Equal Worth, Judgment, Salvation, and the filling of the Spirit

God has graciously created both men and women in His image (Gen. 1:27). Therefore, by nature, men and women share equal worth and dignity in God’s eyes. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they both fell into God’s eternal judgment having become sinners separated from God. When Jesus came to redeem lost sinners, he redeemed both men and women having provided equal salvation in Himself (Gal. 3:28). And with the coming of the Holy Spirit, both men and women, in Christ, have been given spiritual gifts to manifest God’s Holy Spirit for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7).

Different yet Complementary Functions

Without denying the equal worth, eternal judgment, salvation, and filling of the Spirit concerning men and women, God has given them different yet complementary ways of flourishing together for His glory and Gospel. This is displayed in creation, the home, and the church.

Creation

Adam was created first and given God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16–17). Eve was then created to be a suitable helper for Adam (Gen. 2:18). This is the first sign of different yet complementary functions. Adam bears a leadership role in being created first and receiving God’s command, while Eve comes alongside to help Adam in filling the earth and subduing it (Gen. 1:28). Adam’s leadership is further displayed when Yahweh calls for him, not the woman, after they sin in the garden (Gen. 3:9). Paul affirms this leadership role of Adam when he says that sin entered the world through him instead of Eve (Rom. 5:12). The creation accounts give us the first glimpse of different yet complementary functions for men and women.

Home

Moreover, different yet complementary functions of men and women are taught in the home. Men are designated as the head of their wives (Eph. 5:23). And as the head of the wife, men are to love, provide, and protect their wives reflecting the love and care of Jesus Himself for the church (Eph. 5:33). Women, rather, are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22)¹. They are to help (Gen. 2:18), respect (Eph. 5:33), and submit to their husband’s leadership (Eph. 5:22).

Church

In the church, men and women are also given different yet complementary functions. Men are called to occupy the office of elder (synonymous with pastor and overseer) according to the qualifications given in 1 Tim. 3:1–7. The office of elder/pastor must be occupied by men with good character, the ability to teach, who manage their family well, and who are not recent converts. Just prior to giving the qualifications of an elder/pastor, Paul forbids women from teaching or exercising authority over a man (1 Tim. 2:12)². Therefore, authoritative doctrinal teaching and governing authority in the church are the responsibility of elder/pastor men. Men are to stand up and occupy these roles and serve the whole church for Jesus’ sake. Women, although not permitted to teach or exercise authority over a man in the church setting, may still teach women (Titus 2:3–4) and children (Eph. 6:1) in the church.

Arguments Against

What about other Scriptures that seem to contradict this? When Paul says that there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28), he is not obliterating male and female distinctions, but rather emphasizing there are no distinctions when it comes to receiving salvation in Christ. Both male and female are equal in terms of receiving salvation and being in Christ. To remove gender distinctions would contradict Paul’s later teaching on roles within the home (Eph. 5).

What about other interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:11–15? The amount of material written on these five verses is substantial. Every verse in this passage has various arguments and is too much to cover in this short article. Suffice it to say, the crux of differing arguments may be centered in 1 Timothy 2:12 which forbids women from teaching or exercising authority over men. This verse has been argued as a negative use of teaching and exercising of authority over men. Therefore, it is reasoned that if a woman engages in these two activities in a domineering way, then she is forbidden from doing them. However, if she does them in a positive non-domineering way, then she is permitted to carry them out. Nevertheless, the natural reading and conjunctional use between these two Greek infinitives (“to teach” and “to exercise authority”) suggests they should be read in a positive rather than a negative manner³. Paul is not forbidding a domineering use of teaching and exercising of authority over a man, but an absolute use in the gathered church setting. Others have argued that these commands were meant for uneducated women. If the women were trained then the prohibition wouldn’t stand anymore. However, Paul doesn’t prescribe such limitations here. And if he meant that, then why not prohibit uneducated men as well?

What about other women who have done significant things in the Bible?⁴ Didn’t Deborah judge Israel for a time? Weren’t there prophetesses like Miriam, Huldah, Anna, and Philip’s daughters? What about Priscilla helping her husband Aquilla to teach Apollos the truth more accurately (Acts 18:26)? Yes, these women and others did great things for the Lord during their time on earth and should be celebrated. Nevertheless, there is a difference between description and prescription in Scripture. The first describes things that happened but don’t necessarily mean they are always a prescribed practice for all places. The latter prescribes practices for all people, at all places, always. These instances, particularly the ruling and teaching, are descriptions. Deborah did judge, although Barak was supposed to lead and failed. Priscilla did participate in instructing Aquilla, “[b]ut again, this teaching was done in private (Acts 18:26). Priscilla may have been learned, wise, and influential, but there is no indication that she exercised teaching authority over men.”⁵

A Flourishing Partnership

What does it look like for men and women to have a flourishing partnership in the Gospel? First, men and women must see one another as equal in nature, eternal judgement, salvation, and the filling of the Spirit.

Second, men and women must realize their distinct roles as commanded by God. Men are to rise up and lead at home and in the church. They are responsible to lead, love, and protect their wives and families. Moreover, men as elders are responsible to authoritatively instruct the church and govern her for the sake of the people and the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Women are to help, respect, and submit to their husbands and jointly take care of the children at home. Also, women are to pour into other women in the church, teaching them, and may teach the children of the church as well.

Third, men and women must serve and encourage one another in these God designed roles. Each role is a necessary part of worshiping God and serving His purposes (1 Cor. 12:12–27). God has placed the parts of the body, each one of them just as He desired them to be. Men ought to inspire women to make full use of their gifts and abilities to the glory of God. Likewise, women ought to support the men to be what God has intended them to be.

Men and women will flourish together best when they realize their God given equality, their God given roles at home and in the church, and encourage one another to fulfill them.

A Principled Approach

What does a flourishing partnership in the Gospel look like particularly for women? Rather than attempt to answer many questions about specific positions and duties women may or may not hold in the church, we offer a principle based on 1 Timothy 2:12. Does the position or duty take on the teaching or exercise of authority reserved for elder/pastor men? If it does, then the women ought to focus their giftings and energies in a different capacity. This is in no way demeaning to women. Rather, it is God’s design for a flourishing partnership in the Gospel of Jesus.