Question: What does the Bible say about women preachers?
Answer: There are examples in both the Old and New Testaments of women preachers (prophets). There are no examples, however, of women pastors in the New Testament. Let’s look briefly at some of these wonderful women preachers in the Bible.
Why don’t we start in the Old Testament and work our way to the New Testament. The first woman mentioned in Scripture as a prophetess is Miriam. You can look up the references on her: Exodus 2:4-10; 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-15; 201; 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Micah 6:4.
“Miriam helped save her younger brother’s life. He grew up to be the lawgiver, Moses. Miriam was a prophetess who sang praises to God when her brother successfully led their people out of Egyptian bondage and across the Red Sea. However, religious pride caused Miriam to join another brother, Aaron, in criticizing Moses. God struck Miriam with leprosy. She was healed upon Moses’ prayer.
“.We first hear of Miriam by name after Moses had led the Hebrews out of bondage and across the Red Sea. Aaron had acted as Moses’ spokesman in Egypt. All three siblings had escaped ahead of Pharaoh’s pursuing chariots. The Red Sea parted miraculously, and the Hebrews crossed safely over on the first leg of their journey toward the Promised Land.
“Miriam is introduced by name as ‘the prophetess, Aaron’s sister.’ She took a timbrel (a kind of tambourine) and led the women in a dance.” “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!'” (Exodus 15:20-21)
“As a prophetess, she was the feminine equivalent of a divinely inspired foreteller, but more accurately ‘one who speaks for another,’ as the Hebrew word means.
“Miriam is the first prophetess mentioned in the Old Testament. She held a position of high spiritual leadership among her people. Less than half a dozen other prophetesses are mentioned by name in the Bible, although the New Testament indicates they were more numerous.” (Intimate portraits of WOMEN in the BIBLE by Lee Roddy)
Other Old Testament prophetesses (preachers) that are mentioned are:
Judges 4:4-5:31 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth
2 Kings 22:14-20 the prophetess, the wife of Shallum
2 Chronicles 34:22-28 Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum
Nehemiah 6:14 the prophetess Noadiah (false prophetess)
Isaiah 8:3 Isaiah’s wife, she is not named but she is called ‘the prophetess.’ “Because a wife typically did not receive the honorary title of her husband’s profession but was simply referred to as his wife (see 2 Kings 4:1), it should be assumed that Isaiah married a prophetess.” (New Spirit Filled Life Bible)
New Testament prophetesses (preachers) you can study:
Anna Luke 2:36-38 “When Mary and Joseph brought the eight-day-old Jesus to the temple at Jerusalem to perform the requirements of the law, this prophetess approached the family. She gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to those who were looking for Jerusalem’s redemption.” (Intimate portraits of WOMEN in the BIBLE by Lee Roddy)
Elizabeth Luke 1:5-7, 13,24-25, 40-45, 56-80.
MARY, the mother of Jesus Matthew 1:18-25; 2:11-23; 13:55; Mark 3:31; 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:5-19, 22-51; 8:19-21; John 2:1-12; 19:25-27; Acts 1:14.
Philip the evangelist’s daughters were prophetesses. “Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied Acts 21:9.
Jezebel Revelation 2:20 She was a false prophet, but she liked to call herself a prophetess. “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”
I think the best way I can end this study would be to quote what God says about women preachers (not pastors or elders, but preachers). Peter preaching after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost says: “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:16-18)
Thank you for your questions,
Gary T. Panell
For more information email me at [email protected]
Does the bible state that a woman is not be be a preacher of the gospel. if so where is it found in the scriptures.
Hi Donnell, Scripture does not say a woman cannot be a preacher. In Scripture in the New Testament there are no women pastors. However, even today there are Christian women that are pastors or missionary pastors until they can train a man to take their place. Could you give me some more background as to why you are asking the question? We need all the women we can get that would preach the Gospel, it is just that women, as men, need to be under subjection to others. This is because we need accountability. The Church needs all men and women to preach the Gospel. Read Acts 2:17-18. There are other passages on women speaking out loud in the service, were asked to ask their husbands at home. This passage some use to say women can’t speak in church, but they are interrupting this wrong. That is I Cor. 14: 34-35, however, this is speaking of women in the church in those days, and even today in many places in the world sit on one side and men on the other. So what was happening was the women would shout across to their husbands. Paul said wait till you get home and ask your husband the question don’t make a commotion in the service. Paul was not talking about women praying or prophesying because he has already addressed that in verses 1 Cor. 11:13, women can pray in the church as long as she is in submission. Also, in Acts 2:17-18 they are told they can prophesy. Write again if you have other questions. Brother Gary
Hi Donnell, (I hope you get this first, because I left out the word ‘cannot’)In Scripture in the New Testament there are no women pastors. However, even today there are Christian women that are pastors or missionary pastors until they can train a man to take their place. Could you give me some more background as to why you are asking the question? We need all the women we can get that would preach the Gospel, it is just that women, as men, need to be under subjection to others. This is because we need accountability. The Church needs all men and women to preach the Gospel. Read Acts 2:17-18. There are other passages on women speaking out loud in the service, were asked to ask their husbands at home. This passage some use to say women can’t speak in church, but they are interrupting this wrong. That is I Cor. 14: 34-35, however, this is speaking of women in the church in those days, and even today in many places in the world sit on one side and men on the other. So what was happening was the women would shout across to their husbands. Paul said wait till you get home and ask your husband the question don’t make a commotion in the service. Paul was not talking about women praying or prophesying because he has already addressed that in verses 1 Cor. 11:13, women can pray in the church as long as she is in submission. Also, in Acts 2:17-18 they are told they can prophesy. Write again if you have other questions. Brother Gary
So Donnell, I meant to say, Scripture does not say that a woman cannot be a preacher.
Col 4:15 Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the assembly (the church) which meets in her house.
Hi Michael, I would say this is just what it says, that she let people meet in her home, that does not mean she was the pastor, or leading elder. The requirement to be the husband of one wife would not let here be the Pastor. Thanks for your comments. Brother Gary
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Take care! Exactly where are your contact details though?|
Bible-Christian.org or panellgtcharter.net
Sorry to write to you and ask this question but I am greatly confused with my anointing.
I have a word of knowledge for the church but am studying the roles of a woman…I was ordained as a Pastor in 2015 but have not used the ordination except to marry a few people. I knew in my spirit that I wasnt called to be at a church as a Pastor but someone who travels giving my testimony from bondage to freedom in christ…but I had a street ministry for several years and thought that everyone needed a Pastor for their ministry. Then as I continued to study I learned that woman are not to be Pastors, so I denounced My Pastor title but now am trying to understand what am I ? If it says in the bible that we are not to teach is it only referring to being over men or are we allowed to teach the woman? I truly need help..though I dont need a title….I just need to know what to tell people my role to help the church is….Can I just be someone who has a testimony and not carry a title???? I have to stay biblical and be able to back my testimony with scripture ….My anointing is that of a teacher but I have to have scripture that backs my position because when the enemy fires at me I have to quote scripture to be able to stand against his tactics…
Sincerely,
Kathryn Johnson
Dear Kathryn, Thank you so much for what you do to win the Lost for Jesus. I come from a very conservative back ground as far as denominations are concerned. Therefore, you might be thinking he won’t be of much help. That is where you could be wrong, because I have a background like this so I know where conservatives are coming from doctrinally. I will tell you that they can be very strict, but also somewhat in error.
My wife and I have been working in the ministry for many years, here in the States and also overseas. At first, we were working with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Then we pastored a small community church in southern Oregon. Now, I am a principal with a Christian school and also working with Gideons. So, you see we have seen ministry from many different churches and denominations.
Yes, I know it is even controversial what a woman in ministry is to be called. No matter what title you use, there will be some who will not like it or agree with it. That is why you are wise to make a firm decision, as you are doing, after consulting the Lord. Even with me giving you this advice, I will be considered by some to be in error.
That is alright though, because as you have found already you have become a target for the devil. Not only that, your family and friends will be upset with you a lot. Even, true Christians will fight against you at times. Don’t let that bother you, that just means you are on the right tract. That is because Satan hates you, and others who don’t want to hear from the Lord Jesus and His Word will attack you as they did Jesus. Ok, I know you know all that, now let’s look at Scripture.
Look first at Acts 21:8 “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”NKJV Here we see that Paul called them Prophetesses. He knew they prophesied. As you know there are at least two types of prophesying. One is letting people know what God is saying to a person individually or the other is preaching God’s Word.
So, from this passage you could be a Prophetess, or as Philip was known, as the Evangelist. Grounds also for you is found in Acts 2:16 “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, [we are in the last days, and we are in the Church] says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughter shall prophesy,..” No Baptists and others sometimes will say, Oh, this is not for us, because it is talking about the very end of the last days that is why it talks about in verse 19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath; Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the coming of threat and awesome day of the Lord.”
Even though those things will happen at the end before Christ’s return, Peter is saying, the sons and your daughter shall prophesy, that is what happened on the day of Pentecost and has been happening ever since in the Church age. Even though many men have tried to stop women, they can’t stop what the Holy Spirit is doing in you! I used to think like them, because I was taught by them to begin with. They are well meaning Christians, but in error on this point. I spoke with a Baptist even last knight about this. I know all they believe. I went to Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Or. Now, it is named Multnomah University.
Anne Graham Lotz is Billy Graham’s daughter, you probably know this. She is known as an Evangelist. There are many more through the Church history. Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, and many many more. They were usually known as missionaries, or Evangelist. If you go by Prophetess, some people will bring up in Revelation 2:20, Jezebel, probably not her real name. This does show that there were other Prophetesses in the Church. It just happens that this woman, whatever her real name was she gave the church a bad name. Some will tell you that this name Prophetess should not be used for this reason, but I disagree, just because one was wicked, doesn’t mean for example Philip’s daughters were too. Next will show from Scripture that even though a woman would not normally be a pastor, there are times they have to train men to become pastors. This happens overseas a lot, because there are no men to begin with that will do it. So just like Amy Carmichael, and Mary Slessor, missionary to Nigeria.
Maybe, we can go on to talk about women’s ministries (1 Tim. 2:12 etc.) in the Church in just a bit, but let’s have this study be interactive. Could you tell me what you think so far? Thanks, Gary
Here are some more verses on the subject of women preaching. Question: What does the Bible say about women preachers?
Answer: There are examples in both the Old and New Testaments of women preachers (prophets). There are no examples, however, of women pastors in the New Testament. Let’s look briefly at some of these wonderful women preachers in the Bible.
Why don’t we start in the Old Testament and work our way to the New Testament. The first woman mentioned in Scripture as a prophetess is Miriam. You can look up the references on her: Exodus 2:4-10; 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-15; 201; 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Micah 6:4.
“Miriam helped save her younger brother’s life. He grew up to be the lawgiver, Moses. Miriam was a prophetess who sang praises to God when her brother successfully led their people out of Egyptian bondage and across the Red Sea. However, religious pride caused Miriam to join another brother, Aaron, in criticizing Moses. God struck Miriam with leprosy. She was healed upon Moses’ prayer.
“.We first hear of Miriam by name after Moses had led the Hebrews out of bondage and across the Red Sea. Aaron had acted as Moses’ spokesman in Egypt. All three siblings had escaped ahead of Pharaoh’s pursuing chariots. The Red Sea parted miraculously, and the Hebrews crossed safely over on the first leg of their journey toward the Promised Land.
“Miriam is introduced by name as ‘the prophetess, Aaron’s sister.’ She took a timbrel (a kind of tambourine) and led the women in a dance.” “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!’” (Exodus 15:20-21)
“As a prophetess, she was the feminine equivalent of a divinely inspired foreteller, but more accurately ‘one who speaks for another,’ as the Hebrew word means.
“Miriam is the first prophetess mentioned in the Old Testament. She held a position of high spiritual leadership among her people. Less than half a dozen other prophetesses are mentioned by name in the Bible, although the New Testament indicates they were more numerous.” (Intimate portraits of WOMEN in the BIBLE by Lee Roddy)
Other Old Testament prophetesses (preachers) that are mentioned are:
Judges 4:4-5:31 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth
2 Kings 22:14-20 the prophetess, the wife of Shallum
2 Chronicles 34:22-28 Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum
Nehemiah 6:14 the prophetess Noadiah (false prophetess)
Isaiah 8:3 Isaiah’s wife, she is not named but she is called ‘the prophetess.’ “Because a wife typically did not receive the honorary title of her husband’s profession but was simply referred to as his wife (see 2 Kings 4:1), it should be assumed that Isaiah married a prophetess.” (New Spirit Filled Life Bible)
New Testament prophetesses (preachers) you can study:
Anna Luke 2:36-38 “When Mary and Joseph brought the eight-day-old Jesus to the temple at Jerusalem to perform the requirements of the law, this prophetess approached the family. She gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to those who were looking for Jerusalem’s redemption.” (Intimate portraits of WOMEN in the BIBLE by Lee Roddy)
Elizabeth Luke 1:5-7, 13,24-25, 40-45, 56-80.
MARY, the mother of Jesus Matthew 1:18-25; 2:11-23; 13:55; Mark 3:31; 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:5-19, 22-51; 8:19-21; John 2:1-12; 19:25-27; Acts 1:14.
Philip the evangelist’s daughters were prophetesses. “Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied Acts 21:9.
Jezebel Revelation 2:20 She was a false prophet, but she liked to call herself a prophetess. “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”
I think the best way I can end this study would be to quote what God says about women preachers (not pastors or elders, but preachers). Peter preaching after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost says: “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:16-18)
Thank you for your questions,
Gary T. Panell
Please check 1 Timothy 2:9-15
Hi Low, I think you want us to comment on these verse that have to do specifically to do with the subject: “Women preachers” since that is the article you were reading. So, yes, I would like to answer this, because so many people have questions on this subject. I believe the part that they are questioning is, where women have to be quiet, and not teach men. This is a good question and I believe many Christians wonder about this because, Paul has already said that women can prophecy in the church if they are in submission to men. They can teach children and young people. I would go further and say that if they are under authority they can teach men, but not have authority over them. In Acts you see a husband and a wife exhorting Apollos to understand the Gospel better. Apollos was corrected by Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and a wife. Acts 18:24-21 Also, in 1 Corinthians 11:5 “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” So as long as the woman is in subjection to God and her husband she can speak in church and elsewhere.
Again in Acts chapter 2:17-21, God makes it clear that women can speak. I hope this helps, Gary
1 Timothy 2:9-15 New International Version (NIV)
9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
11 A woman[a] should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[b] she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Hi I don’t fully understand what you mean when you say the difference of the two .. when your own wife preached with you. Is it really just the title or??
Many woman are pastors alongside their husbands..
Evangelism and preaching seem the same but a pastor teaching is different. So what exactly did your wife do differently along side you in your experience.
Is it just the title really? It would have to be a whole change of role. Preaching the gospel and teaching the Bible
God bless you
Hi Carly, I see no problem with women preaching. They can even teach, but they are not to be in authority over men, such as being their pastors. It is ‘hard’ for them to be the husband of one wife. Yes, women can preach and teach the word, but they must be in subjection to their own husbands, and those in the church over them. Thank you for your question, God bless you! Brother Gary