In these times of equal opportunity. it is natural to ask the question: Can women of equal or higher qualifications than their counterpart preach or teach the Word of God? What does the Bible say?
God knows the end from the beginning' the same way He preordained salvation for mankind through Christ the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) It is this foreknowledge that is characteristic of God that renders us trustworthy of the Bible. So in effect, there is nothing new to God because God is not only sovereign but has written the Bible so that its precepts contain the will of God.
We read in 1 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 any thing, 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.
This verse dictates the behavior of those in the congregation. The woman in this context is married and would be in obedience as the law says. What law is this referring? The law between husband and wife. We read about this in 1Corinthians 11:3
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.
The wife of man is the picture of the bride of Christ. The man in a wife-husband relationship is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's authority does not originate with man of whom His head is Christ, nor would authority originate from the woman to a man; likewise in the Church. Christ is the head of the church as God is the head of Christ.
It's interesting to consider, as we are on this topic to consider, the fact that of all the thirteen children of Jacob twelve boys and one girl whose name was Dinah, all the twelve tribes of Israel were were descendants of these twelve brothers but none was for the daughter Dinah.(At some point, Lord willing, we would like to consider this study of why each of the twelve sons were the progenitors of the children of Israel, a picture of the believers, except Dinah)
This is the protocol that prescribes the relationship between a man and a woman, man and Christ, Christ and the Church, and Christ and God. Because God is the head of all things we must follow the prescribed order as God ordained it. It is this order that God would have His children so that His blessing may be in that relationship. We find a further commentary on this in Ephesians 5:22 - 33
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 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. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
We must understand that God created mankind for His purpose. There is a profound reason why man was created and it is not for man's benefit alone independent of God. No, we are accountable to God whether we do the things that are commanded of us. It may be easier for us to relate to the relationship between Christ and the church. As Christ is to the church, so is the man to the woman. The authority of Christ should never be questioned by the church. If the Church questions this authority they are no longer a Church that has the blessings of God. Likewise is a relationship between a man and a woman, Verse 27 above tells us why That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. God has it this way; so that all things are done in good order without spot or flaw. Having done this we read further as how this authority continues as we read in 1Timothy 2:11-14
11 Let the woman learn 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..As we read this account we do not see anything that contradicts anything that is said elsewhere in the Bible. We ask the question, what is God saying that Adam was not deceived but Eve? Does that mean God allows the woman to be deceived and not the man? We must look at this verse in its totality; If the man was not deceived and is created to not be easily deceived then the man is responsible to the woman to care and protect her so that she would not be subject to being deceived.As one that God gives the rule over the woman, he also has the responsibility to God for that duty. We should never consider man against woman because God had not intended for them to be separate. The woman is part of the man because she is bone of his bones; she is part of him.It is for that reason also that God commanded Eve that her husband will rule over her; Genesis 3:16
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.
This husband and wife relationship was given by God for a purpose of populating the earth. In that the woman has a very special part at childbirth and for the physical nourishment of these young lives as the man tends the field for their livelihood. The union of man and women can never be taken as separate beings because God created the to be a single unit. We can see this relationship in creation as we read from Genesis 2:22 - 24
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
The relationship and calling of God is given to the man because the woman is part of the man just as much as the nose and eyes and ears are all part of one body. The ear cannot survive on its own nor the eye nor the nose etc. But together they form a single functioning unit that serves God as He intended for mankind from the beginning. This statement holds the key in understanding the order discussed earlier; that God relates through that protocol; God to Christ to man to the woman. Man cannot go directly to God but through Christ only. This supports scripture as we find in John 14:14
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
This however must be according to His will otherwise we are asking amiss (James 4:3) As God creates everything in good order so do we if we follow His laws and precepts.This is what is given. We find that if we are is children we have no problem following His will even though we might find it hard at first. Nothing is hard for the Child of God as God leads him or her to follow and obey His laws.
CONCLUSION
Just because we see the protocol given by God, it does not give the mandate to mistreat nor treat women as second class citizens. They are very important part of God's plan. Remember God created women to do a very important task that the man cannot do. Just as everything else that God does perfect, so is the union between man and women. We may distort this plan because today there are women raising families by themselves; the man is absent from the home. God will judged that in the end, But that does not justify us breaking or justify breaking the God's laws because God knows and He will judge our works according to how we lived our lives. May God give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear.
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