Many churches today have women ministers or pastors. They believe that women have the ability and the desire and therefore should not be prohibited from ministry. But is that what the Bible teaches? If ordaining a woman to the ministry is against God’s Word, then no amount of skill or ability would make it right. It is not a question of whether women are capable (they are). It is not a question of whether women are inferior (they are not). It is simply a question of whether God’s Word allows it or not (it doesn’t).

In I Timothy 3:1-7, God’s Word lays out the requirements for an elder. A careful study of Scripture shows that an elder is a pastor (shepherd), a bishop (overseer), and a minister. All those titles of office are used interchangeably.

In those verses we are told that an overseer (an elder) must be the husband of one wife. The Greek language here is very clear. It says that the overseer must be the andros (individual male — masculine singular) of one gunaikos (woman, specially, a wife — feminine singular). There is no possibility of interpreting the language any other way.

Those who advocate for women being ordained as pastors must disregard this very clear teaching of Scripture.

God chooses to describe Himself as masculine. God made Adam first. God chose men to lead His people. God’s Word teaches that the husband has authority over the wife. God’s Word teaches that only males may be ordained as pastors in His church. God the Son is the One who is in authority over His Bride, the Church.

That does not mean that women are inferior or incapable. Women are equal with men before God. Jesus died to save them too. It only means that for His own reasons, God chose to put men in positions of authority. That authority, however, is not one of “lording it over” those in submission under him. The authority of men in positions of authority (husbands or pastors) must be modeled after the love of Jesus Christ for His Bride.  It is an authority of loving care and concern for those whom God has put in his care. It is an authority which brings with it a more severe judgment (James 3:1).

If we accept all of what the Bible teaches, then we must obey God rather than men and say that women may not be pastors. They may serve faithfully, admirably, and well in many capacities in God’s church. They may have the gift of explaining God’s Word to others. They may have the gift of giving wise counsel to those in need. They may have the ability to teach the truths of God’s Word to others. They should exercise those gifts to the extent that God gives them opportunity. They must not do so with the authority of ordination because God Himself condemns such action.

Second, a women’s claim that God has called her “to be a teacher and a preacher” ignores the biblical requirement of an “internal call” (which she may have) and an “external call” (which she cannot have – biblically).

A woman who states that she won’t argue with what the words of I Corinthians 14:34, 35 and I Timothy 2:11, 12 say, but that she will “…simply give you other words from the same bible that speak clearly about women’s work in the kingdom of God”, ignores the fact that God does not contradict Himself. If He states in one passage that an elder must be a male and states in another that a women may not teach, then, in those passages that appear to teach something contrary — i.e., Deborah and Miriam — we must struggle with what is actually being taught. Many say that Deborah was “…a skilled warrior, prophetess, counselor and a judge of Israel.” They then ask, “How could this great woman of God not be a teacher of men in the things of God?” They fail to understand the passage. Deborah was indeed a prophetess. She was indeed a judge of Israel. There is NO indication that she was a “skilled warrior” or a ”counselor”. In fact, it is clear from the passage that Barak was in charge of the army, not Deborah.

The case of Priscilla and Aquila is very instructive as to the relationship of women and men. Priscilla did, in fact, teach Apollo. It was not, however, in a worship context. It is important to recognize that in I Corinthians 14:34, 35, Paul is dealing with the issue in a worship context. The women were interrupting the worship to ask questions. Paul admonishes them to ask their husbands outside the worship context. I Timothy 2:11, 12 is also dealing with a worship issue (see verse 8).

Many also misapply Galatians 3:28. This verse is not dealing simply with the equality of the groups mentioned. It is dealing with the fact that each of the groups are saved the same way (verses 26-29).

Some, even pastors, believe that Acts 2:17 teaches that women may preach. That verse states, “And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams” Those who believe this fail to note the passage does not say anything about preaching; it speaks of “prophesying”. They are erroneously equating prophesy with preaching. While the pastor does prophesy when he is preaching, He does so having been called by God to the capacity of ordained office. Since women cannot be called by God to ordained office, the passage must mean something else. In fact, Scripture teaches that all God’s people are called to function as prophets, priests, and kings. Yet, the ordained office is restricted to men only. Then what does it mean that women will prophesy? Many do not understand that prophesy in Scripture really means explaining what God says in His Word. All Christians, including women, are to tell others about the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Some also go astray on I Corinthians 12:28. In that passage, the offices of apostles, prophets, and teachers are all Nominative Masculine Plurals. The gifts that follow are feminine gender. Some have stated that the “word “SOME” here includes in its meaning, the, this, that, he, SHE.” What they fail to note is that although the basic form of the word does include the feminine (and the neuter), the usage in this passage is in the Accusative Masculine form.

God has indeed “…given women the same gifts He has given to men.” But He has restricted the use of those gifts. They may not be used by women in an authoritative, ordained capacity. It is not “…essential to the body of Christ that women are…allowed (and) encouraged to share the teaching or preaching gift God has bestowed upon them.” In fact, it is imperative that they NOT be allowed or encouraged to use those gifts in an ordained capacity because God has forbidden it.

Finally, it is instructive to note the relationship in the Godhead. Jesus Christ was equal in power and authority and essence with the Father. Yet, He voluntarily submitted to the will of the Father. He came not to do His own will, but that of the Father. He willing submitted to a role of service, rather than usurp the power and position of the Father. In like manner, women, who are equal with men before God and have the same gifts as men, must willing submit to a role of service. They must not usurp the power and position in which God has placed the male elders of the church. They must use the gifts God has given them. They must not use them in an ordained position of authority.