. However, the prepositional phrase, over the man, equally modifies both verbs, thus
restricting the woman. What this means in down-to-earth language is this. A woman must not
teach over the man and she must not have authority over the man. Now, I know there are some
people who try to say that Paul is giving only one restriction here. Some say he is only limiting a
woman so that she may not have authority over a man, but he is not restricting a woman from
teaching over a man. I believe some people who take that position are honestly mistaken, but
others who take the position do so because they see it as a way to circumvent the constraints God
has placed upon women. This has led some churches to employ team teachers consisting of
husbands and wives to teach adult classes of both men and women. My friends, two verbs but
one modifier. Over the man modifies both teach and have authority. But, now listen carefully, a
woman may have authority and she may teach but she may NOT have authority over the man,
and she may NOT teach over the man. Let me offer you passage to consider that has a similar
sentence construction. I do this to illustrate that if we can understand what is meant in one
passage with similar sentence structure, then we should understand what Paul means in 1 Tim.
2:12. In Acts 4:18 we find a sentence with two verbs modified by only one phrase. In Acts 4 the
apostles’ Peter and John were arrested and detained because of their preaching in Jerusalem. In
order to keep down trouble the authorities gave Peter and John an ultimatum. Verse 18 says, and
they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Look again at what the apostles were forbidden to do. And they called them and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. They were told, they could not speak at
all nor teach in the name of Jesus. These authorities did not demand that the apostles remain
wordless when they were told they were not to speak at all. Instead they were told they were not
to do two things and both things were modified by the phrase in the name of Jesus. They were
not to speak in the name of Jesus and they were not to teach in the name of Jesus. They could
speak, but not in the name of Jesus, and they could teach but not in the name of Jesus. I believe
everyone can understand this verse. Therefore, I don’t see why we should have any difficulty
understanding 1 Tim. 2:12. The Holy Spirit through Paul says, I do not permit a woman to
teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. Under no circumstance may she
teach over a man or have authority over a man. And, two reasons are given for the submission of
the woman. Verses 13-14 says for Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not
deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Male dominion is a creation
issue, not a cultural one. God made man first. Man as the first-created has the responsibility for
physical and spiritual leadership. It’s like riding a horse. When two people are on the same
horse, someone must ride in the front. That’s the nature of the animal. And so it is with
relationships, someone must be in the position of authority, that’s the nature of interdependence
relations. And God has chosen by virtue of the order of creation that man is in the position of
leader; man sits in the front. But, a second reason given limiting women’s role in the church
concerns woman’s sin in the garden. Satan tempted and overcame Eve. Gen. 3:6 says so when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with
her, and he ate. And, as a result, Gen. 3:16 records your desire shall be for your husband, and
he shall rule over you. Man and woman are equals before God - but a woman’s role in the
physical family and in the spiritual family has been fixed by God, and it differs from man’s. But
this does not render women unimportant nor nonfunctional in the kingdom of God. This becomes
evident when we take a look at the role first century women occupied in the church and in the
earthly life and ministry of Christ. In addition to the women we considered last week, Lois and
Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, and Tabatha, a Christian woman who was
raised from the dead by Peter. There was . . .
I. Priscilla, the wife of Aquila. There are five-verses in the New Testament where this couple
are mentioned. The first is in Acts 18:2-3 where it is revealed that Paul stayed with them when
he first came to Corinth. This was a low time in Paul’s life. He was without support, and he was
being sent to one of the most vile cities a man could go. But Priscilla and her husband Aquila
opened their home to Paul. Verse 2 says, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with
them and worked. Let me say to Christian women, we need more hospitable women such as
Priscilla, willing to open their homes to those who are doing the work of God. She was so
concerned with the cause of the Lord that she sacrificed the privacy of her home. Then in Acts
18:18 we’re told that when Paul left Corinth for Syria that Priscilla and Aquila sailed with him to
do the Lord’s work. She was a woman who was willing to make sacrifices to further the cause of
Christ. Putting down roots and having security was not as important as furthering the cause of
God. She left her home in Corinth to assist her husband in spreading the gospel. The church
could certainly use more women with this spirit of sacrifice. Women - like Priscilla - who are
willing to pick up and accompany their husbands in evangelizing. There have been too many
carnal, worldly women who refused to support their husbands in doing the work of an evangelist.
They would rather have the so-called security of a house than sacrifice for the cause of God.
Also, Acts 18:26 tells us that Aquila and Priscilla took a preacher aside and helped him in his
misunderstanding the scriptures. The preacher was Apollos, and he was an elegant speaker but
his knowledge was incomplete. He was a disciple of John the Baptist, and he didn’t know Christ
had come. The verse says, when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and
explained to him the way of God more accurately. This isn’t a matter of this couple humiliating,
embarrassing or rebuking a preacher. This is a matter of a godly couple calling a man aside and
studying with him. Showing him there were things he did not fully understand. Also, neither
Aquila nor Priscilla were interested in destroying this brother, they only wanted to further the
gospel. So they explained some things Apollos did not know. My friends, among many lessons
we could learn is this. Priscilla knew the truth. She was not ignorant of biblical truth. She knew
the scriptures. There are not many things more helpful and encouraging than having godly men
and women who know the bible, and who are willing to be helpful in instructing others. This
text does not imply, however, that Priscilla left her submissive role when she helped her
husband. One would have to abuse and misuse the bible to twist from this reading that Priscilla
was an evangelist or that she violated what Paul said was the will of God in 1 Tim. 2:12.
Furthermore, it does violence to the text to ask the question: “Could Priscilla have taught
Apollos if her husband was not there?” That hypothetical question should be rejected, because
her husband was there and we must leave it at that. What we should remember from this text is
that Priscilla knew the scriptures. She did not leave all bible study up to her husband. The church
could use more women with the knowledge of Priscilla. Women, today who know the truth about
subjects such as instrumental music - the Holy Spirit - the covering - premillenialism - church
supported institutions - speaking in tongues and the cannon of the bible. The church could use
more knowledgeable women willing to solidify the faith and understanding of others. Then there
is Rom. 16:3-5 where we find that Paul acknowledges that Priscilla and Aquila are in Rome. In
these verses’ Paul lavishes considerable praise upon them. He calls them fellow workers in
Christ Jesus. He said they risked their own necks for my life. He also said greet the church that
is in their house. Ladies and gentlemen, the church could greatly benefit from women like
Priscilla. Women who truly understood what it meant to seek first the kingdom of God.
II. Also, there were many women associated with Jesus during his earthly ministry. But, perhaps
none stand out more brightly than his mother Mary. To Mary it is said in Lk. 1:28 rejoice,
highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! God had great
respect for Mary, and she became the human instrument through whom he brought his son into
the world. She was the virgin God chose to conceive his son by way of a miracle. Isa. 7:14 says
behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Jesus
grew up in a home where a godly woman cast a lasting influence. As a boy he was respectful to
his mother and he was submissive to her. We read in Lk. 2:51 then he went down with them
and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but his mother kept all these things in her
heart. Jesus honored the role and authority of his mother. He was not disobedient to her nor was
he disrespectful. And, fathers, we should never let our sons become disrespectful to their
mothers. Such is contrary to the role of, and the example of, Christ. As he was dying, his mother
stood nearby. And, seeing her - Jesus took the time to provide for her well being after his death. I
don’t know what happened to Joseph or to the other children she had. But I do know that Jesus
said to his mother about John the apostle woman, behold your son! It is criminal the way some
boys treat and respond to their mothers - even boys who claim to be Christians. No boy who
claims to follow Christ should ever be cocky and sassy with his mouth or actions toward his
mother. And it is equally criminal the way some men treat and respond to their elderly mothers.
Never calling nor coming to see them. Never making sure that her needs are met. This is
certainly not the way Jesus responded to the most important women in his life; his mother. But
this does not translate into making Mary to be something she is not. The Roman Catholics have
deified Mary, making her out to be God in all ways. According to Catholicism, Mary is able to
see our needs, hear and answer our prayers. According to Catholicism Mary is co-mediator with
Christ. This is wrong, Mary is not to be looked upon as God, instead she serves as an example of
godliness and seeking first the kingdom of God. Something the church desperately needs from
women in the twenty-first century.
III. And when we read in the New Testament of the way Jesus treated and interacted with
women, we are made to understand that Christianity elevates women to a place of a nobility
unknown in the world’s religion. Feminism has attacked Christ and Christianity because of the
bible’s teaching about the headship of man and the submission of women. But, Christianity, of
all world religions, elevates women to a place of dignity. Even though God has chosen to place
man in the role of leader and woman in the role of submission; women are elevated and blessed.
And, it is not surprising to see this reflected in the life of Jesus. For example, in Lk. 7:37 we
read of a time when Jesus was in the home of Simon, a Pharisee. And behold, a woman in the
city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house,
brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at his feet behind him weeping; and she
began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she
kissed his feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Some translations, such as the New
Living Translation describe the woman as an immoral woman. Or as a woman who had lived a
sinful life such as in the New International Version. And, many commentators suggest the
woman was a harlot. I don’t know. But, however the women lived that caused the bible to say
she was an immoral woman, she came to Jesus, and he forgave her; he did not brand her with a
scarlet letter. In verse 48 he said to her, your sins are forgiven. Regardless of her sin, the Lord
did not mark her; Jesus did not parade her through the streets exposing her sin. Nor, did Jesus
beat her up emotionally each day to remind her of her faults. Instead he simply said your sins are
forgiven. Another illustration of such elevation can be seen in Jn. 8:1-11 where a woman caught
in the act of adultery was thrown at his feet. The mob was calling for her death. Their righteous
indignation was at an all time high. But, after dispersing the crowd by pointing out their
hypocrisy, Jesus turned to the woman and said, neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.
Jesus did not treat this woman (or any woman) with contempt. He elevated all women to a place
of dignity and honor. Jesus once told the religious leaders in Matt. 21:31 assuredly, I say to you
that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. Now, do not
misunderstand me here. Jesus never minimized sinful behavior on the part of anyone. He
demanded repentance from everyone. In Lk. 13:3 Jesus said unless you repent you will all
likewise perish. But Jesus did maximize forgiveness and new beginnings. And especially was
this important to the women of the first century. According to the book “Manners and Customs
of Bible Lands,” women had no rights whatever. Whether Arab or Jew, women were given in
marriage by their parents - without their say. A woman could not divorce, and if she was
divorced, she could only take what she was wearing. Even though the law called for the death of
both male and female when adultery was committed. Only the woman was stoned and the man
was considered guilty only of invading the rights of another man. Jesus changed this! He brought
in equality and fairness. He became the epitome of compassion and mercy to both male and
female. There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But, this equality
and this fairness must not blur the distinctive roles of men and women.
CONCLUSION:
A. Christianity is not a male-dominated religion. It is a religion of salvation in which all (male
and female) can find salvation. However, God did place men into different roes than he placed
women. If we are to be loyal to the teaching of Christ today, then we are going to respect those
different roles. Jesus was always respectful to the women in his life and his ministry and in his
church. He was [and is] never harsh nor tyrannical. But while Jesus was respectful and
compassionate to women, he did not select them to occupy the place of public teachers. He did
not elect them to be apostles. He did not choose them to be evangelists. He did not select women
to become elders. These roles were filled by men. Now, in our last study will take a close look at
1 Cor. 14:34-35.
B. But for now our time is up. Please stay tuned for some important closing announcements, and
join us next Sunday morning at 7:00 A.M. as we again Search the Scriptures. Until then, this is
J.R. Bronger saying goodbye for now.