Category: WOMEN OF GOD

Ye Are All One in Christ Jesus.

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What does the Bible mean by “a women must have a head covering to pray and prophecy in church? ”

“And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.” Corinthians 11:3-16

Paul is using “head” as a metaphor for authority: Christ has authority over the male, the male has authority over the female, and God has authority over Christ. But also the head covering was a cultural sign of submission. In Corinth head coverings were a social custom just as it is today in some cultures. However, in some cultures hats can also be signs of worldly significance. So, we must remember that Paul was addressing an attitude not presenting a ritual observance.

“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” Corinthians 11:3-16

The man on the other hand must not have his head covered or long according to scripture. This is because the head represents authority. Long hair in Corinth was a sign of rebellion and promiscuity. We must remember that just as our culture today has symbols of rebellion so did the past. Today maybe the over emphasis on piercings might qualify as a display of rebellion as well as the pants falling off the backside of men which originated in USA prisons to declare availability for sexual relationships.

So, we can see that it is the display of worldly rebellion that is being addressed here rather than a religious ritual. This may differ from culture to culture.

Each culture has different views on what is socially acceptable for church and as women we need to be sensitive to this. While women of the west will wear a swim suit at the beach it is not socially acceptable to wear one to church and while women may wear hats or coverings in other countries to church it is not necessary in the west.

What about a women speaking or teaching in church? First of all when we read any historical document we must remember to read within the social context of the time and not try to apply everything literal to today. Paul said that both men AND women were being moved to speak by the Holy Spirit in church but it was not socially expectable at that time for a woman to speak with her head uncovered as it showed rebellion to the head, or authority, both of God and men.

What about this scripture?

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. 1 Timothy 2:11-12

What many do not look at is the emphasis here. Paul is saying that the woman must not have authority OVER the man but this does not in anyway forbid women to teach in the church. 

The following scripture has no gender emphasis but is an exhortation to ALL members of the body of Christ.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Priscilla taught along with her husband.

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurate. Acts 18:25-26

In conclusion, scriptures make it clear than women can teach in church. To prophecy is to speak under inspiration of the Holy Spirit who is called the comforter and teacher.  Women are not to be OVER men in authority for they are created as equals in the kingdom of God and if you don’t believe that then you are calling the Holy Spirit a liar when he spoke through Paul. Quite frankly to forbid women to teach in the churches is sinning against the body of Jesus Christ.

 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 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. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

Women Teachers

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The Gospel of Grace Ministries

What does the Bible say about women teachers?

1 Timothy 2:11-15 scripture is used by some Christians to forbid women to have teaching positions in the church.

On closer examination we see another position entirely.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

This verse seems to be saying that allowing women to teach men would be giving them “authority over a man” but on closer examination we can see something else entirely.

The Greek word authenteo for authority occurs in this verse but no nowhere else in the New Testament. While the word authenteo has been translated by the word “authority” in nearly all English versions of the Bible, it is not the same word as exousia, the word used for “authority” in many other passages in scripture. Let us look at the difference in these words.

authenteo

one who with his own hands kills another or himself one who acts on his own authority, autocratic an absolute master, to govern, exercise dominion over one

exousia

power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases leave or permission,physical and mental power the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed) universally authority over mankind, specifically the power of judicial decisions of authority to manage domestic affairs,metonymically a thing subject to authority or rule, jurisdiction one who possesses authority, a ruler, a human magistrate,the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates.a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself,the sign of regal authority, a crown

Now why do you think the word authenteo is used instead of the more common usages of exousia ? According to Gnostic teaching Eve was not deceived because she was the illuminator and all-wise mother goddess and was before man. Timothy corrects this false teaching by saying that only One is all-wise, and that is God Himself. So what Timothy was saying is this “I am not allowing(present tense for that situation) a woman to teach or to proclaim herself the originator of man (authenteo). Adam was formed first, then Eve.

This mother-goddess heresy and emerging Gnosticism in First and Second Timothy and Titus, makes it clear that Paul was bringing correction in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. He was correcting women who were teaching this heresy

If this scripture was meant universally rather than to a specific situation it would have been stated more in the rest of scriptures, and it was not. In actuality women did teach men and held significant places as leaders in the church (Acts 18:26;21:9; Rom. 16:1,3,7).

In the Old Testament, we find women teaching men. 2 kings 22:14; Proverbs 1:8;31:26; and Micah 6:4.

So we can see that women can teach men the scriptures but they are not to be over men in a superior position as the gnostic doctrine elevates women.

Kim Balogh

For more information about the eve goddess of wisdom heresy check out this link.

http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/1-timothy-212-in-co…