Does the Bible Permit Women to Operate as Preachers or Members of the 5 fold ministry?
1) Direct answer
No. The Bible does not authorize women to serve as preachers or to hold the fivefold ministry offices (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers). God uses sisters mightily, but the governmental offices and public authoritative teaching over men are not given to women.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Ephesians 4:11 shows God set the fivefold offices. The same New Testament that names those offices sets the order for who may hold them.
- 1 Timothy 2:11-14: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man…” Paul grounds this in creation (Adam first, then Eve; and the deception), not in local culture. That makes it a lasting order.
- 1 Corinthians 14:34-37: “Let your women keep silence in the churches… it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience… What? came the word of God out from you?… If any man think himself to be a prophet… let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” Now notice, this is not a suggestion; it is the Lord’s command for church order.
- Qualifications for overseers/elders and deacons are male-only: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9—“husband of one wife,” “one that ruleth well his own house.” If women were to pastor or serve as elders, Scripture would have given female qualifications. It doesn’t.
- Yes, the Bible shows women whom God used:
- Daughters who prophesy (Acts 2:17; Acts 21:9). That’s a spiritual gift, not the governmental office of a prophet who sets doctrine and governs a flock.
- Older women instructed to teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). That is beautiful and commanded—but it’s not preaching over men nor holding church office.
- Deborah and Huldah were prophetesses under Israel’s national life, not New Testament church pastors. Their existence does not cancel the apostolic order for the Church.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He set order in the Body. The same chapter that speaks of spiritual gifts also fixes church order and forbids women to teach or exercise authority over men.
- Prophecy as a gift is not the same as the office that governs doctrine. A sister may prophesy, pray, testify, win souls, and labor in many good works—yet not take the pulpit office that rules and teaches men.
- Paul ties the restriction to creation, not to culture; therefore time or modern trends cannot overturn it. If someone says it changed, who changed it? The Bible says these are the Lord’s commandments.
4) Reinforcing statement
Sisters are essential in the Church—faithful in prayer, helps, missions, hospitality, instructing children and younger women, and manifesting spiritual gifts under proper headship. But the pulpit offices of the fivefold ministry and governing eldership are reserved to men by the clear order of Scripture.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Questions and Answers on Genesis
53-0729 §49
Like Paul said over there, said, "We know that we have the power to lead a sister. I have power to do it, but" said "I won't do it." See, he wouldn't do it. He said, "I know that the ministry should live by their... Not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn." You know, we sometimes think, because we're preachers (Not you and I, I don't say, brother), but preachers think because they're preachers that they're somebody bigger than one of the lay members of the church. You're no bigger and you're no more in the sight...
Church Ages, part 2: The Patmos Vision
60-1204E §24
Now, someone had give me a note here, just a little question. We won't take too much time now to answer it. And remember, each time you lay a little question up, I'll try my best to get to it if I can. But this was an important question. One wanted to know if it was wrong for women to testify or to sing, or give messages in tongues, interpret the messages, or prophecy in the church. No, it isn't wrong, as long as it comes in the place in order, see. The church is in order, and only when... The real, true way to do...
Why are we not a denomination?
58-0927 §98
Now listen to this about the women preachers. All right, first thing would be, I want the I Timothy 2:11. Now listen what it says here. Let your women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, or to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. I'm not responsible for putting it in there. I'm responsible for telling you it's in there. See? See? Let your women learn in silence and be in all subjection. [If you ever went into an Orthodox church and watch them, see. See?] But I suf...
Questions and Answers
61-1015M §53
On over in II Timothy, the third chapter, he said, "I suffer not a woman to teach or to usurp authority over man, but to be in silence," you see. And it isn't right for the woman to preach---that is true. Now, I know I've seen some women that were real preachers. They could preach, too---like Aimee McPherson and many of those women there. But just put your hand on this for a little while, see. I know people who could speak with tongues this morning sitting right in this church. If there was no interpreter, they'd b...
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
58-0928M §39
Remember last night when we talked about women preachers; when they said, "Oh, I believe the Holy Ghost called me to preach," and so forth like that? The Bible said, "If any man says that he's a prophet, or even spiritual, let him acknowledge that this is the commandments of the Lord. But if he's ignorant, just let him be ignorant." So when you hear men say that they believe in women preachers, it shows that they're not right with God---or don't know the truth. That's the truth. The Scripture says so; we found it t...