Answer # 9

The apostle Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 2:12, Revised Standard Version, "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent." See also 1 Corinthians 14:34.

Paul is explaining that it is not proper for women to exercise administrative ecclesiastical authority over men within the Church. In other words, women are not to become Church elders and should not give sermons.

Based on Paul's teachings, the Church of God does not ordain women speakers. The New Testament does, however, give a precedent for the ordination of deaconesses (I Tim. 3:8-11, Rom. 16:1). Apparently Aquila and Priscilla, who served under Paul's administration, were deacon and deaconess.

In the Church at that time was a powerful, effective teacher named Apollos. Apollos' knowledge was imperfect, though, and "when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26). Here we find a woman and her husband together teaching a man the way of God more perfectly. Notice also Paul's instruction in Titus 2:3-5.

So there are biblical examples of women teaching outside a formal church situation. Parts of the Bible were contributed by women - for example, Hannah's prayer, Miriam's song and the teachings of Lemuel's mother. These were included in the Bible to be read by men and women alike.