God’s original plan

God’s original plan for men and women can be seen in Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-25, 3:6, and 3:14-16. The pre-fall model was for women functioning in leadership and ministry alongside men. It was only after the entrance of sin into the world that male dominance, polygamy, etc. entered the world and the church.

In Judaism, there was no people group more oppressed than women. Jewish men greeted each day with this prayer: “Praise be to you, Adonai our God, King of the universe, because you have not made me a Gentile, a slave, or a woman.” Paul’s declaration reversed this prayer in Galatians 3:28, 29. “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. . . and heirs according to the promise.”

Original design in Genesis

The key words and concepts in the Genesis verses are as follows.

  1. “Let Us make them in Our image” (Genesis 1:26)

This compares the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to the relationship between men and women. The wording here means equal in substance and authority.

  1. “In the image and likeness of God. . . male and female” (Genesis 1:27)

“God’s image” includes all that is masculine and all that is feminine. God has no problem manifesting both those traits that we consider to be masculine (leaders, protectors, strong, courageous) and those we consider feminine (compassion, nurturing).

  1. “A helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18)

Up to this point, the man only interacted with lesser beings (i.e., animals). He needed someone equal to him (“suitable”).

  • The term “helper” comes from two Hebrew roots meaning “to rescue” and “to be strong.” The Old Testament uses this same term to describe God, military commanders, and wives rescuing others from attacks they are unaware of.
    • “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2)
  • Also, the term “suitable” means “a counterpart, an equal.”
  • “(You are) bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” literally: “We are made of the same substance; we are equals” (i.e., “You are my partner and my companion!”)
  1. “They were both naked and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25 NLT)

They were completely transparent and vulnerable. One was not over the other.

They were unguarded—able to ask for help, admit weakness, seek and give comfort. They were free from striving and competition.

  1. “She also gave some to her husband who was with her (by her elbow).” (Genesis 3:6)

They both fell for the father of lies and his deception. What should have been comradery in spiritual battle against the enemy became a “battle of the sexes” against one another! (Afraid, ashamed, and accusatory)

  1. “Your desire will be for your husband; and he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)

God’s original design never intended for the man to rule over his wife. Together, they were intended to rule on the earth! After sin entered the world, sadly, collaboration had slipped into competition. They moved from being allies to adversaries. Harmony and mutuality were replaced by disunity and strife.

The New Testament restoration of women

In Judaism, women were oppressed. They were treated as second-class citizens. They had no rights and were given no respect. They couldn’t testify in court and were seen as inherently evil. They were understood to be the property of men.

But Jesus came to give new dignity to women. He honored women. He openly shattered the demeaning traditions aimed at oppressing them. He was breaking every barrier: validating, appreciating, protecting, releasing, and valuing women. He set them free!

  • A woman was the only one to anoint Him Messiah for the crucifixion (Luke 7:38).
  • Women were the first to witness the resurrection and were entrusted to deliver the Good News to the disciples.
  • The tears of a woman were those that Jesus wept over.
  • Jesus spoke to women in public and taught them as His disciples (Luke 10:42).

Early church example

The early church followed in Jesus’ footsteps as men and women ministered and led together. The Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh. The first chapter of Acts quotes these verses from Joel: “It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29, AMP). Both sons and daughters received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Baptism replaced circumcision

It is important to note the mark of the new covenant was no longer male-exclusive circumcision. It was now baptism, an internal work, open to all! This is a dramatic change from a covenant that was only possible for men to commit to.

 As the life of the New Testament church unfolds, we see the following.

  1. Men and women participated in the upper-room decision-making (Acts 1:13-26).
  2. Both men and women are persecuted for the gospel (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 22:4).
  3. Men and women served together as leaders in the church.
  4. In Romans 16, Paul honors twenty-nine “co-workers” who led in ministry. Ten of the twenty-nine are women. Among them Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11) and Nympha (Colossians 4:15) are honored as leaders of churches.
  5. Andronicus and Junia (a man and a woman) were “outstanding among the apostles” (Romans 16:7).
  6. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 to entrust his teaching to “reliable men” (Greek term anthropos (which means men AND women), not andros (which means “men only”).

In the New Testament, women served as…

  • Apostles, seen in the reference to Junia in Romans 16:7
  • Prophets (Acts 2:17-18; 21:8-9)
  • Evangelists, as the first witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus
  • Teachers (Acts 18:26; 2 Timothy 1:5; Titus 2:2)
  • Pastoral leaders of house churches (Acts 12:12; 16:13-15, 40; Colossians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 1:11; 16:19; 2 John’s letter to a “chosen lady”—elder, overseer, pastor)
  • Elders (1 Timothy 5:1-2 talks about honoring elders as “fathers and mothers”) (Titus 2:3-5 says that “elder” women are called to behave in a way befitting those called to “priestly leadership.”)

Biblical context for women in leadership

Specific verses, if taken out of context, can appear to support a “male-exclusive” approach to leadership and ministry in the church. However, Paul showed by his life practices and his teaching that women were to use their God-given gifts for the benefit of the church. An honest reading of the book of Acts demonstrates the important role of women in leadership in the early church.

In both the Old and New Testaments, we have examples of women in governmental leadership positions, leading in ways that would have given them authority over men (Miriam, Deborah, Priscilla, Junia). Although clearly there are more Bible references to men in leadership than women, these exceptions are there for a reason and cannot be ignored.

When we are interpreting the scriptures, we must look at the body of all scriptures and not one isolated verse. Sound Bible interpretation requires us to interpret the “unclear” passages in the light of the clear ones. If we do not do so, we are left with no option but to admit that the Bible contradicts itself.

We will examine several of these verses and passages.

1 Timothy 3:2 “An overseer must be…the husband of but one wife.”

At this time, men were permitted to have more than one wife. There is no historical record of women having multiple husbands.

This does not say “only men can be overseers”; it simply says that men who are overseers must be in covenant with only one wife.

1 Timothy 3:11 (regarding deacons) “Likewise, their wives are to be women worthy of respect.”

The word translated in most versions as “wives” is the word gune— “a woman of any age, whether a virgin, married, or a widow.” This contradicts the thought that only married women could serve if their husbands were leaders. This opens the door for all women to serve with men in leadership.

1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man.”

  • The word “have authority” is authentic, used only once in the New Testament. It means “to take the place of another by usurping their leadership role.”
  • This letter was written to Timothy as he began to pastor the church in Ephesus—a stronghold for the worship of the goddess Diana. At the time of this writing, priestesses from this cult were trying to infiltrate the church.
  • Among their false teachings were
    • the belief that Eve was created first, making her superior to men
    • they belief that Eve was not deceived. Instead, she was “enlightened” by Satan.
    • childbirth is a profane surrender to male dominance.
  • Paul was silencing these heresies, not making a pronouncement for all churches for all time, which would contradict other instructions—for example, those that indicate how women should serve, lead, prophesy, and minister.

“It would be surprising if an issue that would exclude at least half the body of Christ from a ministry of teaching would be addressed in only one text, unless that text addressed only a specific historical situation rather than setting forth a universal prohibition.” —Craig Keener

1 Corinthians 14:34-36 “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak.”

  • Paul is responding to a statement/question posed by the Corinthian leaders.
  • In verses 33b-35, Paul quotes their statement. (NOTE: The word translated as “silent” means “No verbal expression; not even singing.”)
  • Paul’s response is given in verse 36: “What?!? Did the word of God originate with you?” (KJV)
  • Prior to this section, in verse 31, Paul instructed both men and women on prophetic ministry: “You can all”
  • An overarching issue in this church in Corinth was the disruption of public services. Three groups of people were instructed to “keep silent”: continuous tongues (v. 28); competitive prophecies (v. 30); and disruptive women (v. 34).

1 Corinthians 11:3 “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

  • Both the Old Testament word for “head” (rosh) and the New Testament word kephala refer to the source, origin, beginning.
  • Kephela, in the NT, refers to the headwaters of a river, releasing it to flow. It also describes someone taking a servant posture to ensure that others are taken care of and are thriving. It never describes someone exercising authority over someone else.
  • We can therefore see that 1 Corinthians 11:3 is not proposing a hierarchy. There is no hierarchy in the Godhead. Rather, they are in a mutually honoring relationship with one another. In this context, Jesus in His incarnation, was “sent from” His Father (John 3:13).

Ephesians 5:23 “The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.”

  • The key phrase is “as Christ is the head of the church.” Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve and give His own life to rescue us!
  • Jesus, as our Savior, selflessly laid down His life to raise us up to a life free from religious striving, bondage to sin, and tormenting lies. He came to reverse the Genesis 3:16 results of the fall.
  • True headship is the extreme opposite of oppression and abuse at the hands of those consumed with their own reputation and power.

It’s time

Now is the time for the church to defend the call on men and women to share in ministry and leadership in the church. We need to stop misusing Scripture to limit the ministry of women. We want to see women who have been wounded by the church healed and restored, fulfilling their ministry calling in this crucial hour.

Recommended resources

John MacDonald, Made in His Image

Loren Cunningham, Why Not Women? A fresh look at Scripture on women in missions, ministry, and leadership

Elizabeth Jordan, The Forgotten Feminine

Nancy Pearcey, The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity reconciles the sexes

Amy Calkins (from her blog), “Reconsidering Marital Submission”