Can A Woman Be A Pastor? The Biblical Answer.

We see women pastors all over the modern Church. 

You may be familiar with the Southern Baptist convention and Saddleback Church on this topic of women preachers in church leadership.

We see female pastors on TV, and in Churches all around the world. But are woman pastors biblical?

1. Does God call woman pastors and send out female pastors to do His work in The Church? 
2. Are there any bible verses supporting female pastors? 
3. Should Christian women be pastors?

We're going to look at the Scriptures, not culture for the answers to the question on whether a woman can be a pastor.

Grow Your Church with SEOLet's look at the Scriptures now to answer the question: Can Women be Pastors in the Church?

Just so we are on the same page, here are Scriptures that are clearly against woman pastors and women preachers in the House of God.

Just in case a woman says the Lord called me to preach in the church and be a pastor, here's the Scripture that utterly proves this woman to be of a contrary spirit. 

1 Corinthians 14: 34-37

Did you notice that this is the Commandment of The Lord as 1 Corinthians 14:37 says! This is not Paul's opinion. This is what The Lord God Almighty says!

This is not speaking about women not speaking in the Church altogether because 1Corinthians 11 shows how women are to conduct themselves when praying or prophesying. This text however is in reference to judging prophecies which is comparative to authoritative teaching which is reserved for men. 

Again, the question posed by the devil was "Did God say" and we know the woman was deceived. So in the judging of prophetic words and in the authoritative teaching that follows such judgments and in authoritative teaching in The Church in general, the women are to be silent.

Someone might say that this is all the traditions of man and stem from male chauvinism. And to that the answer is NO. 

Let me bring your attention to a particular line in the above text that says: but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

Lots of people say that there is no law that says that the woman must be under obedience. 

But this is not true. Most people go to Exodus, Deuteronomy or Leviticus to find the law, but the first five books of the Bible are called the Law, and the Lord Jesus Himself refers to the book of Psalms as the Law as well when He mentions that the Law says ye are gods which is actually in Psalm 82:6. In the Time of The Lord Jesus it seems like there were 2 parts to the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets. 

But in any event, the first five books of the Bible are referred to closely as The Law. 

To find this command that they are to be under obedience as also saith the law, we have to go to the Book of Genesis.

It's important here to note, that in the Greek. for "they are commanded to be under obedience", the Apostle Paul uses words that connote that they are to willingly subject themselves, and not that the subjection is to come from an external entity. In other words, the women are commanded by God to subject themselves. Again, this establishes the value of the woman even in her subjection which the Apostle Peter in 1Peter 3:4 talks about when addressing the woman's beauty.

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:4

So women being silent in the Church in judgment and teaching is of great price to God.

Another way of saying this is that this is of great sacrificial impact. And I guess the reverse is likely true, that disobedient, unsubmissive women are of great harm and insult to the Kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus' vehement opposition to it in Revelation 2 corroborates this fact.

So now that we've shown that this is willing subjection on the woman's part and that her meek (ability with restraint) and quiet spirit is of great value to God, let's look at the passage in the law found in Genesis that commands her willing submission to be under obedience. Ready?

Genesis 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.

God told the woman that she will have a desire to rule her husband, but the man shall rule over her. It doesn't look at first that she is commanded to subject herself unto her husband so that her husband rules over her, but to see that we have to compare it to a parallel text with sin and Cain. 

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

So the command spoken directly to woman by inference is that your desire is to have, control, or rule over your husband, but he should rule over you. 

In other words, The Lord told the woman (paraphrasing) it is my will that he rules over you, so willingly subject yourself. Hence, he (the man, your husband) should rule over you. 

Women Pastors Put On That Which Pertains To The Man and This Is An Abomination According To Deuteronomy 22:5

In witness to the Genesis "he shall (should)rule over you" Scripture, the Apostle Paul shares that women are to be under obedience to their husbands and their husbands should rule over them. This again shows that the woman cannot be a pastor, for the pastor must be the husband of one wife and rule his own house well and the woman is not to be in authority over her husband, but in submission. 

For the woman to be a pastor she would have to put on that which pertains to a man and this is an abomination to the Lord as Deuteronomy 22:5 clearly states.

This is why the Lord Jesus, The Almighty Himself is so against this in Revelation 2. It's not only sin but an abomination which is worse. 

²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Revelation2:20-21

Just in case the sacrifice to idols mentioned there seems unrelated to this topic of woman pastors and woman preachers in the House of God, let me share this with you. 

First of all, The Lord basically says woman twice in that text. We all know Jezebel was King Ahab's wife in Scripture who usurped her husbands authority and led people astray. So there was no need for the Lord to say woman in front of Jezebel, but He did. This is like "woman woman" . We see this sort of thing with "verily, verily". He's emphasizing "woman" in the context here. 

Next, the way how you present your body to God is a sacrifice. Remember Romans 12:1: 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

The Word of God can be considered bread, or meat. So the word coming out of a sacrifice that is not acceptable to God is one that is acceptable to the devil who is against all things God. So those who eat the food(words) sacrificed to idols (body presented in disobedience to God) is eating food in contradiction to God and this causes them to go astray to follow after other gods which the text in Revelation above references as fornication. (fornication is idolatry). See Jeremiah 3 also.

When a woman preaches or teaches the Word in contradiction to God's word it is in effect a sacrifice to idols.

And people who eat directly and support it are seduced into idolatry for this not what God wants but they're being lured into thinking that it is. Since idolatry is fornication we can understand the Lord's phrase, "seduce my servants to commit fornication". 

Just so that this is clear Isaiah 3 talks about this as well. 

¹² As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:12

Scripture corroborates Scripture.

Doubtless, someone else might say, "But God is using them, and they are prophesying and casting out demons. How can they be wrong?"
Again, let me show you the scripture that shows this: 

Isn't it interesting that The Lord Jesus says I never knew you to those who do not keep His commandments.

In fact, the same word the Lord Jesus uses above in Matthew 7:23 is the same word used by the Apostle Paul for those who don't keep the Lord's commandment concerning no women teaching/exercising judgement of the prophetic word in the House of God.

1 Corinthians 14:37-38-  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.³⁸ But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

The word used there is agnoeó and it means not recognized or not known. Interesting, isn't it? This is exactly what the Lord Jesus tells those in Matthew who don't keep His commandments, .ie. I never knew you.

The Sin of Women Preachers in The House of God. 

Has Male Leadership Always Been God's Design Even From The Old Testament? Yes!

Did God Instruct The Apostle Paul In The Scriptures To Not Allow Woman Pastors And Directly Forbid Them? Yes!

1 Corinthians 14:33-35 

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 ,13-15 Forbids Female Pastors

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.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Are Women Pastors and Preachers In Disobedience To The Word of God? Yes!

Titus 1:4-9 Shows Paul The Apostle's Strict Direction For Godly Men as Pastors in Church Leadership, not Women.

4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

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

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Question: Should I Leave A Church with A Woman Pastor? 

Should you leave a church with a woman pastor? The answer is yes. A woman as a pastor in the House of God is a clear violation of Scripture and the Lord is vehemently opposed to it.

See the Lord Jesus words in Revelation 2:20-23 (New Testament)

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works

Are There Quick Facts from The Bible On The Topic of Woman Pastors from The New Testament?

What does the New Testament say about Female Pastors? 

1. There are no female or woman pastors in the Bible. Women are not permitted to be preachers in the assembly according to 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

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3. The Lord Jesus Christ nowhere in Scripture chose a female leader or apostle. Leadership in the Church, which follows the creation order between man and woman, according to 1 Timothy 2:11-12, 1 Timothy 3:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, is male. It is not female. 
   
   

4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the man and The Church is the woman. He is the image of God and we have only one teacher, God. How can God, represented by the Lord Jesus Christ be taught by the woman, the Church? No. God teaches the Church, therefore the man teaches the woman, the woman does not teach the man. This is the order of God in the Church of God, which according to 1 Timothy 2 &3 is the household of God.

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7. The basis for prohibitions against women pastors are found in 1Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

8. Women do have wonderful teaching abilities. The older women are told to instruct the younger women in Titus. The men are to have the leadership/governmental roles in the Church according to Titus 1:4-9. 

9. Women should teach within the boundaries given by God's Word in Titus 2:3-8 and not in contradiction to clearly outlined Scripture.

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11. It is known in the Bible that 1 Timothy 2:12 forbids a woman to be a senior pastor or any kind of pastor or overseer in the House of God for the overseer must be the husband of one wife.

12. For a woman to pastor, she has to become a husband, in clear contradiction to Scripture for she she should not put on that which pertains to the man. The Bible says that all who do so are an abomination to the Lord in Deuteronomy 22:5. 

13. The Lack of Priestesses, (priests being the male equivalent of pastors in the New Testament church) is a defining difference in the worship of Almighty God by the Jews. Could this be why the apostle Paul in the New Testament reaffirms this position when talking about worship, and The Lord Jesus in Revelation likens the female teacher, the woman Jezebel in the Church to the sin of Idolatry? 

Look at what Torah.com has to say about women priests or priestesses:

Having No Priestesses was a Defining Trait of Israelite Worship, just as it is in the Church for when the Apostle mentions the topic of worship in 1 Timothy he goes first and foremost to gender roles!

Secondly, there is no trace of women being ordained as pastors in a "church" until the 1800s!

The modern phenomenon of women pastors and women preachers in the House of God is clearly contradictory to the Holy Scriptures. Clearly, the phenomenon of woman pastors is a part of the great falling away mentioned in 2Thessalonians2:1-3, and the time when people shall not endure sound doctrine.

Women preachers and women pastors in the House of God is a sin, and clearly contradicts the Lord's explicit commandments in 1 Corinthians 14:34-38, Genesis3:16, 1Timothy 2:11-12, and anyone who does this or supports this is in danger of great tribulation except they repent according to Revelation 2:22.

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