Should a woman head the government?

Question: I’ve perused your answered question section, and though this “Does I Timothy 2:11-12 only apply to the assembly?” answer touches on the subject somewhat, it doesn’t specifically address a question I have. What do you think the Bible’s teaching is on whether women can participate in government? With figures like Mrs. Bill Clinton and…

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Does “the whole church” refer only to the men?

Question: I am so appreciative of all the information from your studies of God’s word that you make available on your web site. I have recently been studying, teaching and preaching on the subject of the Christian woman’s role and her silence or quietness. The information on your web site has been so helpful! I…

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Can a woman teach a third-grade boy who has been baptized?

Question: We have a boy in the third grade who, after discussing it with his parents and with their agreement, was baptized.  His Bible school teachers are female.  Can they scripturally continue to teach the class with the boy in the class?  I’ve heard the justifications both ways. If he’s mature enough to become a…

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When and where can women teach today?

by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 21, May 23, 2008. Question: When and where can women teach today? Answer: “Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law” (I Corinthians 14:34). Earlier in…

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Is All of Life Worship?

by Kevin Kay via Biblical Insights, July 2006 That’s what some are saying. In his book, Unbroken Bread, Mike Root says: “Worship is a life given in obedience to God. It’s not a when or where proposition, but a what. It’s what we are. You can’t go to it or leave it, dress for it or from…

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How are prayers handled when a woman’s husband is not a Christian?

Question: My husband is not a Christian. If a woman is not to lead prayer at home when her husband is present, then how are my children to learn to thank God for their food? What are my options? Answer: Where the prior answer assumed that both the husband and wife are Christians, your question deals with a…

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Can a woman lead prayers at home when her husband is present?

Question: I understand why men lead prayer in public and not women (I Timothy 2:11-12; I Corinthians 14:34). But what about my wife and I praying together in private, is it wrong for her to lead us in prayer? Answer: The passage in I Corinthians 14 deals with the worship service (I Corinthians 14:23) and…

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Does the command for a woman not to teach only apply to the assembly?

Question: I have some questions regarding I Timothy 2:11-12. Are these verses concerning a woman learning and teaching general commands or are they specific to the assembly? What, in the context, determines this? Further, I am no Greek scholar. Those who are familiar with the Greek, what is the proper understanding of verse 12? Specifically,…

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What is needed in a deacon’s wife?

Question: Please give me some pointers on how to be a proper wife of a deacon, i.e. physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, etc. I would like to know about all the inward and outward aspects of being a deacon’s wife. Answer: The rule of life for a deacon’s wife is the same as for all Christian…

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Does I Timothy 2:11-12 only apply to the assembly?

Question: What is your opinion regarding Paul’s instruction to Timothy regarding women in I Timothy 2? Is this instruction specific to the assembly or is it more general in nature? For example, some teach that a woman cannot hold a place of authority over a man in any situation, i.e. a Christian woman should not…

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What do I need to know to become a preacher’s wife?

Question: I know that I could become a preacher’s wife. I want to be a good virtuous wife because I have, well, kind of seeing a preacher. I want to do the right things in God eyes and not my eyes. I don’t want to mess it up. I have been praying and seeking God’s…

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Can a woman be a pastor?

Question: Can a woman be ordained as a Christian pastor? Answer: The word “pastor” is used very loosely in the denominations. Generally, in a denomination a pastor is a preacher. Women are not able to be preachers since God through Paul stated, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority…

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The Power of an Example

by Gilbert Alexander When God planned marriage, He planned a helper for man, a woman, a wife (Genesis 2:18-24). Hers is a role of subjection to her husband (Ephesians 5:22), a role of obedience to her husband (Titus 2:1-6). She is taught to be wise and careful in judgment (discreet), to be pure (chaste, not…

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Are the writings of women a form of teaching men?

Question: I understand the principle of women not teaching a man (I Timothy 2:12 ). I occasionally run across articles written by women on Bible topics. Oftentimes these are on websites targeted toward women, though anyone can read them. But I’ve also seen them on general audience websites, and even in print publications targeted toward…

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Can a woman teach a man in private?

Question: One of our lady members has a sister and brother-in-law who are not members of the church. She asked her brother-in-law if he would study with me. He told her, “No!” Only with herself and his wife. So, this sister asked me if she would be wrong teaching them in the private setting of…

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Women in the Church

I.         Through the ages, it has always been the men who lead the worship of God             A.        In the patriarchal age, it was the fathers (hence patriarch) who performed the sacrifices to God.             B.        Under the Old Law, the priests were restricted to males from the tribe of Levi.             C.        The question is what role can women participate in…

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Could you clarify when women may speak in church?

Question: I have been having a terrible time in our Bible study on Sunday mornings.  I had been approached by at least two people saying it bothered them that I spoke up in class.  One couple said that I was usurping the authority of the speaker and that I should know better than to be…

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The Blessings of Being a Preacher’s Wife

by Barbara C. Adams Originally published in Truth Magazine, March 22, 1973, anonymously Republished in Searching the Scriptures, March 1978 Republished in an abridged form in Biblical Insights, October 2006 Tonight is the 23rd of December. In another week a new year will be upon us. It, naturally, is a time for reflection and a time to count…

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The Role of Women

I.         Some people like change. It doesn’t matter if something is broken or not. They have in mind how they would like the world to work, so they proceed to change it.             A.        One of the largest changes in the last 50 years or so has been in our view in the roles of women.             B.        People want…

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Silent in the Churches

Text: I Corinthians 14:34-37   I.         Interest has risen in the subject of women speaking during Bible classes and in the assembly.             A.        I would like for us to delve into this topic in detail, but first I would like to commend the women here.                         1.         Recently, some of the women here became aware there are members here…

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Should the man always make the first move in a relationship?

Question: I am now in a community where most men at my age are married; only one is single. I think he is a very good person, I don’t dress immodestly like I used to. I think physical attraction would not be important for a man seeing a good woman, although, yes it is a…

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Objections to Biblical Limitations on Woman’s Role

by Bobby Graham From beginning to end under every dispensation, the Bible is clear about the role of woman in relation to men.   Hers is a secondary role of submission to her husband in the family and to men in the local church (Ephesians 5:22-24; I Corinthians 14:34-35; I Timothy 2:8-15).   Whatever the culture, Lord always dictated…

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Let Women Keep Silent in the Churches

by W. Frank Walton “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says” (I Corinthians 14:34). What is the silence Paul enjoins upon women? Is it absolute in every situation or is it qualified in a certain situation? This…

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Does my divorce mean I failed as a wife?

Question: Thank you, for your response.  My pastor did not support my decision to divorce my husband.  I was very active and have a deep spiritual conviction, but have felt like I am being condemned and told I am a hypocrite for deciding it was best for my family to leave my marriage. My ex-husband is…

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What does a preacher’s wife do?

Question: I am getting married soon and my future husband will be looking for a church at which to preach.  While I’ve grown up in the church, I’ve never really been around for the “behind the scenes” look at what a preacher’s wife does and what position she holds.  Any information you could give me…

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Does Acts 2:17-18 prove women can be preachers?

Question: I’ve been talking with a person who says Acts 2:17-18 gives women the right to be preachers. I showed him I Corinthians 14:34-37 and I Timothy 2:11-12. I said woman have divinely been given a place, but that place is not to be in authority over a man. Answer: “But this is what was…

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Can a woman teach a teenage boy?

Question: I’d like your input concerning a confrontation that I had with two ladies after services last evening. We have a 14-year-old boy who is not yet a Christian. His mother has been teaching him in our Sunday morning Bible class. I mentioned that we need to assign a “Christian man” to teach him. One…

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Should a woman stay home and not work to take care of the children?

Question: Should a woman stay home and not work to take care of the children? Answer: I find your question perplexing because I don’t know of a greater work or a more difficult work than that of raising children. One of the tasks assigned by God to women is that of home management. “That they…

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Teaching Unpopular Doctrine

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Some questions are difficult to answer, not because the Bible is unclear on a matter, but because there is a strong bias against the correct answer within the culture. Today, we have no difficulty speaking against idolatry. Even non-Christians understand that worshiping an idol is a worthless effort, just as God…

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