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Galatians 3:27-29 - PART I

What is a woman’s role in the 21st Century church? A very important and crucial question women in the church are asking today! And depending on what denomination or religious affiliation you belong to, the answer can be as varied and as perplexing as the number of denominations and congregations found in America. There is, however, irony in this question. Women can teach astrophysics at a Christian university, but CANNOT teach an adult Sunday school class in church. She can work as a certified public accountant for a Christian company, but CANNOT keep the treasury’s books in some churches. A woman can be a trustee in a Christian college, but CANNOT serve on the church’s board of directors. She can be chief administrator at a Christian hospital, but she CANNOT serve on the church council of elders. A woman can lead children’s worship, but she CANNOT conduct a congregational worship. What is a woman to do? Does the Bible truly exclude women from serving the church in these and other capacities?

The answer IS NOT found in a debate between denominations, nor between councils, nor between church leaders! But the answer IS found in Scripture. It is found in the historical and biblical records. What is then, the starting point for such a controversial topic? One of the main difficulties is found on the teaching of the biblical account itself. What may be clear biblical teaching to one person could be just the opposite to another. Controversial Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 are typically the starting and ending point of the discussion. But a more constructive approach might be to start from the biblical and historical data of the ministry roles women assume in the first century church. Let’s begin our quest with this question as our starting point, “What ministry roles did women assume in the first century church?”

THE MINISTRIES OF WOMEN IN BIBLICAL CULTURE

In which ministries of the church can women be involved? Some argue that all ministries of the church are open to women. Others believe any role labeled as “ministry” is closed to women. Still others think women can be involved in the ministries of the church as long as no authority is attached to the activity. In other words ✔ A woman can teach, but not with authority ✔ A woman can prophesy, but she cannot judge ✔ A woman can give her personal testimony in a congregation, but she cannot preach. And this double standard in society has resulted in this age old question, “What ministry roles did women assume in the first century church?”

WOMEN IN MINISTRY IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES

The range of roles women played during Old Testament times is vast and wide.

❶ Miriam - Was Moses’ sister and a multi-talented individual who possessed musical, poetic, and prophetic gifts. After Israel crossed the Red Sea, the Bible says Miriam took a tambourine and led all the women in praise of God’s mighty act of deliverance, “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” Exodus 15:20. It was Miriam who, as prophetess, was sent by the Lord (along with her two brothers) to lead Israel, “For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.” Micah 6:4. In fact, Miriam’s ministry was of such importance, than even after the Lord struck her with leprosy, Israel could NOT travel until she had been restored back to them, “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee...And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.” Numbers 12:13-15.

❷ Deborah - Was called a prophetess, “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.” Judges 4:4. The Hebrew word for “Prophetess” is <nebiy'ah> meaning; inspired woman. This word is the female gender of the Hebrew word <nabiy> used for prophet, and the same attributes, characteristics, authority and inspiration of a male prophet is also attributed to Deborah! Deborah also held court in the hill country of Ephraim where ALL Israel (men and women alike) came to her to have their disputes settled, “And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Judges 4:5. Deborah was so respected by the people that Barak, the commander of her troops, refused to go into battle without her, “And Barak said unto her [Deborah], If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” Judges 4:8.

❸ Huldah - Female roles were less evident during the period of the monarchs. Even so, a notable woman ranks among the powerful prophets of antiquity. The best known in history and Scripture is a female prophet named Huldah. She was active during the time of Jeremiah and Zephaniah, and king Josiah sent a delegation to Huldah to inquire about the Book of the Law that had been discovered when the temple was being renovated, “So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.” 2 Kings 22:14. It was Huldah’s prophetic word to obey everything written in this book that brought about the religious reforms of the 7th century B.C., “And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess...and they spake to her to that effect. And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.” 2 Chronicles 34:22-25.

❹ Noadiah - Was a female prophet during the postexilic period, and was hired by Sanballat, along with other prophets, to prevent Nehemiah’s efforts of rebuilding the temple walls, “My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.” Nehemiah 6:14. The fact that Noadiah is one of the prophets mentioned by name is indicative of the leadership she gave to this influential group.

Two additional ministry roles that Israelite women assumed during biblical times were that of a “diplomat” and “priestly service.”

❺ Wise Women - These women were usually sent on diplomatic missions. In 2 Samuel 14:1-21, Joab (David’s general) sent a “wise woman” from Tekoa to persuade king David to forgive his son Absalom’s vengeance against his stepbrother and to facilitate reconciliation within the royal family. In 2 Samuel 20:14-22 we also find the “wise woman” of Abel Beth Maacah, whose expert counsel saved her city from destruction at the hand of David’s troops.

❻ Priestly Service - Women also served at the entrance of the tabernacle. The Scriptures reveal that the bronze basin and stand in the tabernacle were made from the mirrors of “the women who served” at the entrance, “And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Exodus 38:8. The Hebrew word for “assembling” and “assembled” is <tsaba> meaning; an army or servants, perform, wait upon. This is the same Hebrew word used to describe the work of the Levites in the tabernacle, “From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.” Numbers 4:23. And “This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Numbers 8:24. The Hebrew word for both “perform” an “wait” is also <tsaba> meaning; an army or servants, perform, wait upon.

When one studies other Scriptures related to women and the tabernacle, one can conclude that one of women’s function was to guard the entrance to the tabernacle. This is very possible, especially when you consider that when Jesus was brought before Annas (the patriarch of the high priests) for questioning, the guard on duty was a woman, “But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.” John 18:16. There is no notion in the Old Testament that female ministry was wrong, but the reality of the situation was that domestic needs (bearing and raising children) left little time to pursue public roles. Those involved in the public arena were generally upper class women who were able to delegate their domestic tasks to other women in the household. Women like Rebekah, whose influence on Jacob’s household was great (Genesis 27:1-40). Bathsheba, whose influence and power help her son Solomon gain the kingship of Israel (1 Kings 1:15-21). Queen Esther, whose word instantly commanded obedience (Esther 4:15-17; 9:29-32). And the daughters of Zelophad, whose appeal to Moses to inherit land moved the heart of God (Numbers 36:1-13).

NEXT MONTH - WOMEN IN MINISTRY DURING NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.