I have leaned towards women shouldn't be allowed to preach if you take the Bible literally but I'm really undecided because the Bible never flat out says "Women should not be allowed to preach period".
Here is a scripture that supposedly supports the "Women Should NOT be allowed to preach/pastor over a church or teach over a man."
Should Women be allowed to teach/preach in the church?
1 Timothy 2:9-15
9Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Commentary:
To understand these verses, we must understand the situation in which Paul and Timothy worked. In first-century Jewish culture, women were not allowed to study. When Paul said women should learn quietly and humbly, he was offering them an amazing opportunity. Paul did not want the Ephesian women to teach because they didn't yet have enough knowledge or experience. The Ephesian church had a particular problem with false teachers. Evidently, the women were especially susceptible to their teaching because they did not yet have enough biblical knowledge to see through the false claims. In addition, some of the women were apparently flaunting their new-found Christian freedom by wearing inappropriate clothing. Paul was telling Timothy not to put anyone (in this case, women) into positions of leadership who were not yet mature in the faith. The same principles apples to churches today.
Some interpret this passage to mean that women should never teach in the assembled church. However, other commentators say that Paul's words "I suffer not"(I never let) can be more literally translated "I am not allowing." Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching men. Paul's commended co-worker Priscilla taught Apollos, the great preacher. In addition, Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phebe worked in the church. Mary, Tryphena, and Tryphosa were the Lord's workers, as were Eudias and Synthche. Paul was here prohibiting Ephesian women, but not all women, from teaching.
As to women being silent in church meetings, the word silence here is often translated "be in quietness", expressing an attitude of composure. In addition, Paul himself acknowledges that women publicly prayed and prophesied. Apparently, however, the women in the Ephesian church were abusing their newly acquired Christian freedom. Because these women were new converts and uneducated, they did not yet have the necessary experience, knowledge, or maturity to teach those who already had extensive biblical education.
From the passage and commentary, it seems like Paul was talking about uneducated, new-found Christian women were not allowed to teach, I think this could go for men as well in today's society.
Another verse...
Worship in an orderly way
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Verses 34-35- 34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
Commentary:
Does this mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship. It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women have spiritual gifts, and they are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services.
In the Corinth culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was cauing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship service which could have been answered at home without disputing the church service. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during the worship service. The purpose of Paul's words was to promote unity, not to teach about women's role in the church.
Another verse...
Standards for church leaders
1 Timothy 3:2 - 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
Most ministers against women preaching will use this verse to say "How can a women be the husband of one wife?"
So I'm undecided on this issue even though my denomination (Baptist/Southern Baptist) strongly oppose women preachers/pastors.
What are you ladies' thoughts on these passages and commentaries???
I was startled by that. Then he said that I'm really not a teacher because I'm not teaching over men. He's saying that only men can be real teachers and teach over men and women.
