WOMAN PREACHER AND THE BIBLE.

PART 1

This article is compiled from God’s Holy Scriptures for those who believe and obey His Word. If you think these scriptures are not for you, just disregard it, go on with your understanding, but be sure to give an account to God why you think these ones do not apply to you.

[I TIMOTHY 2:11-14]

“11   Let the womanl earn in silence with all subjection.

12   But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13   For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14   And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

[I CORINTHIANS 14:34-37]

“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.

35   And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36   What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37   If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

WHY DID PAUL MAKE THIS STRONG CONCLUSION ABOUT WOMAN PREACHING?

[1]. Without beating around the bush, Paul said, it was “THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD”

The one and only commandment Adam and Eve were given, at Eden; it was Eve who broke it. The consequence of it was, among other things, “LOSS OF CO-EQUALITY WITH ADAM” [Gen 3:16]

“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

That was a direct command from God’s own mouth to Eve’s own Ears. Adam was standing by, as an eye witness and a hearer. Adam was not the one who took it away from Eve. Eve lost it because of her own direct disobedience to God.

There is no room for debate here. You either accept it or disbelieve and disobey it. From that day, God’s trust to have a woman to be a receiver and carrier of His Oracles was denied her.

 [ECCLESIASTES 7:27-28]

“27   Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:

28   Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.”[This speaks of Christ and The Church; man and woman in type]

We can see it in God’s subsequent dealings with humanity when it comes to: “who qualifies to receive and to give out his word?”

[2]. In the OLD TESTAMENT, and of the 12 Tribes of Israel, God Chose THE LEVITES TO THE SERVICE OF PRISETHOOD IN THE TEMPLE AND MINISTRY OF HIS WORD, AND ORDINANCES.

The servant was to be “MAN”. And he has to be a man without any physical Blemish:

[LEVITICUS 21:17-24]

“17   Speak unto Aaron, saying, whosoever [he be] of thy seed in their generations that hath [any] blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

18   For whatsoever man [he be] that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,

19   Or a man that is brokenfooted, or broken handed,

20   Or crook back, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

21   No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

22   He shall eat the bread of his God, [both] of the most holy, and of the holy.

23   Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

24   And Moses told [it] unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.”

No Israelite woman was called to any of the services outlined by God to Moses in these scriptures. This is also applicable to all gentile women today. “My sheep hear my voice.” Goats obviously will not.

In the NEW TESTAMENT, God has also laid down qualifications for those he has accepted to this service.

1. THE 12 APOSTLES/DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

When Jesus chose His 12 Disciples, they were all “MEN”: [LUKE 6:13-15]

“13   And when it was day, he called [unto him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

14   Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15   Matthew and Thomas, James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

16   And Judas [the brother] of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.”

Clearly there was no woman disciple or Apostleincluded among the 12 to be in that office.

Who can charge him for that prerogative? Who can accuse him of bias, gender discrimination or human right discrimination? To which court or human rights commission are you going to take him? All The Supreme Courts of all Nations on planet Earth cannot and will not be able charge Him for gender discrimination. Nobody advised Him how to create a woman the way she is, and a man the way the man is. You settle it with your own self. He decided it was so, and He re-iterated it by saying:

[MALACHI 3:6-7]

“ 6   For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7     Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone awayfrom mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

You see, when disobedience is repeated over and over, it eventually becomes acceptable and presumed to be okay. When a lie is told as truth over and over, it is finally accepted as truth. This is what has happened to many scriptural issues, including women preachers in the pulpit today. It is now taken as an accepted norm. But it is not.

2. THE SEVEN APPOINTED DEACONS IN THE FIRST CHUCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

[ACTS 6:1-7]

“1   And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2   Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3   Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4   But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5   And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6   Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.

7   And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The first 7 Deacons elected in the New Testament Christian church in the Book of Acts, were “MEN.” God did not change his mind concerning WOMEN to be included in the office of Deacons, even at this time.

3. THE 5-FOLD MINISTRY GIFTS GOD GAVE TO THE CHURCH FOR ITS PERFECTION:

[EPHESIANS 4:7-8[; [ 11-13]

“7   But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8   Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. “

“11   And he gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS;

RECORDED EXAMPLES FROM THE BIBLE: [These are Apostles apart from the 12.]

(A): APOSTLES:

(i).Mathias:[ACTS 1:26]“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

(ii). Barnabas and Paul.[ACTS 14:14-15]“[Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

15   And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:”

 (iii). Andronicus and Junia, [ROMANS 16:7]

“Salute Andronicus and Junia,my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

 (iv). Jesus Christ . [HEBREWS 1:1]

“ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Please take note that all of them were men. There is no record in the Bible of a woman Apostle. Any woman Apostle today is self appointed, self sent, and is not sent by Jesus Christ. Therefore such is a worker of iniquity as Jesus Himself said.

[MATTHEW 7:21-23]

“21   Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22   Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:depart from me,ye that work iniquity.

Of what use is it to put yourself into an employment which the employer is going to reject? All our work will be tested. Rewards will be given to those whose work is accepted. It will be denied to those who are disqualified.

[I CORINTHIANS 3:8-15]

8   Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9   For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

10   According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11   For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12   Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13   Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14   If any man's work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15   If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;yet soas by fire.

(B): PROPHETS: [This only refers to the 5-fold Ministry Prophets]

Paul was the major prophet of his day and age. All Major Prophets can also operate all the 5-fold ministries or offices of Ephesians 4:11: Apostles, prophets, Evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

The 5 fold offices of the N/T prophet is not the same as the office of the Old/Testament SEER or PROPHET in the order of MOSES, SAMUEL, ELIJAH, ELISHA, MICHAIAH, ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, EZEKIEL DANIEL ZACHARIAH, etc; etc. These were foreknown, born, ordained and commissioned as PROPHETS.

 JEREMAIAH; [Jer 1:4-5]

“4   Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5   Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”  

 JOHN THE BAPTIST; [Lk. 1:13-17]: before his birth

“13   But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14   And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15   For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16   And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17   And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

JOHN THE BAPTIST “[Lk. 1:76-80]: After his birth

“76   And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77   To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78   Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79   To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80   And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”

Concerning all Major Prophets, their job and purpose of their coming is written or described before they come onto the scene.

Moses; [EXODUS 2:1-10]

“1   And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took [to wife] a daughter of Levi.

2   And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he [was a] goodly [child], she hid him three months.

3   And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid [it] in the flags by the river's brink.

4   And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

5   And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash [herself] at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6   And when she had opened [it], she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This [is one] of the Hebrews' children.

7   Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8   And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

9   And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

10   And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

God had foretold of Israel being in exile 400 years. He also promised he would bring them back to their promised land with a mighty hand and great substance.

[Gen. 15:12-14]

12   And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13   And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14   And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

These are examples of all Major Prophets. They were everyone, a MAN.They were ordained and born prophets.

EXAMPLES OF THE 5FOLD MINISTRY PROPHETS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

(i). Prophets: AGABUS; [ACTS 11:27-29]

“27   And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28   And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29   Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

(ii). Prophets: JUDAS and SILAS: [ACTS 15:30-32]

“30   So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31   [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32   And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].

There is no need for many prophets, because these offices do not necessarily have to stay in one church only. THEY ARE MOBILE, because the gift is needed wherever God wants to warn, caution, edify, or predict coming events.

In addition, to the 5 fold ministry offices, there are also 9 SPIRITUAL GIFTS or manifestations: [I Cor. 12:4-11]

“4   Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5   And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6   And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7   But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8   For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9   To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10   To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11   But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Of all these 9 SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS, one of these is called THE GIFT OF PROPHECY. This gift does not make you a PROPHET like in stature of Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah or Daniel. The spirit of God simply falls on you, and anoints you to only prophecy. It can manifest itself in a plain language or in an unknown tongue. Therefore, it will need to be interpreted by the other GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. It works according to your ability to yield to God, when he wants to use you. You do not own it. It may operate in you once and never again. It is just a gift used by The Holy Spirit as He wills.

These gifts can operate in both men and women.Let us take one and give example:

OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:

(i). MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS; [Exo. 15:20-21]

19   For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

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.

21   And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

(ii). DEBORAH A PROPHETESS; [Judges 4:4]; She was a politician in Israel who also had a gift prophecy.

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

[JUDGES 4:6-9]

6   And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, [saying], Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7   And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8   And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, [then] I will not go.

9   And she said I will surely go with thee: not withstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

[JUDGES 4:21]

“Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

(iii). HULDAH THE PROPHETESS:[2KINGS 22:14-17]; Wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah. She dwelt in Jerusalem in the college.

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.

15   And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,

16   Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, [even] all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:

17   Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

(iv). PROPHETESS NOADIAH: [Neh.6: 12-14] She had a gift of prophecy but had joined herself with another male prophet who was hired against Nehemiah. Shemaiah the son of Delaiah. This is a similar misuse of God’s gift as was the case with Balaam

 “12   And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.[Shemaiah]

13   Therefore [was] he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have a matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14   My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

(v). ANNA A PROPHETESS [Luke1: 36-38] NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETESSES;

36   And 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;

37   And 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.

38   And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

(vi). PHILIP’S 4 DAUGHTERS WHO PROPHESY;[ACTS. 21:8-9]

“7   And when we had finished [our] course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

8   And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him.

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

So far, the information we have obtained concerning all the recorded women prophetesses in the bible beginning with Prophetess Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, Anna, and the 4 virgin daughters of Philip, none of them has anything to do with being preachers, evangelists or teachers of the Word. If I missed anything about them which you found, let me know what it is and where it is in the Bible.

 (C). EVANGELISTS: [They are the ground breakers for the other ministries].

Another ministerial office which has been invaded by woman mainly in the denominational churches is THE EVANGELIST.

Since Evangelists are supposed to be roving preachers, they are therefore, usually, not many. In The Bible, they are so few that Paul the Apostle recommended others like Pastor Timothy to also do the work of an Evangelist:

[II TIMOTHY 4:5]

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Timothy was not and Evangelist, but all the other offices [Apostle, Prophets, pastors and teachers] are expected to evangelize.

N.B. Please note that all the 5 Fold offices of the new testament, have a measure of overlapping with one or another. Stephen the first martyr and Philip the Evangelist were among the 7 Deacons who were appointed in Acts 6:3-5. These ministries blend with each other.

EXAMPLES O F EVANGELISTS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE:

(i). PHILIP THE EVANGELIST; [Acts 21:8].

“ And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.”

The Evangelist is usually a firebrand, and his ministry is usually accompanied by the supernatural manifestations as shown in Samaria:

[ACTS 8:5-8]

“5   Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6   And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7   For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8   And there was great joy in that city.

PLEASE CONTINUE ON PART 2