Galatians 3:27-28
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• We observed the following from those texts:
- God revealed the same doctrine to everyone [1 Cor 14:33; 4:17]
No personal or cultural preference; God’s orders [1 Cor 14:37]
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• We observed the following from those texts:
- God revealed the same doctrine to everyone [1 Cor 14:33; 4:17]
- God set men’s/women’s roles at creation [1 Cor 14:33; 1 Tm 2:13]
Roles “in church” are an extension of roles given at creation;
part of the woman’s role “in church” [assembly] is to “keep
silent” [not address the assembly] [1 Cor 14:34-35; 1 Tim 2:11-12]
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• We observed the following from those texts:
- God revealed the same doctrine to everyone [1 Cor 14:33; 4:17]
- God set men’s/women’s roles at creation [1 Cor 14:33; 1 Tm 2:13]
- God did not say woman is not able to lead: she’s not permitted
This is very clear in 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:11
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• We observed the following from those texts:
- God revealed the same doctrine to everyone [1 Cor 14:33; 4:17]
- God set men’s/women’s roles at creation [1 Cor 14:33; 1 Tm 2:13]
- God did not say woman is not able to lead: she’s not permitted
- This is God’s authority, which both man and woman must obey
cp. 1 Corinthians 14:36-37
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• In this lesson, we will examine:
- Some “‘Biblical’ objections” to this teaching on women’s roles
so-called “contradictory” passages
other Bible passages relevant to the issue
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 A hotly debated, widely misunderstood topic
 To understand, must know what the Bible says
• Last time, we examined the two major Bible texts that
deal with the subject: 1 Cor 14:33-37; 1 Tim 2:11-15
• In this lesson, we will examine:
- Some “‘Biblical’ objections” to this teaching on women’s roles
- Practical applications of the Bible’s teaching on women’s roles
what can women do “in the church”?
what can women not do “in the church”?
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 Galatians 3:27-28
‘Biblical’ Objections
Galatians 3:27-28
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
Argument: If neither “male nor female” there is complete
equality; men’s and women’s roles are done away in Christ
Context: Have all literally then become males (“sons”)? No!
Context: The issue is not roles, but eligibility for receiving an
inheritance of God [symbolic: by law only a Jew, a freeman,
or a male would be eligible to receive a given inheritance]
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 Galatians 3:27-28
• In its context, this is not an issue of women’s roles
 Lk 2:36-38; Acts 2:17-18; 21:9; 1 Cor 11:5
• Argument: Women taught with “authority over men”
when they prophesied “in church”, in God’s will
• Reply: Women didn’t teach with “authority over men”;
the context in 1 Cor 11 is of women’s submission
• Reply: This wasn’t done “in church” – in the context of
prophesying “in the church”, women “are not
permitted to speak” [1 Cor 14:34]
‘Biblical’ Objections
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 Galatians 3:27-28
• In its context, this is not an issue of women’s roles
 Lk 2:36-38; Acts 2:17-18; 21:9; 1 Cor 11:5
• Women not teaching “with authority” or “in church”
 Rm 16:1-2
‘Biblical’ Objections
Romans 16:1-2
1
2
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of
the church in Cenchrea,
that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of
the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has
need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and
of myself also.
Argument: servant is Greek diakonos; literally “deaconess”
or “minister”; ‘deaconess’ would be a position of authority
Reply: “Deacon” (or ‘deaconess’ does not describe “position
of authority”, but rather a “position of service” [an “errandrunner”]; no Bible text indicates deacons had any authority
Reply: All Christians are to be ‘deacons’ in the broadest
definition of the term: we are all to be servants one of
another, whether male or female [cp. Rom 12:6-7; etc.]
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 Galatians 3:27-28
• In its context, this is not an issue of women’s roles
 Lk 2:36-38; Acts 2:17-18; 21:9; 1 Cor 11:5
• Women not teaching “with authority” or “in church”
 Rm 16:1-2
• There is nothing that demands Phoebe be seen as one
in a position of authority
• Context of 1 Tim 3:12 says Phoebe wasn’t one of these
deacons anyway – not a title, but a description
‘Biblical’ Objections
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 What can women do “in the church”?
• Sing with the other Christians [Eph 5:19; Col 3:16]
-Though “speaking” [Eph 5:19], “teaching and admonishing”
[Col 3:16], she is not addressing the assembly, or taking a role
of leadership or authority in her participation
Practical Applications
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 What can women do “in the church”?
• Sing with the other Christians [Eph 5:19; Col 3:16]
• Pray with the other Christians [Acts 1:14; 12:12; etc.]
- In following along in a prayer that is being led, even if she says
an audible “Amen” at the end, the woman has not become the
leader or the authority of the prayer, addressing the assembly
Practical Applications
The Bible and the role of women in the church
 What can women do “in the church”?
• Sing with the other Christians [Eph 5:19; Col 3:16]
• Pray with the other Christians [Acts 1:14; 12:12; etc.]
 What can women not do “in the church”?
• LEAD songs [including solos], prayers, or sermons
- Anytime that a woman takes a leadership role and addresses
the entire assembly, she has overstepped the boundary that
God has placed on her role
• Be elders or evangelists [both require certain authority
over men: see 1 Tm 5:17; Hb 13:17; 2 Tm 4:1-5
Practical Applications
The Bible and the role of women in the church
God has clearly established roles for men and women;
And through those roles he designed to bring about
a savior – which He did in Jesus Christ!
Have you submitted to God in Christ
so that you may fulfill your role
as a saint in service to God?