This title alone looks intimidating to today's culture. As I'm sure you already know from my other writings I am a Complimentarian, meaning that I adhere to the biblical roles of a husband and wife within marriage. This time though I am going beyond the roles of marriage, into the roles of women in the Body of Christ - among believers and in the institutionalized church. This is going to be a post that will upset many people, primarily women, who wish to use an egalitarian premise to scripture; but I do hope that even such people will see the scripture I reference and understand why I feel that an egalitarian stance on scripture is unbiblical.
There are many smaller parts to the grand picture of women within the Body of Yeshua. Things like being Pastors, speaking in church, spreading the Gospel, headcovering, and teaching. Even the curse given to Havah (Eve) plays a large roll in this discussion as does Eschatology! So, please, bear with me as we traverse through the scripture and the quagmire and get to the root of a woman's role.
There is a basis that we do need to outlay first and foremost as a premise to this discussion. A foundation if you will. Without getting into to much detail we do need to understand the basic complimentarian position. That a woman's role as a wife is as her helpmate of her husband. Indeed that is what women where created for and thus designed to do best according to Genesis 2:18, Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 1 Corinthians 11:12 backs this up saying, for as the woman was made from the man, so also the man is now born through the woman. But everything is from God. But that women now tend toward the goal of usurping the control from their husbands because of our fallen sin nature going against God's design, a part of the curse given to Havah in Genesis 3:16, To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you.”
To further the line of how marriage does apply to this discussion we need to look to eschatology, the study of the end times. 1 Corinthians 11:3 shows this headship as well, leading into headcovering which is linked toward the start of this post. It says, But I want you to understand that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of the Messiah is God. Showing that the headship of a man and his wife is in direct reflection of our relationship to the Trinity! This makes this topic a very big deal.
Before going much farther we also need to deal with one elephant in the room, that shouldnt be an elephant at all. Sadly the moment this discussion comes up someone throws out Galatians 3:28, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one. Firstly, even if this verse did say what many want it to say it could not be used against the dozen of passages which describe the roles of men and women as separate, both before and after this was written, but to have it say what they wish to make it say would actually make it be a contradiction in scripture - which is a verse serious issue! This does not say that men and women are equal in the sense of can do whatever the other can do. It simply states that in the eyes of the Messiah we are all equally viewed as his, saved by grace. This doesn't mean we do not still have different roles, in fact most would then turn tail and realize this in the view of eschatology where the Jews do in fact have a different role than the rest of Israel.
So let's then see how this applies within the body of the Messiah. The first thing of course is, how could a woman in a proper position of biblical submission to her husband take authority over him in spiritual matters? That would be counter intuitive to the biblical mandate for a husband to lead his family. Ephesians 5:23, because the husband is head of the wife, just as the Messiah, as head of the Messianic Community, is himself the one who keeps the body safe, and 1 Timothy 3:4, He must manage his own household well, having children who obey him with all proper respect both work to drive this point home. But of course scripture is also very clear that a woman is not to take such a position anyways. 1 Timothy 2:11-14 says, Let a woman learn in peace, fully submitted; 12 but I do not permit a woman to teach a man or exercise authority over him; rather, she is to remain at peace. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Havah. 14 Also it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who, on being deceived, became involved in the transgression. This even goes so far as to show us why it is that women are not to teach men, because Havah in her deceived state turned Adam away from Adonai. 1 Peter 3:7 even goes into saying that women are the weaker vessel between the two as a reason so them not being above the man, You husbands, likewise, conduct your married lives with understanding. Although your wife may be weaker physically, you should respect her as a fellow-heir of the gift of Life. If you don’t, your prayers will be blocked. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 says, let the wives remain silent when the congregation meets; they are certainly not permitted to speak out. Rather, let them remain subordinate, as also the Torah says; 35 and if there is something they want to know, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak out in a congregational meeting. The Greek used here is more accurately translated to woman and man, over wife and husband, extending this to a broader range. So we can see that within the congregation, the institutionalized church, women are not to even be speaking and teaching - that the position of Pastors, teachers, that this is a position for the men. Those men must meet the requirements of Titus 1:6-9, A leader must be blameless, husband to one wife, with believing children who do not have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 For an overseer, as someone entrusted with God’s affairs, must be blameless — he must not be self-willed or quick-tempered, he must not drink excessively, get into fights or be greedy for dishonest gain. 8 On the contrary, he must be hospitable, devoted to good, sober-mindedness, uprightness, holiness and self-control. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy Message that agrees with the doctrine; so that by his sound teaching he will be able to exhort and encourage, and also to refute those who speak against it. But that doesn't mean women are left without a position at all.
1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.5 Also there are different ways of serving, but it is the same Lord being served. 6 And there are different modes of working, but it is the same God working them all in everyone. 7 Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. 8 To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses. 12 For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body; so it is with the Messiah. 13 For it was by one Spirit that we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 For indeed the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If it were all hearing, how could it smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as he wanted them. 19 Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are indeed many parts, yet just one body. 21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you”; or the head to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be less important turn out to be all the more necessary; 23 and upon body parts which we consider less dignified we bestow greater dignity; and the parts that aren’t attractive are the ones we make as attractive as we can, 24 while our attractive parts have no need for such treatment. Indeed, God has put the body together in such a way that he gives greater dignity to the parts that lack it, 25 So that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others. 26 Thus if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness.
27 Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it. 28 And God has placed in the Messianic Community first, emissaries; second, prophets; third, teachers; then those who work miracles; then those with gifts of healing; those with ability to help; those skilled in administration; and those who speak in various tongues. 29 Not all are emissaries, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? or teachers? or miracle-workers? 30 Not all have gifts of healing, not all speak in tongues, not all interpret, do they? 31 Eagerly seek the better gifts.
But now I will show you the best way of all.
As we can see from this chapter in Corinthians there is indeed roles for us within the Body of the Messiah. We've covered that we are not to speak in the church proper, we are not to hold authority over the men in spiritual matters, we are to be submissive in our marriage and within the church body. So what can we do? What is our role in this body of the Messiah? Well first and foremost we can still spread the gospel of the Messiah. Not only is the great commission one of our greatest commandments but it was women who first found the empty tomb and told of the good news! We see this in Luke 24 and John 20. We also see 1 Corinthians 11:5 make it clear that women can in fact be teachers within certain confines, but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled... In this context, from the Greek, 'prophesy' is more accurately portrayed as 'teaches' and even in basic concept of what prophesying is it means to project what the scripture teaches more than the modern concept of telling the future. It is through finding these limits that I write this blog, called to teach without authority over the men I drive a blog that can certainly apply to them, but is aimed towards the women and written for the way many women think and process. Titus 2:3-5 even carries on such an edict by saying, Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people leading a holy life should. They shouldn’t be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, 4 thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God’s message will not be brought into disgrace. Let those older or more mature, not just in the physical sense but the spiritual one as well encourage and raise up those younger believers! We even have an edict to share the gospel with the men in our lives, even our husbands, in a submissive manner. That our actions are as loud as our words. 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, In the same way, wives, submit to your husbands; so that even if some of them do not believe the Word, they will be won over by your conduct, without your saying anything, 2 as they see your respectful and pure behavior. These allowances aren't a new thing either, as many surmise. They exist just as strongly in the Tanakh. Proverbs 31, the ultimate goal for women, even says in verse 26, When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely; on her tongue is loving instruction. Psalms 68:12 (or 11 depending on your version) says, Adonai gives the command; the women with the good news are a mighty army.
Judges 4 gives us the story of D'vorah, or Deborah. A woman who rose against the odds to be the Judicial leader in all of Israel. We must make a few very important notes to this occurrence, one that a judge was not held as a spiritual leader, that was for the Cohen, but also that in the minds of those who follow Yahweh spirituality must take part in what is chosen and actions for leadership. Aside from those two parts we must also note verse 4 which says, Now D’vorah, a woman and a prophet, the wife of Lapidot, was judging Isra’el at that time. Being a Prophet is one of the reasons she was granted such a position and the respect she was given. This goes to show that a woman, even to the mindset of the Torah, could be respected, listened to and held in high regard. But this does not make her a Priest, like the cohen at all. It shows a model for women to aspire to. With such a position too though we must tred carefully, so as not to try and overextend our authority.
Then we are faced with the women of Romans 16. Pheobe, considered a servant-leader, a position of respect and leadership without authority within the church in Cenchrea. Priscilla and Aquila, both who hosted congregations in their homes. Miryam, Tryphaena and Tryphosa who worked hard for the Lord. Junia who went to prison for spreading the gospel. Julia and Olympas, believed to be martyrs from spreading the gospel of the Messiah.
Ladies I implore you. Go out, be the great army spoken of in Psalm 68:12. Spread the Gospel to all people, teach the women to lead godly lives and bring up your children for Adonai. But do not fight to take a mans roles within the church, we are a different part of the body of the Messiah, and should not strive to change who we are. For to do so means we become ineffective where Elohim has truly called us.
