Sowing the Seed Series
Class 12 – The Role of Women

I.              The New Testament

A.   Equality in marriage

                                          i.    Both parties have the right to divorce (Matt 19:9, 1 Cor 7:11)

B.   Equality in dependence

                                          i.    Neither party is complete without the other (1 Cor 11:11)

C.   Equality in salvation

                                          i.    In God’s eyes there are no genders when it comes to salvation (Gal 3:28)

D.   Submission to her husband

                                          i.    She must submit to him as she would Christ (Eph 5:22-23)

E.   Dominion over her house

                                          i.    She must rule her house (1 Tim 5:14)

II.            Restrictions

A.   She cannot usurp authority over the man (1 Tim 2:11-14)

                                          i.    Adam was formed first and then Eve

                                        ii.    The woman was in the transgression because she was deceived

B.   She must keep silence in the church (1 Cor 14:34-35)

                                          i.    This does not mean she cannot speak at all

                                        ii.    This also denotes usurping authority because she is commanded to be under obedience

                                       iii.    This is further seen in the reference to the law (Gen 3:16)

III.           Arguments

A.   Women prophesied (Acts 21:9)

                                          i.    Women are to teach but this doesn’t have to denote public preaching (Tit 2:3)

B.   Phoebe was a deacon (Rom 16:1)

                                          i.    Deacon should be translated servant

C.   Junia was an apostle (Rom 16:7)

                                          i.    Apostle should be translated messenger

                                        ii.    The name does not reveal the gender and likely referred to a male

D.   Euodia and Syntyche were “fellow-workers” of Paul (Phil 4:2-3)

                                          i.    We are God’s fellow-workers but that doesn’t mean we are deity (1 Cor 3:9)