What About Women Preachers?

C. R. Sutton

  The number of women "preachers" is increasing yearly. Many people think they are really "broadminded" if they accept and promote the modern idea of "equality" of the sexes. It seems to never enter the minds of some people that God's will should be considered when the subject of "the role of men" and "the role of women" are considered. What about "women preachers"? Should we have them? Is God pleased with them? What is God's will relative to "women preachers"? Can a woman be a preacher of the gospel by faith? (Rom. 10:17) Let us consider the following facts and principles.

  1. I Cor. 11:3 says: "But I would have you know, that the head or every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." This shows that in a general way women should be in subjection to men. We also learn from 1 Cor. 11:7-9 that the woman is the glory of man, was created for man and is of the man.

  2. Ephesians 5:22-24 says: "Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." This indicates that each wife should be in subjection to her husband as her head. In Col. 3:18 Paul said: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." It is certainly proper, fitting and right for wives to be in submission to their husbands!

  3. I Cor. 14:34-35 says: 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. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: For it is a shame for women (ASV says "a woman" - CRS) to speak in the church." Paul teaches (by inspiration) in this passage that women should keep silence in the assemblies because it is a shame for women to speak in the church (assembly).

  Women preachers do not keep silence in the assemblies. Women preachers do speak. Women preachers are not under obedience as also saith the law. // is a shame for women preachers to speak in the church! There is no way that women can follow the instructions of the Lord in 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and be a preacher!

  4. 1 Tim. 2:11-12 says: "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." This passage shows that women should have a quiet disposition and a spirit of subjection. It also teaches that a woman has no right to teach nor have dominion over the man. A woman can not respect these restrictions and be a preacher. No, women preachers are not authorized in the Word of God! (CRS)

[Author’s note: The above article is "A VOICE FROM THE PAST". It appeared in The Instructor, December, 1978.  The truth as taught therein is certainly needed today! It will be needed as long as the world stands.]