Can Women Pastor ?

[Sister Alvear]

Well, to the dismay of some I am heading out to one of the churches to teach a young people's class...I hope to be a blessing...gotta go...

[Sister Alvear]

Well, we had a good class...now let's read something:

[Sister Alvear]

. I Corinthians 14:31-35

T
his Scripture at a glance seems so severe and final. It seems the Apostle leaves no variance. It seems to contradict the rest of the scriptures but as any Bible scholar knows scripture will interpret itself. No doctrine can be based on one scripture alone -such as baptizing for the dead (I Corinthians 15:29). The Bible speaks that for the truth to be established, it must have two or three witnesses. The bottom line is that God is looking for willing vessels independent of gender or color of skin. It is recorded in the Bible that God in times past used not only women, but also children and even animals to fulfill His divine purpose.
Let me say, I’m not promoting a masculine woman. A woman should look like a woman, dress like a woman, and act like a woman. There is nothing as repulsive as a woman who has manly mannerisms. On the other hand, even more detestable is a man who is feminine.
There is nothing more graceful to the eyes as a woman who is feminine or a man who is a real gentleman. Some struggle with the concept of women preachers, as Trinitarians struggle with the oneness of God. Their fundamental problem is in understanding the dual nature of Jesus. Likewise, we need to understand the dual responsibilities of a woman preacher.
Most women have domestic responsibilities as well as spiritual responsibilities. Genesis 1:28, “And God said unto them be fruitful. And multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. And have dominion.” God said they (both) shall have dominion. In other words, God’s original thinking or plan (before the fall) for man and woman, masculine and feminine, was to have authority and dominion together. God did not tell Adam he was to have exclusive dominion, neither did He tell him he was to govern alone. God said that they were to have dominion. That helps us understand I Timothy 2:12 that says suffer not a woman to teach, or take for oneself, grab, take illegally, usurp (define) authority over the man (The man is her husband).
The apostle did not say she shouldn’t have dominion because he knew that in the original plan of God, when man and woman had just come from the Hands of the creator, they both were given dominion. The apostle was not objecting that a woman have dominion but that she could not have dominion over her husband-plain and simple. In God’s original plan, it was wrong for a man to have dominion over a woman. Neither did a woman have dominion over a man. Togetherness and sameness was God’s original concept. This is the perfect plan between the sexes -- more perfect than the Law of Moses that came later.
Note that the Pharisees asked Jesus, if under the Law of Moses it was right to divorce the wife for any reason. Note the response that was given them. “Have you not read from the beginning when God created man and women?” Also note in I Corinthians 14:5-6 “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore there are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Jesus took them back to the garden of Eden but the Pharisees did not like it and they took him back to the law of Moses. The Law of Moses was what they lived by, but Jesus was trying to get them to go back before the law of Moses the better and more perfect plan. The reason that Moses made a letter of divorce to put away the wife was “because of the hardness of your hearts he suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so.”
The original plan of God example, “in the garden of Eden” was a better and more perfect plan-the plan before sin. The law of Moses placed certain restrictions upon women.
We all know and admit this. We know a law that’s higher and a concept that is better. We know a plan that is more idealistic than the Law of Moses that it the original condition of things in the Garden of Eden. God gave the man and the woman dominion in conjunction together (Genesis 1:28). This is a better concept and more sublime than the Law of Moses. Someone said that Adam’s wife came from the rib out of his side. If she was made from his head someone could say that she is the head.
She did not come from his feet, so that she could be, stomped on, but came from his side which represents that they have been equally valued. That was God’s original plan. We know that a horrible thing happened in Gen:3 that destroyed God’s ideal, or necessitated a change from the original plan.
Sin thwarted God’s concept of the man and woman’s continuity in the garden. 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. After the fall not before the fall God told the woman, “Your husband shall have rule over thee.” He did not rule before the fall. It was a punishment from God because the woman yielded to temptation and ate the fruit.
But remember this was not God’s original plan. This was a part of the penalty of sin. If it was sin, (and it was) that caused the women to be ruled by man, since then the redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ not only redeemed, but also all the consequences that resulted by sin.
The redemption that is in Christ Jesus took all the disadvantages pronounced upon the woman in the Garden of Eden. The redemption of Christ not only paid sin’s consequences at Calvary but transcends to future women. We who participate in redemption today can enjoy and inherit what was lost in Mother Eve.

[Sister Alvear]

The man ruling over the woman is not natural (original state of things), it is abnormal - a result of sin. It is like death. Death is not natural, it is abnormal - a result of sin. I’ve heard people say that some person died a natural death. Death may be common, but it is not natural. God planned that we should live forever, so death is not natural. One day it will be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:55). The woman has been governed by the man ever since the fall so it may sound common and seem natural but that was not God’s original plan.
Not in domestic life, but a spiritual view point concerning spiritual things. In the first resurrection the situation above mentioned will be mended.
The woman was put under a divine order to be subject to her husband. We all know that, and no godly woman would disagree. Paul’s teaching on a woman’s obedience to the husband is based on the precept of loving his wife as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for it.
Paul recognized and taught that men and women are heirs together in grace. I Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and all have been - all made to drink into one Spirit. Ephesians 6-8: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall receive of the Lord, Whether he be bond or free. Colossians 3:10-11: And have put on the new man, Which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcison, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
And let the peace of God rule in your heart, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:15-16).
It is interesting to note that God provided for Adam a “helpmeet” (help meet). Meet also means suitable so, a help suitable for him. It is only where true Christianity is practiced that the woman attains to such a position as the helper or equal of man. In lands where darkness reigns, woman is the slave, the chattel of man. The Hebrew word helpmeet means, the exact counterpart of himself, or the exact formulation of the other.
God did not create Eve to be Adam’s servant, but created her to be an equal companion. God created another being like Adam for companionship. Even when God created the animals, fowls, and fish, the females were not slaves to their male counterparts. This requires equality of mutuality. The two earthlings would share the same tasks and responsibilities. Genesis 1:28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The Hebrew term “eler” translated as “helper” does carry a connotation of assistance, but whether the help comes from a superior or an inferior cannot be determined without context. The term describing what the woman does for Adam can also refer to what God does for the people (Psalm 33:20; 54:4; 70:5; 79:9; 109:26; 115:9-1-1). Clearly this kind of help does not denote servitude or subservience.
This term does not imply that the woman was in any way inferior to the man or the human creature. The word simply ascribes a beneficial relationship between two parties in which one helps the other. There is no sense in which the helper is subordinate to the one in need of help. If the man is superior, why would he need any help at all from one who is inferior. Isn’t it usually the inferior that requires help from the superior? As a doctor who is superior in medical knowledge reaches out to help an inferior, his sickly patient.
The word “helper” translates better as “Partner” since it is used in the Old Testament to denote an agent of equal or even superior strength. God is the only other entity to whom the Old Testament applies the word. For example: Psalm 46:1, “A time of help in trouble”, Deuteronomy 33:26, “Rides the heaven to your rescue”, and Psalm 70:5, “My helper, my Savior, Yahweh.”

[Sister Alvear]

The women in the Old Testament had a tremendous disadvantage. As we continue to read God’s Word, we can slowly see the dignity of the woman being restored. Even with the devil furiously fighting against her, there were occasions when she rose above her disadvantages showing a marvelous manifestation of courage and, on several occasions exercising notable ministries.
We may want to hide from these stories. They are sometimes unpleasant in the extreme. They raise issues we may wish to avoid or deny. Yet they are stories of the lives of women who lived as we live in an abusive, even hostile world. We will study stories that speak the truth bringing the light of day into a darkened world, uncovering sins - that permeated lives.
The Bible tells about women used in leadership and their proclamation of faith. There have always been women who transcended the boundaries that their society placed upon them. There have always been women whose faith motivated them to acts of courage and to powerful ministries that made them known and felt. These stories teach us undeniable truth.
Women can be and should be effective servants of God in every spiritual dimension. Women of the Old Testament faith were preachers, proclaimers, wealthy and powerful supporters, prophetesses, military heroes and judges.
These ancient women of faith were average people with normal lives who found ways to serve God in every facet of their lives. We need to shake aside the shackles of bureaucratic structures which chain the tongues of over half the Christian believers.
The problem that women preachers face today is not the lack of God’s call but traditions which men have developed that resist her call. Eternity alone will reveal the extent of the influence of women whose spirit came to rejoice in God their Savior and who, having discovered the well of life, left their waterpots to go and tell of the gospel story.
When Jesus entered upon His earthly ministry, women intently responded to His teachings, sympathized with Him in His darkest hours and found in Him their benefactor and friend. Women were the last to leave the cross, first at the tomb on Christ’s resurrection day, and the first to proclaim the glorious news of His victory over the grave.
In the annals of the early church, women are likewise notable for their spiritual devotion, fidelity, in teaching the Word of God, and sacrificial support of God’s servants. Their faith and prayers were mingled with those of the apostles in preparation for Pentecost and through out Christian era. The church owes more than it realizes to the prayers, loyalty and gifts of its female members. From the time when women labored with Paul in the gospel (Philippians 4:3), religious leaders have been dependent upon the miniseries of women. Gifted and consecrated women figure prominently in the labors of Paul. Owing much to the Redeemer for her spiritual freedom and ennoblement, woman has endeavored to pay her debt in unreserved devotion to Him who was born of a woman.
Bible women form the most remarkable portrait gallery of women preachers in existence. Many of them are among the immortals, whose records shine brightly for us in God’s biography of humanity.
One of the reasons that religious leaders were against Jesus was that He did not accept the Jewish traditions that were accepted by almost everyone else. For example, Jesus healed on the Sabbath, dined with sinners, talked with women who were not of the Jewish race. He not only talked with them, but taught them - something unheard of in His day. Jesus sent His disciples to gather corn on the Sabbath (Mark 2:3-28). He healed on the Sabbath; He broke many of their rules proving that traditions of men are not the laws of God!
Christ seemly considered Himself Lord of “traditions”. Whenever tradition hinders or prevents the work of Christ, it is necessary to dismiss that tradition.
Paul taught the Galatians freedom and liberty in the Spirit. In Christ there is no racial or ethnic superiority. No culture or class superiority, no gender superiority (Galatians 3:28). Paul taught the gifts are for all (I Corinthians 12:27-28; II Corinthians 5:20).
Women like men can pray and prophesy in the congregation. By prophesying, Paul meant intelligible preaching that built up the faith of the church.
When tradition hinders or prevents the work of Christ, it is necessary to alter that tradition. The perpetuation of a tradition that no longer serves humanity but dictates to how one should do something then thwarts the purposes of God’s church. It is then the tradition is in conflict with the will of God.

[Sister Alvear]

L
et’s return to I Corinthians 14:34-35. “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. 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.”

(I Timothy 2:8-15) “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”

Throughout the Bible there are evidences of women teaching and leading. Deborah as prophetess taught as well as led. Miriam was a leader. Paul spoke of women co-laborers, deacons and Apostles. Certainly they taught. Their offices and titles show proof that certain women were used in the gifts of the spirit (I Corinthians 11:5; Acts 21:9)...”Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Did you notice singing is also a teaching ministry? O consistency thou art a jewel!

I Corinthians 14:34-35 was written in the New Testament. The New Testament refers to an end of the old way and living a new way. It was a better dispensation. Could these verses mean she is in a worse situation than before in the Old Testament?

Under the Old Testament law, she could rise above her situation or disadvantage and prophesy, judge Israel, instruct kings, save nations. If she could do this under the law then under the New Testament she should be able to do more. One thing for certain says the book of Hebrews we live in a better day. If we take these two verses alone by themselves, I would say we do not live in a better era. It’s no good for the women just to sit in silence.
The woman shall not read the Bible. (In other words she shall not read her Bible in church). It is better to burn the law (Bible) than to permit it to be taught by a woman. The testimony of one hundred women is not equal to the testimony of one man.

The jury only applies to men. The body of a man can be carried through the streets for burial, but you need not worry about a woman’s body. A woman cannot be counted to make up a Jewish congregation (nine men and one woman is not enough.) A woman should not speak among men. Where did these laws and biased opinions come from? The Jewish Talmud!

It surely did not come from the Bible! The Jewish Talmud is the Jewish commentary of the Law of Moses. All traditions as well as many others came from the Talmud. The Jewish Talmud was in existence when our Lord Jesus was upon earth. Jesus knew all about “their” Talmud and that the Jews considered observing the Talmud as a vital part of life.

The Rabbis had passed the Talmud on from generation to generation. The people accepted the Talmud like a Bible. To them it was a law meant to be obeyed. Notice when our Lord Jesus came to earth He did not conform His life or ministry to the Talmudic Laws. It seems He even had a radical opinion when it came to women.

Notice John 4:27: And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? Or, why talkest thou with her? The disciples marveled because he was talking to a woman, not because she was a bad woman, just because she was a woman.

Perhaps they marveled also just because he was talking to a woman, since in times of Christ no Jewish rabbi would take out time to speak with a woman. To them all women were insignificant. Women were only to bear children and to take care of their husbands. Religiously speaking she was taught that a woman was inferior and subordinate.

[Sister Alvear]

Our Lord Jesus showed a different attitude. His principles were different than the everyday Jewish life and attitudes. Jesus did not rebuke the women that spoke (see Luke 8:47; 11:27; 13:13).

Jesus put aside their Talmud with its severe laws and restrictions about women. He did what no other rabbi would have done at that time. He declared that one of His objectives was “to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

John 8 is an example of prejudice born within the Talmud. John 8:3: “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst- -.”

They were not really concerned with Moses’ Law. Had that been, they would have brought the man also. They had caught them in the act of adultery, but they brought the woman only. This was a set up of the Pharisees to trap Jesus.

Jesus ignored the entrapments of the Pharisees. Though there were many injustices towards women, Jesus continued in silence writing in the sand. The men went away ashamed and confused.

The Jews scandalized his friendship with Mary and Martha, but he paid no attention. Jesus did not accept the Talmud as divine law. “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:1-9).

Jesus paid no attention to their Talmud. The scribes understood what Jesus was getting at. My friend, crucial issues are at stake. Will we lapse into the stifling silences? Will you join the oppression of women by calling it God’s will?

Do you know where it states: “A woman is not to come forward to read and whoever teaches his daughter the Torah is like one who teaches her obscenity - Rather should the words of the Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman. (Rabbi Eliezer: Mishnah Sotah 3,4).

In the Old Testament women proclaimed the faith. The voices of women broke through the barriers. Admittedly, the proclamations of these women were few and far between. The male culture succeeded in stifling most of the women, but their voices came through and their voices will continue to come through.

Do you know that no woman ever spoke against Jesus? Even Pilate’s wife defended Him saying Ado nothing against this just man. When those men were fighting about who would sit next to the throne, it was only Mary that perceived His death was near. It was Mary that anointed His feet. Judas rebuked her, but Jesus said, "she is preparing me for my death. She showed more perception than all the men did together.

When the multitude was scorning Him, it was the daughters of Jerusalem that were weeping. When the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jews, it was the women that were walking in the darkness of the garden with oil to anoint their Lord.

It seemed that the women understood that they were in the presence of their best friend. The day of Pentecost rang Jubilee bells for all women. Acts 2:16-18: But this is that - which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:


In the long history of the church, God has conducted its affairs in a way that often was beyond human understanding. Peter once said, If then God gave them the same gift to them as he gave us...who was I (who are we) that I (we) could withstand God (Acts 11:1).

I Corinthians 14:34-35: 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 satin the law. 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.

[Sister Alvear]

These two scriptures seem to confuse people about women more than any other scriptures of the Bible. It that seems at face value they are an open variation to the rest of the Bible. Why does it not fit in with the rest of the Bible? Why such a hard and cruel commandment? Why so severe, so shocking? Why such a cruel, harsh command made by an apostle of Lord Jesus Christ? Much worse than the Old Testament laws and yet it was supposed to be in a better dispensation. This was supposedly a time of a better promise.

I Corinthians 14:37: 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. Here, he contrasts the commandment of the Lord with the precepts of men, which the oral law of the Jews taught.

Paul gave all permission to speak in his universal rule, but a moment before in verse 3, for ye may all prophecy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Silence in the text in I Corinthians in the Greek means, absolute silence, and not a reverence type silence. It means no sound so that would mean no singing, no testifying, no way to operate the spiritual gifts, no preaching, of course not receiving the Holy Ghost, for there is no way to receive it without speaking in tongues. O Consistency, thou art a jewel!

So let’s be consistent. Either a woman’s voice must break the silence of any assembly, whether small or great, or give her an opportunity if the Spirit leads her to proclaim the gospel. But like any other debatable passage, there is a key to understanding it.

The key to understand this Scripture is learning what law Paul is referring to. Returning to I Corinthians 14:34-35, notice it says, "as saith the law." If there be a law that says that, we must find it. The first law of God was the law of innocence and purity found in Genesis 1:28. this is the original law. In that law we find both sexes governing and ruling.

It was not the law of purity and innocence, so it could not be that law. We know that in Genesis 3:15-16, things changed. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 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."

Man ruling the woman was a result of sin. But even with the sin penalty it was not said she could not speak in the church or among men in the future. God did not say that. He did not put this limitation on the woman after the fall. The order of the church must be determined not by the creation or the fall, but by Christ’s work in redemption. The gospel puts both male and female on the same level. We are "fellow workers" in the gospel.

So Paul was not citing from the law after the fall; he was not talking about Moses’ church because women spoke in Moses’ church. Let us examine Numbers 27:1-6 where we see a business meeting. These five girls won the victory because they spoke out in the congregation. They were before the princes of Israel. This was an injustice that was going to be done. They were going to lose their inheritance because they had no brothers.
These girls came to church and argued their case. Do you think that Moses told the girls to be quiet; you cannot speak in church. Moses did not even understand such and attitude or spirit. Moses’ reaction was righteous and just. He took the case before Jehovah and God said the daughters of Zelophehad speak right: They spoke in church and were right!

So in I Corinthians Paul was not speaking from the Law of Moses because the Law of Moses permitted women to speak in church. Education in the law was not forbidden to females in Moses’ time. Only those who have dared sit in Moses’ seat have enacted the harsh dogma. Let the words of the law be burned, but let not the words of the law be imparted to women (a famous Rabbinical decision).

[Sister Alvear]

Notice I Samuel 1:12-14, a happening in the temple (a place of worship). Hannah was in great affliction of soul, so much that she wept sore before the Lord until her voice was gone, and no sound came from her mouth. Eli the priest rebuked her since he thought she was drunk because she made no sound with her voice, only her lips moved. Eli was concerned because she was not making noise with her mouth.

Returning to I Corinthians 14:34-35, some will say the girls in Numbers had a legal problem and that Hannah was praying for a son; but certainly no woman could preach in Moses’ church. Well, let’s look once again in Luke 2:36. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, and a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. It was the temple where Anna observed Moses’ law, and there she abode day and night speaking of the
coming Messiah. She spoke to all that awaited redemption of Israel.



She spoke with them about Messiah. Each one that came to the temple listened to her speak of the Redeemer. It isn’t recorded anywhere that anyone ever rebuked her for speaking or prophesying in the temple. Acts 7:44 calls it the tabernacle (church) in the wilderness.

Paul was not speaking of the law of innocence or the law after the fall or even the Law of Moses. So what law was he speaking of? Some will say, Paul made his own law. I cannot believe that because of his attitude in other places about women. AAnd I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3). Paul states that Euodias and Syntyche have contended side by side with him in the Lord as contestants would in an athletic competition. A - - that they be of the same mind (Philippians 4:2).

Romans 16:1-2 reads that Phoebe had labored with the Apostle. In Romans 16:3, Pricilla is called by Paul, my helper, fellow helper RV. Romans 16:12 Salute Trephine and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord. Trephine, and Tryphosa, women, and who labored much in the Lord. These are all women; yet the same apostle that wrote I Corinthians 14:34 said in I Corinthians 16:16, that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboreth. (Be in subjection, RV) to everyone that helpeth with us and laboreth.

In Acts 18:26 and 2 Timothy 4:19, the apostle Paul gives Priscilla the honor of first mention. Note also his salutation in Romans 16:3. Greet Pricilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. When Pricilla and Aqua heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:26). It is highly significant that both Pricilla and Aquila are named as instructing and illuminating Apollos. There can be no question that here is a woman engaged in teaching ministry, and she is teaching a man.

Only the prejudiced believer would say Paul did not have women ministers with him. Some would say the women were along to cook, sew, etc., but not participating in preaching. Maybe they were making tea and coffee or washing the preacher’s clothes. But please note that Clement, a man, was doing the same thing because his name was mentioned with the women.

There is no hint in these passages that Paul regarded the work of these women as in any way inferior to his own. If we must always dwell on the disobedience of one woman, and blame her for the fall, then should we not equally dwell on the fact that it was the obedience of one woman that brought redemption to humanity?

If we want to use I Corinthians 14:34, Let the women keep silence, and forbid one half of the human family forever from proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, why not let other expressions like Habakkuk 2:20 silence the other half. It says: Let all the earth keep a silence before him. Jeremiah 8:14, God hath put us to silence. Zechariah 2:13, "Be silent, O all flesh before the Lord."

We know that there is a difference in the original word in I Corinthians 14 and I Timothy. The same word of I Timothy is translated "quietness" in 2 Thessalonians 3:12 where Paul says, Awe command and exhort that with quietness they work and eat their own bread." No one interprets this passage to mean that Paul was commanding men to be dumb when going about their work, but only that they do their job without making fuss about it.

[Sister Alvear]

And so with the women, in fact nor "to usurp authority over the man" does occur in the original. But even so, it is no problem either way because usurp meant "to take someone else’s power, position, job when you do not have the right to." I do not believe any godly woman tries to do this.

I Corinthians 14 and I Timothy contain no reference to women sent out to preach the gospel by the call of God’s Spirit. Let us continue to study what law Paul was citing from.

The very reason the Holy Ghost was given was to equip us with power to be witnesses. In Acts 2 when the Holy Ghost fell from heaven the very first time, it fell upon both men and women (Acts 1:14-15).

If women were to be in silence in the church as some say, then they could not receive the Holy Ghost. For one must speak in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. So in Acts 2, we have both men and women speaking in tongues. Paul could not have been quoting from Biblical Law in First Corinthians 14:34.

Some will say if the apostle quoted it, he endorsed it. Paul quoted not to endorse it, but to rebuke it, to reject it, to deny its authority on a Biblical basis. It was not a command to the church and not a law to be obeyed by Christian women.

Notice what he said in verses 35 and 36. This is the language of Judaizers at Corinth. Paul answered back in the words; "What? Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?" In other words, I did not teach you this. What I write are commandments (NOT THE TALMUD). Paul taught that a woman could pray out loud, could prophecy, and could preach.

We must comprehend the background of the New Testament Church that was mixed with Jews and Gentiles. Even the converted Jews still observed the Talmud. They believed it was inspired scripture and fought against Paul. The greatest battle of Paul’s ministry was fighting against the Judaizers. They were "a thorn in the flesh" to Paul. He fought against them in every church established. This doctrine had come into the Corinth church and they were teaching something Paul had not taught them. For this reason, he said the word of God came not out from you but to you. In others words, I don’t bring this doctrine.

We must understand the problems at Corinth concerning the Talmud that Paul was trying to solve. The Jews continued believing the Talmud and still believe in it today! But the Talmud was not inspired, not in the days of Paul nor in our day; and never was! It was purely a commentary on what they thought the Torah said.

These attitudes from Judaism passed into Christianity. On other occasions, these Judaizers questioned Paul’s right to be an apostle. They said only the twelve were apostles; Paul was not included. They also did not like Paul’s stand on women preachers (I Corinthians 9:1-6).

Paul had to defend his right to be an apostle. They were teaching things Moses did not teach. I Corinthians 9:1-3 and I Corinthians 5:9, show it was a letter. Remember Paul withstood Peter on occasion because Peter wanted to put women back under the law. In I Corinthians 15, Paul gave a list to prove the resurrection of Jesus. In the list, he did not mention a woman. Why? He could not; their feelings were so strong against that in the church at Corinth, and so implanted in them were the laws of the Talmud, he could not mention a woman.

What a shame when it was the women who first discovered that Christ had risen. It was to the women that Jesus had said, "Go and tell that I have risen."

No matter how good a preacher you are you are only repeating a story that Jesus told the women to tell. For if it would not have been for His resurrection, His victory over death, hell, and the grave, we could not be where we are today. That is the core of the gospel. So put your guns aside, beat your swords into plowshares and your spears into pruning hooks, and let’s get on with evangelizing the world.

Do not be guilty of setting yourself up as God - deciding whose mouth to open or close. Don’t let the resurrection message that we must carry to the Four Corners of the world get diluted with sour feelings over who takes the message to the lost.

While preachers spend enormous energy debating and deciding who will be the one to carry the gospel, the devil laughs and continues working full speed ahead toward his purpose, and if we are not careful, we’ll help him do it!

Why crush the tongue that could tell a liberating message to captives? Do you realize God’s people that is, God’s messengers carry the only light left for this dark, sinful world? Why try to snuff out a part of it?

We have the only lasting hope, the only real miracle, the only eternal promise, and yet some of our methods resemble India’s Castle System.

It was the Pharisees that always stood on their feet. They muttered and ground that truth belonged to them only and they only had a right to spread it. They pulled their long self-righteous, cloaks around them and condemned the innocent. But did you notice Jesus never condemned - except those that condemned?