Is It Okay for Women to Become Pastors?

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Thousands of men and women across the world attend a college or seminary to become pastors, priests, or certified Bible teachers. It’s encouraging that so many people are interested in taking a greater role in the church.

But is it for everyone?

The role of women in the church is a very controversial topic. Are women biblically permitted to be pastors, priests, or even rabbis? Some modern men and women think it’s just fine while other more conservative people do not. Some people think it’s a sexist issue while others fail to see any problem.

What does the Bible say about who serves in places of authority in the church? Paul addresses the issue in his first letter to Timothy along with some historical context.

Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

After his first release from a Roman jail (Acts 28:30), the apostle Paul and his protégé, Timothy, went back to the cities where they had been ministering before Paul’s arrest. One of those cities was Ephesus, which is where he left Timothy behind to deal with the issues the church was having, such as false doctrine, idol worship, and disorder in the church’s leadership.

Paul then went on to Macedonia, which is where he was when he wrote his two letters to Timothy. He intended for the letters to encourage Timothy in his work and to offer some practical advice to the young missionary. The two letters, along with the book of Titus, are now known as the Pastoral Epistles.

In Paul’s first letter, he advises Timothy in five different areas—false doctrine, church order, false teachers, pastoral responsibilities, and proper pastoral conduct and behavior as a leader in the church. Chapter two addresses the issue of women as leaders in the church. At the time, many women were involved in the Ephesian church’s leadership, and it was causing some concern among some of the church members. There was also the issue of women leading others to worship the pagan god Artemis at a nearby temple.

Remember, these people had only recently accepted the truth that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Before then, they were devout Jews. In the first century, women had no authority in the Jewish faith (or anywhere else). The result was confusion and discontent among the men about the role of women within the new church. Paul attempts to clear up the matter as he advises Timothy in his letter.

Women as Learners

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:11-13 NKJ)

Many people have objections over Paul’s statement. But let’s try to think as a first-century Christian and decipher what Paul truly meant in these verses.

“Let a woman learn in silence…” (v11)

In the Greek, the word “let” (manthaneto) has an imperative meaning that indicates women must be allowed to learn in the church. The command was revolutionary for its time. Women were not held in high esteem by either the Jewish or Greek cultures, and some were largely uneducated.

Some scholars theorize that certain women, armed with a new faith and a brand-new church, might have exerted a little too much exuberance in their effort to gain a place of authority and respect. But Paul says they should commit to learning first, not teaching.

He also says they must do it “in silence.” It was not meant as a command to keep their mouths shut but to characterize the role of women as learners first.

“…with all submission.” (v11)

Women could teach in addition to learning, but only to children or other women. They were not permitted to teach men. And they certainly were not to take the authority of the pastors or elders. Instead, they were to commit themselves to humble service. Paul explains this more in verse twelve.

God’s Design for Women in the Church

“And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man…” (v12)

Paul recognizes the importance of teaching within the church, but here he refers to teaching or pastoring an entire church and not teaching in general. Paul further explains 1 Timothy 3:2 and 5:17 that it is the elders who rule over the church and should have spiritual authority, and they should all be men.

Why?

Paul recognizes that God gave men and women uniquely designed roles. He clarifies his point in verses thirteen and fourteen.

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.” (v13-14)

Paul begins by saying, “For Adam…” The word for means he is explaining his previous sentence (verse 12), which has everything to do with the creation story in Genesis 2: God made Adam first then Eve.

His point is that God based a woman’s role in the church on the original creation order. He made her to be a helper (Genesis 2:18), not the authority. Paul also notes that Eve was not positioned to assume any authority over Adam, but she did anyway. And we all know what happened next: Not only did Eve believe Satan’s lies and eat the fruit, but her husband Adam did too. He followed Eve instead of leading her and obeying God. In the end, they both violated God’s design about the roles of men and women.

Paul isn’t saying that women are more easily deceived than men or even unqualified. Rather, he is saying that women are not to be in places of authority where they would teach entire congregations, which include men. To do so would upset God’s order of things. God created Adam first, so men are the rightful authority.

However, modern churches are increasingly allowing women to teach their congregations. Some are in direct violation of biblical doctrine, but others permit it as long as the church’s governing authority (board of directors, council, etc.) are in agreement to allow it. If the men agree to allow a woman to teach, then she may do so.

Qualifications to be a Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, Paul outlines the criteria for becoming a bishop or any leader in the church.

“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” 1 Timothy 3:1

“If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife…For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God.” Titus 1:6-7

In both passages, Paul details what the qualifications are to be a bishop—blameless, the husband of one wife, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine or greed, and rules his house well, among other things—with the first point being that a bishop should be “a man.” Further, the Greek word for bishop is episkopos, and the Greek word for pastor is poimen. Both words, meaning “to shepherd” or “to care for,” are masculine, not feminine.

Paul nor anyone else in the Bible detail the qualifications for a woman to become a pastor.

It’s Not Men vs. Women

It is important to understand that Paul’s words have nothing to do with sexism or male dominance or male chauvinism, though today’s culture would have you believe that. It has nothing to do with men versus women or men somehow being better than women. That would be a lie. In fact, Paul openly welcomed women’s participation in the church and the community.

We can’t disagree that women play a vital role in the church. It’s obvious women are crucial to keeping the ship upright and sailing smoothly. Yet, the Bible makes it clear they are not to be elders (spiritual overseers) or leaders of the church because of God’s design of His creation and His direction of how the church functions. Paul is trying to clarify this point in his letter to Timothy.

This fact doesn’t leave women out in the cold. Though women cannot be bishops or pastors or elders, God has many unique roles for them to play.

Women might teach children or other women in the church. They might manage the office, head certain departments, be worship leaders, lead or direct mission groups, or organize events. The list goes on and on (and on). It’s quite true that God has a wide variety leadership positions within the church for women.

Women in the Bible

Some people might argue that God put several biblical women in places of spiritual authority over men, and so women today should be allowed to do the same. They cite several biblical examples.

Miriam, Moses’ and Aaron’s sister. The Bible says she was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20), but her brothers were the ones who were in charge. At no time was she in a formal position of leading the Israelites, though many people believe she was a leading figure among the women.

Deborah. Judges 4 describes Deborah as a prophetess of great wisdom, and so she performed the tasks of a judge. She showed great courage and leadership after Barak pleaded that she go with him into battle. Deborah was a strong woman, but she was not a bishop or pastor.

Phoebe. Paul describes her as a “servant of the church.” He also adds, “For indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” Because of this description, Phoebe is often called a deaconess, which in Greek means servant. In the early church, deaconesses cared for the sick, poor, strangers, those in prison, children, widows, and anyone else who was in need. Phoebe led a women’s ministry; she was never a pastor or bishop.

Priscilla. She and her husband, Aquila, ministered to a man named Apollos in Acts 18 after he erroneously tried to teach a group of people in Ephesus about the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and told him about Jesus. Apollos then went to Achaia, teaching the truth about Christ. Priscilla, together with her husband, taught Apollos. She did not do this alone, nor did she do it publicly. So, she can’t be called a pastor either.

Lydia. She was the first one in Philippi who converted to Christianity. Acts 16:15 says Paul baptized her and her household. As a wealthy woman, she opened her home to early believers and was not the leader of a house church. Acts 16 also says nothing about her teaching publicly.

God’s Plan and Design

Some people still might disagree with Paul. Some might think it’s perfectly fine that women become pastors or priests or elders. We may have different views and opinions, but we must be unified as a church, recognizing that the Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), perfect (Psalm 119:96), pure (Psalm 12:6), and infallible (Proverbs 30:5). We should never try to alter it. And, we should never pick apart God’s Word, choosing to believe some of it while ignoring other parts of it. Either we believe all of it is true, or we believe none of it. To do otherwise would deny God’s sovereignty and character.

As a messenger of the Lord, Paul felt compelled to instruct the truth of God’s word and set the record straight with Timothy regarding the role of women in the church. He is also setting it straight with us today.

The roles of men and women in the church are not mutually exclusive; they complement each other. Women are not less capable or intelligent or in any way inferior to men. They are certainly not less important in the church. In fact, God has given them an important ministry that plays a crucial role in the health and function of the church. It’s a role that lines up with God’s plan and enables us all to better reach others with the gospel message of Jesus as we grow in our faith.