Women in ministry

Women in ministry is a question on which Christian traditions differ: some hold that the office of overseer and authoritative teaching in the church belong to men, citing the passages on women keeping silence and not teaching over a man. Others point to women in Scripture who prophesied, judged, taught and labored with Paul in the gospel, and the passages each side relies on are listed below.

Headship, silence and teaching

• 1 Timothy 2:11-15
  ¹¹Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. ¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. ¹³For Adam was first formed, then Eve.For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. ¹⁴And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. ¹⁵Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
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• 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
  ³⁴Let 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.Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵And 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.If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
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• 1 Corinthians 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.But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
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Qualifications of overseers

• 1 Timothy 3:1-2
  ¹This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
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• Titus 1:5-6
  ⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. ⁶If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
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Women who prophesied and judged

• Judges 4:4
  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
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• 2 Kings 22:14
  So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
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• Acts 21:9
  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
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• Acts 2:17-18
  ¹⁷And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
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• 1 Corinthians 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.And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 11 →

Women who served and taught

• Romans 16:1-2
  ¹I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. ²That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
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• Romans 16:7
  Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
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• Acts 18:26
  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.And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
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• Philippians 4:2-3
  ²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. ³And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
  Show context · Read Philippians 4 →

One in Christ and gifts for serving

• Galatians 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.There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
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• 1 Peter 4:10-11
  ¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. ¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
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See also

• Women
• Elders
• Spiritual gifts
• Church
• Leadership

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.