WERE WOMEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK OR TEACH IN A CHURCH MEETING?

First let’s look at some verses which would indicate that both men and women received the Holy Spirit and were allowed to participate in church meetings with all the gifts and all the ministries God gave as he willed.

Both men and women were praying together and waiting to receive the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:1-17
Men and women were both in the upper room praying together regularly (about one hundred and twenty) and they all received the Holy Spirit.

Both men and women received the Holy Spirit, the gift of speaking in other languages and prophesying:
Acts 2:1-20
The Greek word in these verses for ‘all’ is ‘pa’ which includes everyone – men and women (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for ‘these men’ is ‘outo’ which means ‘these people’ not just men (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for ‘prophesy’ is ‘profeteuo’ which means to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, or to predict the future just like the Old Testament Prophets (click on link in the verse to see definition).
God’s Spirit was given to all men and women together in the upper room who then came out speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them, prophesying to the multitudes.

Both men and women are one body in Christ made up of many members:
Galatians 3:27-29
In Christ there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free man, or male and female. All are equal.
Romans 12:3-18
In these verses the words ‘himself’, ‘he’ and ‘his’ are not in the Greek text, but were added by the translators.
The Greek word for ‘brotherly love’ is ‘filadelfia’ which means love of brothers or sisters (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for men is ‘anqropo’ which means a human being, whether male or female (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word in these verses for ‘everyone’ and ‘all’ is ‘pa’ which includes everyone – men and women (click on link in the verse to see definition).

Both men and women received the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:1-27
The Greek word in these verses for ‘all’ is ‘pa’ which includes everyone – men and women (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for ‘another’ is ‘allo’ which means another man or woman (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Both men and women received these Spiritual gifts as God willed and were free to use them in the church meetings to build up the church.

Both men and women received the ministry gifts from God:
1 Corinthians 12:27-30
Ephesians 4:11-13
The Greek word in these verses for ‘all’ is ‘pa’ which includes everyone – men and women (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for ‘some’ is ‘o’ which includes both men and women (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek word for ‘pastors’ is ‘poimen’ which means a shepherd (click on link in the verse to see definition). This could also be referring to an overseer - one who cares for believers.
Both men and women shared in these ministries of apostles, prophets, and pastors/teachers.

There were women in the church who were deaconesses, fellow workers of the gospel, apostles, and prophetesses:
Romans 16:1-7
The Greek word for ‘servant’ is ‘diakono’ which means deaconess
Phoebe (a woman) was a deaconess who took care of the needs of those in the church.
Priscilla (a woman) and her husband Aquila were fellow workers of Paul. Notice that the wife’s name is mentioned first showing no preference to the husband.
Junias (a women) was a fellow apostle of Paul. Apostles are believers who are sent out to share the gospel of Christ, teach the foundational truths of Christ and plant churches. Apostles also act as an overseer to the churches they planted.
Acts 18:24-26
Priscila and Aquila together took Apollos aside to teach him about Christ more accurately.
Acts 21:8-10
The Greek word for ‘prophetesses’ and ‘prophet’ is ‘profeteuo’ which means to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, or to predict the future just like the Old Testament Prophets (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Philip had four daughters who were prophetesses who spoke on God’s behalf.

Both men and women participated in church meetings:
Ephesians 5:18-21
The Greek word for ‘subject’ is ‘upotasso’ which means to submit or yield. All believers are to yield (give preference) to one another.
Colossians 3:16
The Greek word in these verses for ‘one another’ is ‘eautou‘ which refers to both men and women who were gathered together (click on link in the verse to see definition).
1 Corinthians 14:26
The Greek word for ‘each one’ is ‘ekasto’ which means everyone (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Both men and women had the freedom to participate and were allowed to speak, sing, teach, and build one another up as they yielded to one another.

Jesus taught us NOT to exercise authority over one another:
Matthew 20:25-28
Mark 10:42-45
Luke 22:25-26
The Greek word ‘whoever’ and ‘one’ in these verses is ‘o’ which refers to anyone (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Jesus taught that a believer should not exercise authority over any other believer but to serve each other instead. All believers were bothers and sisters and were equally subject to one another under the leadership and headship of Christ. They could equally participate and contribute by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and could together seek the mind of Christ to come up with a consensus of what is true and what is false.

Jesus taught us not to give ourselves special titles:
Matthew 23:8-12
Jesus teaches that we are not to exalt ourselves with titles or positions of authority but are to serve one another instead. Only Jesus and his Father deserve titles and the position of authority among believers. Yet Jesus never wielded authority over believers but led and served them instead. Jesus does however wish to functionally guide, lead, teach and oversee the body of Christ using the members of his body serving one another. We need to understand that the ministry gifts were functions, and not titles with positions of authority.

2) Now let’s look at some verses which are interpreted by some people to stop woman from speaking or teaching in the church meeting.

First of all we need to understand what teaching is. Teaching is the ability to explain something in a way that others can easily comprehend it. Some people have a real gift and ability to do this. In the early church they had only the oral teachings of Jesus and the apostles until they were finally written down later on. Today we now have these written teachings in the New Testament to read and understand the truth. Anything that is explained in church meetings should line up with these truths in the New Testament. If not then the teaching should be challenged by the other believers in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:34
The Greek word translated as ‘churches’ is ‘ekklesia’ which means a gathering of people not necessarily a church meeting (click on link in the verse to see definition).
The Greek work translated as ‘Law’ is ‘nomo’ that refers to any law not necessarily the Law of Moses (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Some believe that this verse means that women should keep silent in the church. I cannot accept this interpretation. This would go against other verses mentioned above which allow women to function in the church.
Supposedly in the Greek world women were not allowed to speak in a gathering but had to subject themselves to the authorities. It was the law of the land. It is very possible that the Corinthian women where using their freedom in Christ in public meetings which was not lawful and caused problems therefore Paul was asking them not to use that freedom in public but to keep quiet in those meetings.

1 Corinthians 11:3
The Greek word for ‘head‘ is ‘kefale’ which is the physical head on a body, which aids to the life of the body (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Some believe that this verse means that men have authority over women. I cannot accept this interpretation. Being the head is a leading role not a position of authority. Christ is the head of the church, which is made up of both men and women. Jesus taught us not to have authority over one another. As the head of the church body, Jesus imparted life, guided, taught, loved, served and died for the church but he did not exercise authority over people. We must do the same.

1 Timothy 2:11-14
The Greek word for ‘authority’ is ‘auqenteo’ which means a ruler or someone who lords over others (click on link in the verse to see definition).
Some believe that these verses mean that women are more susceptible to deception than men and so can not be trusted to speak or teach. I cannot accept this interpretation. This would go against other verses mentioned above which allow women to function in all ministry gifts including apostle, prophet and pastor/teacher.
The initial Spiritual teaching of all men comes from women as mothers teaching their children. Should they be stopped from teaching these future men? Of course not! What about women being more deceived than men? The reality is that all men and women have sinned, have strayed from the truth, and are equally susceptible to deception. Without the Bible no man or woman would understand the truth. Some women in the Bible have acted in God’s wisdom as well as men. Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus (the living word, God with us) express that women were inferior or more prone to deception or sin than men.
So what do make of this verse or other verses that seem to not agree with a consensus of the majority of other references in the Bible. I do not view these kinds of opposing verses as God’s heart on an issue but instead either isolated situations, a misunderstanding in translating the Greek, or simply the opinion of the writer.
There was a problem with some women exercising authority over other believers, which was wrong. Jesus has made it clear that no believer should have authority over any other believer. There was also a problem with women teaching false doctrines (teaching that does not line up with what Jesus taught through his original apostles). This needed to stop.

Paul an apostle wrote other warnings about false teachers and some were men:
Romans 16:17-18
Acts 20:28-30
And Peter an apostle warns of false teachers:
2 Peter 2:1-2
There was a problem with both women and men exercising authority over other believers and introducing false doctrines into the church. False teachers draw attention to them selves instead of Jesus and they want to control others instead of allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to lead and be the head of his church. False doctrines, also known as ‘doctrines of demons’, are beliefs that are not true – they are lies. False doctrines can easily arise when any individual exercises authority over others in the church and pressure others to follow their beliefs. Many people have done this in church history including Catholic and Protestant leaders. Jesus taught us not to do this. I believe the answer to stopping false doctrine is not to stop women (or anyone else) from participating, sharing or teaching in church meetings but instead to stop allowing individuals to exercise authority over other believers, and stop them from controlling other believers. God has given every believer the Holy Spirit to participate together in all the ministry and Spiritual gifts as they yield to and serve one another, being teachable and correctable.

Other instructions that Jesus gave us to know if something is good and from God:
Matthew 7:15-23
Luke 6:43
Good fruit comes from God and bad fruit does not.
Mark 12:38
False teachers are often arrogant, self-righteous and self-seeking. You can also tell them by their deeds.

More instructions that John an apostle gave us to test the spirit behind what is spoken:
1 John 4:1-8
Jesus is the center of all truth for He is the truth and living Word of God. The world’s view is opposite to God’s view. Truth also flows out of a heart of love and respect for God and one another as believers.

More instructions Paul gave us to test if something that is spoken is true:
2 Corinthians 11:1-21
Galatians 1:6-12
If anyone teaches anything that does not line up with the principles in the New Testament then it is false doctrine.
1 Corinthians 14:29
When someone speaks in a meeting, other believers are to judge whether or not it is acceptable and true. Everything that everyone speaks whether it is speaking, teaching or prophecy is subject to correction from everyone else in the meeting.

Why do men want to stop women from speaking or teaching in church?
Perhaps they were taught that women are somehow inferior or incapable or cannot be trusted. If so, this is wrong and they should repent.
Perhaps they like to control women because they can. If so, this is wrong and they should repent.
Men need to treat women with dignity, equality and trust that corporately Jesus can be the Leader, Teacher and head of His church as everyone together comes into agreement by consensus.

In light of the above analysis, I believe that all members of the body of Christ including women can and should be allowed to participate fully in a church meeting including speaking and teaching as God wills by the leading of the Holy Spirit. All believers are to love each other as equals and subject themselves to one another and to come into agreement by consensus.

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