KEY VERSE :“The villages ceased in Israel, they ceased, until I, Deborah, arose; until I arose, a mother in Israel.“ (Judges 5:7, Darby)

Although the primary role of teaching within the family belongs to the father, the mother also assumes a significant part of it. (Proverbs 1:8; 6:22; 13:1). The Bible states:

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching.” (Proverbs 1:8, LSG).

Furthermore, the Bible says that “older women (…) should teach what is good.“ (Titus 2:3, LSG). Some people question the eligibility of women to teach based on Paul’s statement:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.“ (1 Timothy 2:12, LSG).

If this command were absolute, it would create several problems.

First, it would contradict the position of the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 4, Jesus approved of the Samaritan woman who went to preach in Samaria. As a result, many people came to faith, and Jesus told the disciples: “I sent you to reap where others have worked.“ (John 4:6).

Second, if the prohibition against women teaching were absolute, the apostle Paul would contradict himself when he states that:

“Older women (…) should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but should teach what is good.“ (Titus 2:3, LSG).

Note the phrase “should teach what is good.” Another example: Scripture records that there was a teaching couple in the New Testament who helped an apostle by teaching him the Word of God. The Bible says:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained the way of God to him more accurately.“ (Acts 18:26, LSG).

Aquila was a man, and Priscilla was a woman (Acts 18:2), and together, they taught Apollos, a well-known preacher, the Word of God. Furthermore, Aquila and Priscilla were close ministry companions of Paul (Acts 18:18; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19). Thus, Paul would be acting against his own principle. So, what did he mean?

The Bible has no issue with a woman teaching. However, it establishes a very important condition! A woman must operate under the authority of a man. When this is not the case, her teaching amounts to taking authority over a man. This is why Paul states:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.“ (1 Timothy 2:12, LSG).

Then, Paul gives two reasons for this command. He says:

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.“ (1 Timothy 2:12-14, LSG).

The first reason is that Adam was formed first. In other words, a female teacher who places herself under the covering of a man respects male authority. The second reason, according to the Bible, is that it was the woman who was deceived, not Adam. By placing herself under the authority of a man, she remains accountable and thus avoids deception.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I lift up the mothers of the kingdom to You at this moment. May Your seven spirits fill them until their cups overflow. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This text is an excerpt from the book “THE ROYAL FAMILY: THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL PARENTS IN OUR LIVES” written by Pastor Gregory Toussaint.

We invite you to read the following article: “JOSHUA HAD A SPIRITUAL FATHER.”

A MOTHER TEACHES. A MOTHER TEACHES. A MOTHER TEACHES.