by Peter John Brooks
“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” (Romans 16:1-2)
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Phoebe was a deacon (Greek word for servant) who traveled from one church to another, carrying on important business for the Lord. Women had significant ministries in the New Testament – such as being deacons – and these ministries are still available to women today.
Are there any other verses that say women can be deacons?
“Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things” (1 Timothy 3:11).
In this verse the word their is not in in the original Greek; it was added later by the translators. The word wives in this verse is often translated women in the New Testament, and it should be translated as women here. This verse lists the qualifications for the women in the church who minister – deaconnesses – of which Phoebe was one. This verse immediately follows the list of qualifications for male deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-10), and it uses the word likewise to show the connection between male and female deacons.
In listing the qualifications for deaconnesses, the Bible says they are to be reverent, which means grave and honorable. They are to not slander, guarding against gossip and negative talk. They are to be temperate – sober and self-controlled. They are to be faithful in all things, being honest, reliable, and consistent.
Do women have a unique ministry role?
Women can be especially good at helping others, and therefore they can be particularly effective ministers. Phoebe for example was helpful to many people, including the apostle Paul. Women are created to be helpers (Genesis 2:18). This female role given at creation is not any less important than the role given to men. Helping is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:28), and it is valuable. The Holy Spirit is called the helper, and all ministry involves helping others by the Holy Spirit. Because women are created to be helpers, they can be particularly good at ministry.
There were several women who traveled with Jesus, supplying his needs and ministering to him (Luke 8:1-3). These women were his helpers.
Priscilla was a helper to Paul along with her husband Aquila (Romans 16:5).
Hospitality is an important way to help others. Women can be particularly good at hospitality. There are several examples of hospitable women in the New Testament such as Mary, Mark’s mother, who opened her home to the church (Acts 12:12). Hospitality is essential since the house church is the basic building block of the kingdom of God, and hospitality makes house churches possible. It’s important for women to be hospitable; it’s so important in fact that if a woman is to be supported by the church in her old age she must have been hospitable to God’s people (1 Timothy 5:10).
Can a woman be in full time ministry?
“And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3).
This verse shows that some women were Paul’s fellow workers who labored with him in the gospel. A woman might dedicate herself to full time to ministry if she is called to do so by God. Such women are worthy of being supported by the church, for “the worker is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18).
Can women minister to men?
Women can minister to men as well as women. We have already seen that Phoebe ministered to Paul, and we saw that many women ministered to Jesus. Another woman who ministered to men is Priscilla.
“When Aquila and Priscilla heard him [Apollos], they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).
Priscilla explained the way of God more fully to Apollos along with her husband Aquila. A woman can minister to men as long as she abides by other Scriptural boundaries.
Can women prophesy?
Women can have the gift of prophecy. Paul desires all believers to prophesy, and this includes women (1 Corinthians 14:5). Philip had four daughters who had the gift of prophecy (Acts 21:9).
Why would God give a woman the gift of prophecy if she cannot speak in the church?
Although women are not allowed to prophesy or speak in the church meeting, but they can prophesy in other contexts such as prayer meetings, Bible studies, to individuals or families, or in other gatherings.
Can a woman prophesy to men?
There is no prohibition against women prophesying to men in the New Testament. Although women are prohibited from teaching men (1 Timothy 2:12), prophesying is different from teaching.
Can a woman be an evangelist as in Ephesians 4:11?
An evangelist has a spiritual gift to share the gospel with power. A woman can effectively share the gospel with men or women, and she can be an evangelist. Mary Magdelene was the first to tell the apostles that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Can a woman be a shepherd as in Ephesians 4:11?
A shepherd is a person with a spiritual gift of shepherding. A shepherd tends to Christians through discipleship, counseling, and guidance. A woman might have a spiritual gift of shepherding, and she can use this gift especially in ministering to women.
Can a woman be a pastor?
The modern concept of pastor, one person ruling a congregation, is not Biblical. It is likely that no one, whether man or woman, is called by God into this position.
Can a woman be a teacher as in Ephesians 4:11?
A teacher is a person who has a gift of expounding the word of God to others. A woman might have a spiritual gift of teaching. A woman with this gift can teach other women (Titus 2:4-5). She can teach children (2 Timothy 1:5). However, she should not teach men, whether inside or outside the church meeting (1 Timothy 2:12).
If a woman has the gift of teaching, shouldn’t she be free to teach everyone within the church?
A person’s spiritual gift may be used to minister to one group of Christians more than another. For example Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, whereas Peter was an apostle to the Jews. The spiritual gift of apostleship operated through Paul and Peter differently, and it was more powerful through each one among one group of people rather than another. In a similar way, a woman with the gift of teaching will operate that gift effectively among women and/or children rather than among men. This gift will also operate outside the church meeting rather than inside it.
Did Priscilla teach Apollos?
The Bible says that Priscilla “explained to him [Apollos] the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26) along with her husband Aquila. This does not mean that Priscilla was teaching Apollos, for that was forbidden (1 Timothy 2:12). Apollos did not know many basic principles about the gospel, for he knew only the baptism of John. Apollos needed to know the gospel more clearly and he also needed to understand the baptism of Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila recognized this and guided him to understand these basic principles. As the husband and wife team ministered to him, Aquila probably took the lead.
Can a woman be an elder?
A woman cannot be an elder because she cannot have authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:12).
Can a woman be a prophet or an apostle as in Ephesians 4:11?
Apostles and prophets are foundational for the church (Ephesians 2:20). These two ministries require the use of authority (2 Corinthians 3:10) to build up the church and order it correctly. To function properly, apostles and prophets must be free to exercise this authority within the church, especially within the church meeting. Because women are not allowed to speak within the church meeting or have authority over men, it appears that women will not be an apostle or prophet.
How can a woman prophesy if she can’t be a prophet?
Not everyone who has the gift of prophecy is a prophet. Paul wants everyone to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:5), but he’s not saying he wants everyone to be a prophet. A prophet is an authoritative ministry position that is foundational to the church (Ephesians 2:20). A prophet is a person who has a particularly strong and well-developed gift of prophecy. The prophetic gift has defined his life. He walks in spiritual authority. Not everyone who prophesies is on the level of a prophet.
Do the “difficult” commands for women in the New Testament restrict them from ministering freely?
The unique commands given by God to women in the New Testament should be seen not as obstacles to ministry. Rather, these instructions are helps to ministry success. When a female minister abides by Scriptural boundaries such as not speaking in the church meeting, covering her head when she prays or prophesies, not taking authority over nor teaching men, she is not being hindered from ministering effectively. Instead she is placing herself in a position to fulfill her ministry to the fullest extent – in a way that pleases God, edifies the church, and blesses her. These commands will free her to minister as God created her to. Violating any of these instructions for the sake of “doing ministry” will not bring increased blessing or fruitfulness, rather it will create problems. Keeping these precious words from God will produce life.
Bethel Cornerstone 