The role of women in the body of Christ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary of part 1: Introduction: On any aspect of true spiritual life, we are advised by scripture to seek and enter at the strait gate by following the narrow way: Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.. And this is that narrow way: Psa 119:160 ASV The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. As far as the role of women in the church is concerned, this narrow way also applies. There are twisted perversions on each side of that narrow way which caused many to walk the broad way to destruction. Perversion # 1: One side overemphasises the keep silent part of women in the church: 1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to help the church at Corinth with the disorderly way in which some women conducted themselves in their meetings. So how is a woman to conduct herself in the church and is she supposed to say nothing at all? Let us first take a closer look at the word silence in this verse: 1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence (G2271: hēsuchia) with all subjection. 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. G2271: hēsuchia Feminine of G2272; (as noun) stillness, that is, desistance from bustle or language: quietness, silence.
G2272: hēsuchios - A prolonged form of a compound probably of a derivative of the base of G1476 and perhaps G2192; properly keeping one s seat (sedentary), that is, (by implication) still (undisturbed, undisturbing): peaceable, quiet. Here is the same word in other verses of scripture: 2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness (G2271: hēsuchia) they work, and eat their own bread. 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable (G2271: hēsuchia) life in all godliness and honesty. 1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet (G2272: hēsuchios) spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. This meek, peaceable and quiet spirit is to be evident in the conduct of all of us, but especially highlighting the relationship between a women and a man which God instituted to reveal to us the order in the Godhead: 1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. The female s relation to her head which is her husband typifies the relationship Jesus has with His Father. Jesus does not usurp authority over the Father and that is reflected in the role of any female to her physical husband or to her spiritual Head, Jesus: 1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. [For more in depth study visit the link: http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the_head_of_christ_is_god.php] An unmarried female also has a head that covers her, which is the Christ (the Head and His body): Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his (the Christ s) feet, and gave him (Jesus) to be the head over all things to the church Eph 1:23 Which is his (the Christ s),body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Women (married or single) in the New Testament church were never meant to be totally silent in the assembly, as these scriptures also allude to:
1) Philip s daughters prophesied: Act 21:8 Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. Act 21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 2) Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, helped her husband to expound the way of God more perfectly unto Appolis: Act 18:26 And he (Appolis) 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. 3) The woman at the well told others, including men in Samaria, about what she heard from Jesus and many came to believe in Jesus through her witnessing: Joh 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Joh 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 4) Mary Magdalene was sent by Jesus personally to go and tell His other disciples, including the men, about His resurrection: Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Women do prophesy in the New Testament church: 1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. Many aspects are included under prophecy in scripture namely singing, playing musical instruments, prayer; relating dreams and all forms of edification, exhortation and comfort: 1) Singing Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied (H5012), and did not cease.
[H5012: nâbâ' = to prophesy, that is, speak or sing by inspiration.] 2) Playing Musical Instruments 1Sa 10:5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 3) Prayer 1Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them [the prophets of Baal], and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 1Ki 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 1Ki 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 4) Relating dreams Jer 23:25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Even our dreams must be tried to see whether they be of God. Any prophet who has progressed outside of God s Word is a false prophet indeed. 5) Edification, exhortation and comfort 1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Perversion # 2: As we pointed out earlier that those who do not follow the narrow path of the sum of God s word twist the word of God, even when it comes to the role of women in the church: Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. There are those who believe that because in Christ there is neither male nor female that there is no need to distinguish between the genders in the New Testament church: Gal 3:28 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. We must not confuse spiritual equality with spiritual function. Women have an equal importance in the church with men, but different tasks to perform. Their teaching role includes other women and children. For these people the spirit world therefore has neither headship nor submission. Because we are one in Christ does not negate the truth that the Head of the body is still Jesus, and the body must still submit to that Head. This is important to accept because Christ will always submit to His Father even when God is all in all : 1 Cor 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him [Christ], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. This same principle is relevant while we are still in bodies of flesh because only by the natural relationship between male and female we can grow in our understanding about spiritual submission. This is a progressive and on-going process and no fullness now false doctrine can be allowed in our midst: 1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. The relationship between the husband and wife (giver and receiver): The intimate spiritual relationship between the Father and His Son is shown to us in the natural relationship between a husband and his wife:
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. The first man Adam received physical life from Christ, his Head and Creator: Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man (H120: 'âdâm) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. As Christ was the receiver of life from the Father, so Adam became the first receiver of life from Christ. This giver-receiver relationship was further consolidated when the male was used by God to give a rib (or a side ) of him to the woman the male became the giver: Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. The giver becomes one with the receiver and vice versa: Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. This unity is good and pleasant for all involved: Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren [male and female] to dwell together in unity! From this we know that Adam consists of both male and female: Gen 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. This Adam is the type of the Christ which is a great mystery : Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. It is important to see that a Godly order was established here which should be recognised and respected for the spiritual purpose it was intended for. The spiritual
roles of a giver and a receiver were established to reveal to us how the Godhead operates: Joh 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. Each one of us, male and female, is learning from Christ s example how to submit (to humbly receive) before we can give. Christ prepares our hearts (our spiritual wombs) to be a receiver first and how to submit to Him as He submits to His Father: Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The male who can receive from Christ (the mind of Christ) will be able to be a head and instructs his own wife and she will give life to many: Gen 4:1 And Adam knew (or give to) Eve his wife; and she conceived (received with willingness), and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: Gen 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters (via Eve) The man who submits to Christ will never have a domineering attitude towards his wife because willing submission is the condition for the joyful conception of many offspring: 2Co_1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. The female who receives willingly, will be able to pray and prophesy without fear of dishonouring her head because she is covered by her head (sharing the same mind of subjection): 1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. We all play the role of the receiver first before we play the role of the giver of good things to those God appoints unto us:
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.