CAN WOMEN TEACH OR PREACH THE HOLY GOSPEL?

   Christianity is not as easy as we pronounce it. The Earlier Church was faced by terrible conditions as the saints were thrown into imprisonment and killed by the Romans. This was due to their hatred towards Christianity. The holy women of that time were also disgraced. Therefore, it was decided that majority of the women should live in their houses, take care of their children and family, and the men should go and face the music of the Romans; then the women can learn this from their husbands at home—this formed a chain of teaching and learning, and it was practiced in Rome as well as other brutal areas. The Holy Gospel has discussed on many occasions about this. Therefore, it was not possible for all the women to take part in preaching; instead their duty was to comfort and help the remaining. The time passed on and the situations changed steadily; now the women gradually started taking part in teaching and preaching The Holy Gospel, but remaining in the limits as described in The Holy Bible.

    Ever since the advent of Modernized Christianity, teaching and preaching of The Holy Gospel has taken a new form. There are controversial views on the subject that can women preach The Holy Gospel or not? The main source of this query is taken from 1 Corinthians 14:34-36, where Paul writes: “Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church….” (The Holy Bible: New American Standard, Broadman and Holman Publishers, Tennessee.)

    Certainly these lines show that women should not preach or teach The Holy Gospel. However, the surface meaning cannot fulfill our mission. You will be surprised here that I don’t agree with the translator in this regard. I have my own interpretation as I have consulted this with Arabic, Persian and Urdu translations. The translator here has unknowingly used the word “permitted” instead he should have used here the word “ordered” as the versions of Arabic, Persian and Urdu translate this with a word “hukum” which means “order.” Now the actual translation becomes: “Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not ordered to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says…”

    Kindly note that here Paul has not used the words “ordered not to;” instead he has used the words “not ordered to” The words “not ordered to” elucidate that women are not forced to speak in churches; which means that they can speak but there is no compulsion on them in this matter. On the other hand, the words “not permitted to” suggest that if women speak in churches, they commit sin and break the Law. Therefore, the whole meaning changes quite severely.

    Now let us consider the second part of this verse which says: “…but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church….” The Law here refers to Genesis 3:16: “… yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” For further clarification of the word “subject themselves” see 1 Peter 3:1 : “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands …” This submission suggests the superiority of man over woman, as woman was derived from man, and for man. However, The Holy Bible also accepts the equal importance of both and says that no one can survive alone. 

    Now over viewing the above discussion, it becomes quite clear that The Holy Bible does not ban women to speak in churches; instead they are not permitted to speak before their husbands—this speaking is not normal conversation but it is quarreling or ill-tempered discussion, as The Holy Bible teaches us to love every one.

    Surely, the women are permitted to speak in churches but are not ordered to speak. There is no compulsion on them. And The Holy Bible proves this; Acts 2:17-18 clarifies this in the following words, this text can also be harmonized with Joel 2:28-32 : “And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream Dreams; even upon My bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy…” Now just think if women were not permitted to speak in the churches, then why The Holy Bible speaks about them?

    Now let me give you some more Biblical references concerning the said subject. Romans 16:1-15 gives a strong foundation to defend my case. It clearly explains the role of women in the Early Church: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well….” This includes a list of women working for Lord and Paul appreciates their efforts. Then how can Paul ban them from speaking in churches, certainly this is a misunderstood phenomenon. Another strong reference can be given from Matthew 28:5-7: “And the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead….” Now the women were advised to spread this Good News; and for your interest, the very word Gospel means Good News; so how can anyone prevent women from spreading The Holy Gospel?

    Certainly, Paul’s interpretation has been wrongly judged by many theologians. Now take another verse from Acts 21:9: “Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.” Therefore, The Holy Bible speaks of women prophesying, teaching and preaching The Holy Gospel. So where you place this objection that women can not teach or preach The Holy Gospel? Certainly, as I have said earlier, this is a misunderstanding about Paul’s Epistle due to less understanding of the Early Church’s state of affairs.  

    Thus, over viewing the above discussion, it becomes quite clear that The Holy Bible permits women to teach and preach The Holy Gospel. However, one should keep in mind that this permission holds some obligations as well. For instance, if you have an appointment with some high-ranked official, you will prepare and dress up like a gentleman. However, more preparation is required to go before God. Wearing shorts, while praying or preaching, does not make any sense to me. This does not create an environment of respect; rather, it looks as if we were to visit our worldly mates and not the Jehovah God. Paul has rightly pointed out this fact on more than one time, for reference see 1 Corinthians 11:3-16: “… But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head…. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels….Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for covering. But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.”

    This is what The Holy Bible calls a submission. For further inquiry, see 1 Peter 3:1-6: “…And let not your adornment be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with imperishable quality of gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

    Can you tell me today how many women fulfill this? You will say that the world has changed and modernized. But will you also say that the Word of God has also changed and modernized? No, never, the Word of God is unchangeable. It is constant and holds true for all ages and civilizations. Covering the head and body properly suggests a sense of respect—the respect that we show towards God, our Lord. We should abide by the laws described in The Holy Bible and not what is taught by the modernized society. He wants us in pure form, pure from the heart.

    Moreover, there are many misleading ministries working today. They are working for Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ . And women play a vital role in these ministries. Although they perform miracles and preach amazingly, yet they preach not what they should preach. They teach and preach, perform miracles but of what use? They take The Holy Spirit  just as a toy in their hands and play with it; about these The Holy Gospel also warns us. All this is due to Modernized Christianity and lack of True Christian Faith understanding—modern women are the role models of this. 

    Therefore, one should keep it in mind that The Holy Bible allows women to prophesy and preach but it has to be done in a manner which The Holy Bible describes and not any other manner, which the Law prohibits. I am hopeful that this explanation will serve your purpose and will surely force you to think it otherwise. May God Bless you all. (Amen).

                 

Brother in Christ,

Jamshed Gill