Myth: Women are not allowed to speak in church.

Fact: This is not true! There are two Scriptures that get mis-taught, to come to this false conclusion, and they are 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. Let us look at these two passages, within context, and see for ourselves what they really say.

1 Corinthians 14:33-40:

---
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.

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

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.

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
---

The above is about keeping order in the church service, so that there is no confusion. Earlier in this same chapter, it also discussed how to have people speak in tongues in an orderly fashion, instead of all at once, or if there were multiple people with prophecies or a word from the Lord, to speak one at a time.

As for women not speaking, it says "if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home." The learning time is when the preaching is occurring. 'Asking their husbands at home,' indicates a familial authoritative order. Therefore, if the wife has a problem with the sermon/teaching, she is to ask her husband about it later, at home, and not to disturb order in the church by asking during the sermon/teaching. When one must speak up, it is the job of the husband, because he is the head of the family. Therefore, the family should all be on the same page. In keeping order in the church, the husband speaks up for the whole family. This is the familial order:

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" -Ephesians 5:22-25

The 1 Corinthians 14 passage above clearly refers to married women. If a woman is single, then it is expected that her father would be the one to speak up. There are exceptions, such as a single woman with a father who has died. In this case, I'd personally suggest she ask her question to the preacher, after the church service is over.

The women/wives remaining silent was to keep order in the church during the sermon/preaching/learning time. The husband is the head of the family, therefore if something needed to be said, it was the husband's job, as the spokesperson on behalf of his family and himself.

The other 'silent' Scripture backs this up, as showing that this is correct...

1 Timothy 2:11-13:

---
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.
---

"The woman learn in silence with all subjection." THE woman, instead of women, indicating a wife. We also see this with "the man," where it says "nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." "The woman" refers to a wife, and "the man" refers to the husband. This is made clear, when we see in verse 13 it says "Adam was first formed, then Eve." From there, it talks about the deception in the garden of Eden, between Adam and Eve, and then about the husband and wife couple in regards to childbearing.

Just like with the 1 Corinthians 14 passage, the 1 Timothy 2 passage is clearly referring to wives being silent during the teaching part of the service - "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection." Also notice it says "with all subjection." With all subjection to who? To her husband - her familial authoritative head - "nor to usurp authority over the man..." Just like in the 1 Corinthians 14 passage, women are to be silent during the teaching/preaching portion of church services. If something must be spoken, it's the husband's job, as the representative of the family. This helps keep order in the church.

If the husband did not speak up, and the wife thought he should have, or she has a question, she is to ask him when they get home.

As you can see, the Bible does not teach that women are to be silent in church. It only says they are to be silent to learn - the husband is the spokesperson on behalf of the family.

We read of multiple instances where Christian women spoke in church - prayer, prophesying, giving praise, asking for prayer or counsel, and more. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to ALL Christians, not just men, and some of those gifts involve teaching, speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc. Women are allowed to exercise these gifts in church, just as the men are. God is not a respecter of persons. Christians are Christians to him, regardless of gender:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." -Galatians 3:28

Myth: Women are not allowed to be deacons in the church.

Fact: This is not necessarily true. There were female deacons. One of the female deacons in the bible was Phebe. Take a look:

"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" -Romans 16:1

The word "servant" above, is translated from the Greek word "diakonos." That is the very same word translated as "deacon" elsewhere in the New Testament. Diakonos seems to come from the Greek word "diako," which means 'to run errands.' Diakonos means 'one who executes the commands of another; a servant.' Therefore, women can be deacons, as we see that Phebe was one, and she was welcomed as one. In fact, in Romans 16:2, the church at Rome was instructed to "assist her {Phebe} in whatsoever business she hath need of." Further, in verse 3, we see another woman mentioned. Priscilla was Aquila's wife, and in this spot of Scripture, her name was mentioned before her husband's name. Paul goes on to say how much help both Priscilla and Aquila have been to him.

With this said, there is an important distinction to make. While Christian women are allowed to be deacons, as in serving Christ and His church, they are not to hold the office of a deacon or deaconess in church services. The office of 'deacon' is for men. This is again because of the familial headship. The husband is the spokesperson for the family, and the wife is to submit to her husband.

Women can be deacons, but cannot hold the office of deacon in church services:

"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." -1 Timothy 3:8-13

Myth: Women are only allowed to teach the Scriptures to other women, and not to anyone else.

Fact: This myth is generally generated from the following Scripture...

Titus 2:3-5

---
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
---

Wait a minute. Nowhere does it say above that women are only allowed to teach other women. It doesn't say that in the above passage, nor anywhere else in the Holy Scriptures. The above says that older women are to teach younger women the above, just like older men are to teach younger men:

"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience." -Titus 2:2

"Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." -Titus 2:6-8

And servants were to be taught:

"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." -Titus 2:9-10

Another Scripture that some people run to, to teach that women are not allowed to teach men, is the following:

"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." -1 Timothy 2:12

If read in context in the chapter, you'll see that this is referring to a wife usurping authority over her husband. This is in keeping the familial order, and has nothing to do with women teaching the Scriptures. This scripture is in regards to women being silent during the preaching/teaching portion of church services. See the above myth about women keeping silent in the church. It's the first one in this article.

Did Phebe, Priscilla, and the many other women mentioned in the New Testament only teach other women, and no one else? Absolutely not, as you'll see in my answer to the next myth.

Myth: Women are not allowed to preach.

Fact: Galatians 3:28 tells us that there is neither male nor female in Christ, we are both one and the same when it comes to Jesus. Women are under a familial authoritative order, to show a lesson to the world and baby Christians about Christ's relationship with the Church. See Ephesians 5.

As we saw earlier, Phebe was a deacon, traveling and spreading the Gospel:

"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also." -Romans 16:1-2

Priscilla worked right along the side of her husband, preaching the Gospel, to not only women, but men as well:

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." -Romans 16:3-4

If you read Romans 16, you'll see other women mentioned there, as well.

All Christians can preach the Gospel:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." -2 Timothy 3:16-4:2

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:18-20

The words "man" and "he" are often gender neutral in the Bible, unless there is a specific gender qualifier, such as a name, or the word "husband," or "wife," etc. Otherwise, "man" can mean 'human,' and "he" can mean 's/he.'

We see above that Christians are to preach the word. There is no qualifier here, stating that only males are to do so. We are all one in Christ Jesus, and all Christians, regardless of gender, have access to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as laid out in 1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere in the Scriptures. I will give a great example of "he" being gender neutral in a few minutes in this article, so keep reading.

In the below, we see Aquila, along with his wife Priscilla, preaching the Gospel to a man:

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." -Acts 18:24-26

With the above being said, it is important to make a distinction, though. Women are allowed to preach, but not to be a pastor of a church. In the Bible, sometimes the word "bishop" is used for the word 'pastor.' The qualifications for a bishop include the following:

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." -1 Timothy 3:2-7

As we see above, a bishop/pastor in a church must be the husband of one wife, and must rule his house well. Husbands rule their house, while wives guide the house. We also see something unfortunate above, and that is that many men who are "pastors" today are not qualified by the Word of God to be pastors. Pastors are supposed to be married, they are supposed to have well-behaved children, they are supposed to be patient, etc. Many "pastors" do not fall under these and some of the other qualifications, and therefore need to remedy the infractions, or step down from their pastorship.

Why can't women be pastors of churches? The answer centers around what is taught about the husband and wife marital relationship in Ephesians chapter five. We learn in that chapter that the marriage relationship is a picture, or lesson, teaching us about Christ and the church. The husband represents Christ, and he must love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife represents the church, and she must submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ. Therefore, for a woman to pastor a church would mess up this object lesson, for she represents the church, and therefore can't be the pastor of one.

Myth: There are no women prophets.

Fact: This is absolutely false. First of all, prophecy is one of the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12, and nowhere does the Bible say prophecy is only for men. Secondly, women are told specifically they can prophesy:

"But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven." -1 Corinthians 11:5

The above is clear that if women are headcovered, they can prophesy.

Further, there were many women prophets mentioned in the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament, we have women prophets, such as:

Miriam
Deborah
Huldah
Noadiah
Isaiah's wife

In the New Testament, we have women prophets, such as:

Anna
The Daughters of Phillip

There were also some false prophetesses. In the Old Testament, we have the false prophetesses of Ezekiel, and Jezebel (Ahab's wife). In the New Testament, another women named Jezebel was a false prophetess, as mentioned in Revelation 2:20

Further, the Bible says women will/can prophesy. For example:

"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" - Acts 2:17-18

Myth: Women were not allowed to vow the vow of a Nazarite.

Fact: Remember I mentioned earlier in this article that I'd show a great example of "he" as a gender neutral term meaning s/he? Here it is:

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord." -Numbers 6:1-8

There it is, clear as day. Women were able to take the vow of a Nazarite, just as men were - "When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord"

Notice it starts out by calling the "man or woman" "themselves," and then goes on to refer to either gender as "he." This is one of many examples in the Scriptures, where "he" is used as a gender neutral term.

Myth: Under the New Testament, Christian women do not have to cover their heads.

Fact: Up until the 1960s, a large number of churches still practiced the head covering. Thanks to the feminist movement, it wasn't just bras that got burned, but headcoverings were made nearly obsolete. The Scriptures are very clear that Christian women are to cover their heads. I wrote an article proving this in clear, Scriptural detail. Click here to read it.

I also wrote a book about the head covering. You can read it for free, here.

"Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." -1 Corinthians 11:4-6

The above Scripture is crystal clear. Christian women should be covering their heads. Do you disagree with me? Then take a look at my above linked article and book, where I get into this extensively.

Myth: Women have the same role as men, other than reproductive.

Fact: False. Women are given a different role than men. The Scriptures teach us that men are to provide for their family, including also their windowed mothers, etc:

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." -1 Timothy 5:8

Women are to guide the house:

"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully." -1 Timothy 5:14

Men are to work by the sweat of their brow:

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." -Genesis 3:19

Women are to be keepers at home:

"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." -Titus 2:5

Men and women are to compliment each other. They are each two separate halves to one beautiful union. They have different roles and ways they are supposed to be. Each is a half, and when a man and a woman are joined in holy matrimony, those two halves join to be one flesh. The term "my other half" comes from the Bible.

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." -Ephesians 5:31

Myth: Women are to be subservient to men.

Fact: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." -Ephesians 5:20-32

The wife submitting to her husband is an object lesson in Christ's relationship to the church. The wife represents the church, and the husband represents Christ. The wife is to submit to her husband, as the church is to submit to Christ, and the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. This marriage relationship is a great mystery, because it is not of the world, but is concerning Christ and the church. This is the ultimate reason why there is a familial authoritative order.

The only man (other than their father, when young) women are to submit to, is their husband. No Scripture, not one, says that women are to submit to any other man than her husband. (Other than the Scriptures that say Christians should submit one to another). She is to submit to her own husband, not another's husband:

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." -Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." -Colossians 3:18

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives" -1 Peter 3:1

By the way, the above Scriptures clearly teach that polygamy is a no go. The wife is supposed to have her own husband, not be sharing him with other wives.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of false teachings about Christian women, bouncing around in many churches. I once attended a church, where the pastor told my husband to keep me in order, and that I was failing to submit to "pastoral authority." There is no such thing as pastoral authority, and furthermore, the pastor was WRONG in the teaching that he was trying to make me submit to.

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." -1 Peter 5:2-3

"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." -2 Corinthians 1:24

I once went to another church, where if I ever spoke without my husband's being beside me, I was considered as being in the wrong. If I ever spoke to a man without my husband present, I was considered to be in the wrong. If I ever spoke about the Bible, without my husband present, I was considered to be in the wrong. I was basically told to be seen, but not heard.

These two churches had a very wrong and skewed view of the Bible. They were guilty of picking and choosing lone Scriptures out of the Bible, and twisting them, instead of reading the Bible in context, and taking God at His plain Word.

Dear Reader, I hope this article blessed you in your walk with Christ. Let us always refer to the Word of God for truth, and never to any (wo)man, preacher, or church, etc.