Study

God created man in His own image, “male and female created he them”. In Christ “there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”. Peter calls husband and wife “heirs together of the grace of life”.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:27

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.

Galatians 3:28

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

1 Peter 3:7

Paul commends Phebe, “a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea”, and “a succourer of many”. He greets Priscilla and Aquila as “my helpers in Christ Jesus”, and asks for help for “those women which laboured with me in the gospel”. Priscilla and Aquila together “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” to Apollos.

¹I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at 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. ³Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

Romans 16:1-3

And 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.

Philippians 4:3

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.

Acts 18:26

Peter quotes Joel at Pentecost: “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy”. Philip had four daughters “which did prophesy”. Paul gives instructions for “every woman that prayeth or prophesieth”, so he assumes women do both. Deborah judged Israel, and Anna the prophetess spoke of Jesus to all who looked for redemption.

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: ¹⁸And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:17-18

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Acts 21:9

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.

1 Corinthians 11:5

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

Judges 4:4

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

Paul charges older women to be “teachers of good things” who teach the young women. Timothy's faith dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, who taught him.

³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:3-5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2 Timothy 1:5

In his instructions for the church's worship Paul writes, “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence”. He gives the reason from creation, not from local custom: “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” In Corinth he tells women to keep silence in the churches and, if they would learn anything, to “ask their husbands at home”. The same letter shows women praying and prophesying, so the silence concerns that speaking, not every word.

¹¹Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. ¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. ¹³For Adam was first formed, then Eve. ¹⁴And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1 Timothy 2:11-14

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. 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.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

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.

1 Corinthians 11:3

The qualifications for a bishop (overseer) include being “the husband of one wife” and “apt to teach”. Titus is given the same list for the elders he appoints.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:2

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Titus 1:6