But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence. [1 Timothy 2:12]
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. [2 Peter 3:16]
Once again, as we tackle yet another controversial Bible topic, let's have the Bible itself remind us of how exactly we are to study God's word with the purposes of knowing the truth.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, [James 1:5]
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. [Isaiah 8:20]
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [2 Peter 1:20]
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: [Isaiah 28:10]
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [2 Corinthians 13:1]
With that little reminder out of the way, what does the Word of God really say on the subject?
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [Matthew 23:8-10]
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [1 John 2:27, 28]
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [John 14:26]
So far it is clear that we should not need any man to teach us as Christ himself is our Master and he promises his own Spirit to lead us into all truth.
And I (Paul), brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [1 Corinthians 3:1-3]
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [1 Corinthians 2:14]
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. [1 Corinthians 14:20]
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [1 Peter 2:1-3]
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [Matthew 7:21]
God's Word does not discriminate between male female the way same would have us believe, but he does discriminate between spiritual maturity, the spiritually minded (men) and the carnally minded (babes). Physical maturity alone does not guarantee spiritual maturity.
Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. [1 Samuel 16:7]
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 3:27-28]
Peter, speaking of all believers...
...chosen of God, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices... But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [1 Peter 2:4-5, 9]
In the Old Testament, the Levites were the priestly tribe [Numbers 18]. Only the descendants of Aaron, specifically, were to serve as high priest, but all the Levites were charged with the responsibility of teaching their brethren God's judgments and law [Deuteronomy 33:8-12], as well as stand in judgement [Ezekiel 44:23-24].
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: [Proverbs 6:20]
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. [Proverbs 31:1]
While women obviously have a role in training up their children in the law of God there are many instances where women spoke out, taught, and exercised authority.
In the Book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5, we are told of Deborah who was both a prophetess and judge in Israel.
And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go... [Judges 4:4-6]
In the early church, Priscilla taught alongside here husband, Aquila.
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. [Acts 18:25, 26]
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: [Romans 16:3]
In 2 KIngs 22 and 2 Chronicles 34, when Hilkiah, the high priest found the book of the law, which had been lost to the the children of Israel for generations, King Josiah sent his servants to seek instruction regarding God's word from the prophetess Huldah. God used a woman to instruct not only the king, but the priests also.
Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found... So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shapan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess... [2 Kings 22:13, 14]
Prophets proclaim God's word; they declare departures from his will and his word. Prophets explain scripture: they preach, teach, lead, and are given authority from God.
Other female prophets of God include Anna, Luke 2:36-38; Philips' daughters, Acts 21:8-9; Noahiah, Nehemiah 6:14, and many others.
Regarding the later days, the Book of Joel prophesied...
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. [Joel 2:28-29]
Many men have presumed a leadership role among God's people though God had not sent them.
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. [Jeremiah 14:14]
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [James 3:1]
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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 4:2-4]
Youth is often associated with a pride that resists instruction, but a mature man is wise enough to recognize truth and humble enough to look past the vessel by which the truth comes. It's is not one's sex that determines whether they are speaking by the authority of God's word is God's word itself!
Ye shall know them by their fruits. [Matthew 7:16]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: [Galatians 5:22-23]
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because their is no light in them. [Isaiah 8:20]
Click here for a handy quick reference chart on women, teaching, and authority with even more examples. (Coming soon!)
Click here for Female Authority in the Church: Part 2 (Coming soon!)