What Does the Bible Say About Women Pastors?
1) Direct answer
No. The Bible does not authorize women to be pastors or to teach and exercise authority over men in the church.
2) Scriptural explanation
- 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 and the fall, not in culture.
- 1 Corinthians 14:34-35: “Let your women keep silence in the churches… for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” That speaks to public authoritative teaching in the assembly.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3: “The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” God set an order.
- 1 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 1:5-6: The overseer/elder must be “the husband of one wife,” ruling his own house well. The office is given in male terms and tied to male headship.
- Titus 2:3-5: Older women are commanded to teach the younger women—what to teach and to whom is clearly defined.
- Acts 2:17; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5: Women can pray and prophesy under proper order (with a covering), but that is not the same as holding pastoral authority.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- God’s order is Christ over the man, and the man over the woman. That is not about value; it is about the roles God set.
- The New Testament gives explicit qualifications for pastors/elders. If God intended women to pastor, Scripture would say so. Instead, it repeatedly restricts teaching authority over men.
- Examples sometimes raised—like Deborah or Huldah—show that God can use women mightily, but those were not New Testament church offices. The church’s government is laid out plainly in the pastoral epistles.
- Phoebe was a servant (Romans 16:1). Service is honored, but that text does not place her in the overseer role.
- If women pastors were approved, Scripture would not forbid women to teach or to have authority over the man in the church. The Bible does not contradict itself.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, this does not silence a woman’s ministry in its God-given place. Women can:
- Pray, prophesy, testify, sing, and serve.
- Teach children and younger women.
- Labor in many helps and ministries.
But the pastoral/elder office and the authoritative teaching of men in the assembly are reserved to qualified men, as the Bible says.
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.
Why are we not a denomination?
58-0927 §102
Now let me turn you to just another one, just in a minute. Now let's turn to I Corinthians 14:32 there, and see what Paul says over here; and then we're going right over to some more just in a minute. And then we don't want to keep you too long, so you'll be so tired in the morning you can't come back. All right, I want to read... How many believes that Paul was an inspired teacher? Now, remember, Paul wrote this to Timothy also. See? Now, I Corinthians 14:32. Now let's start right in here and start reading here, 1...
Doors in door
65-0206 §64
but that little pride! "Oh, you mean for us women, we're going to have to let our hair grow?" "Well, that's what he said." "We're going to have to quit wearing manicure, or make-up stuff?" "That's what he said." "Well, what do you think my sewing circle would say? They'll call me old-fashioned." "Well, just keep your pride. Go ahead." He'll stand at the door. That's all the farther he can get. But when you're ready to open that door, let him come in, he'll clean it out for you. Shorts will go out here in the garbag...
Why are we not a denomination?
58-0927 §88
...hat's right. Oh, it's a disgrace to see the way the... Here, freezing weather, walking around with a little chubby coat on like that, and their naked body showing. Why, you say, "Why you picking on women?" You need to be picked on. And you men that let your women do that, brother, I don't know what to think about you. Now, that's right. And you pastors! I don't guess you're here. But if you see the guy, you tell him to come tell ... see me, see. If he's got no more respect for Christ than to let his congregation ge...
Questions and Answers
61-1015M §55
...there's where you can judge your pastor or whatever it is, whether he's spiritual or not, see. He said, "If any man be spiritual or a prophet, he'll acknowledge that what I say is the commandments of the Lord," see. That's the reason I command the people to be baptized over again in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul did that, and he said, "If an angel from heaven come and taught anything else, let him be accursed." And this is what's already taught here also. If any man comes... If a angel come from heaven and said, "...
Father, the hour has come
56-1002A §21
...o-edged sword. I don't know whether the pastor will appreciate that or not. But I'm telling you, my sister, at the judgment bar I will have to answer for it, and if I don't say these things... I don't care how many people say liberation of women; that's a doctrine of the devil. And it's not in this Bible. That's right.