Should Women Preach the Word of God?
Many due to a misunderstanding of Corinthians 14:34-35 as there are only 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 which I believe you are referring to, and if so you clearly do not understand that it is speaking about taking the leadership and/or oversight in the congregation as it says 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, "let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church." (American Standard Version; ASV) say they should not, especially Muslims. But let us consider how this applies. This applies to taking the lead and/or oversight in the congregation and not to preaching the word of God (YHWH) and assisting others to know it which is actually a commission given to all true Christians by their leader and savior Jesus (Yeshua) Christ at Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (ASV).
Those charged with oversight of a congregation are described in the Bible as being males. The 12 apostles of Jesus were all males, and those later appointed to be overseers and other positions of responsibility in true Christian congregations were males per Matthew 10:1-4, "And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." (ASV); and at 1 Timothy 3:2 & 12, "The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" & "12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well." (ASV). With respect women learning in silence and in full submissiveness at congregation meetings, this refers to them not raising questions challenging the men within the congregation; whereas, some who do not understand this believe this refers to them remaining mute with respect the word of God (YHWH). Therefore what 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 applies to is that women are to demonstrate subjection within the congregation and not to challenge men which would be in keeping with 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (ASV); and 1 Timothy 2:11, "11-14, "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: " (ASV).
So as can be seen, though women can be valuable proclaimers/preachers/ministers of the good news etc., outside of the congregation, of the word of God (YHWH) per Acts 2:17-18, " 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." (Revised Standard Version; RSV) here prophesy refers more correctly to preach in accordance with the commission given at Matther 24:14, previously quoted. The fact that women should be proclaimers/preachers of the word was clearly shown at Pentecost of 33 AD when God's (YHWH's) active force or holy spirit was poured out on both men and women. This pouring out was actually prophesized at Joel 2:28-31, " "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30 "And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes." (RSV); and Acts 2:17-18 says, "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." (RSV).
The fact that women were considered capable by God (YHWH) of being prophets and judges is clearly shown in the case of Deborah who was both a prophet and judge, with God's (YHWH's) approval, is clearly shown at Judges 4:4-9 it says, "Now Deb'orah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapp'idoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deb'orah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of E'phraim; and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abin'o-am from Kedesh in Naph'tali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naph'tali and the tribe of Zeb'ulun. 7 And I will draw out Sis'era, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'" 8 Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9 And she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sis'era into the hand of a woman." Then Deb'orah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh." (Revised Standard Version; RSV).
Today, in the same manner, it is proper for women to share in assisting others with respect to learning more about God's (YHWH's) word - the Bible; about God (YHWH) - the creator of all that exist; about his beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ: and assisting with regard to telling them the truth and exposing false doctrines of the creeds. This is clearly shown at Psalms 68:11, "The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host." (ASV). This fact is also highlighted at Philippians 4:2-3, "I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Many due to a misunderstanding of Corinthians 14:34-35 as there are only 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 which I believe you are referring to, and if so you clearly do not understand that it is speaking about taking the leadership and/or oversight in the congregation as it says 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, "let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church." (American Standard Version; ASV) say they should not, especially Muslims. But let us consider how this applies. This applies to taking the lead and/or oversight in the congregation and not to preaching the word of God (YHWH) and assisting others to know it which is actually a commission given to all true Christians by their leader and savior Jesus (Yeshua) Christ at Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (ASV).
Those charged with oversight of a congregation are described in the Bible as being males. The 12 apostles of Jesus were all males, and those later appointed to be overseers and other positions of responsibility in true Christian congregations were males per Matthew 10:1-4, "And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." (ASV); and at 1 Timothy 3:2 & 12, "The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" & "12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well." (ASV). With respect women learning in silence and in full submissiveness at congregation meetings, this refers to them not raising questions challenging the men within the congregation; whereas, some who do not understand this believe this refers to them remaining mute with respect the word of God (YHWH). Therefore what 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 applies to is that women are to demonstrate subjection within the congregation and not to challenge men which would be in keeping with 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (ASV); and 1 Timothy 2:11, "11-14, "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: " (ASV).
So as can be seen, though women can be valuable proclaimers/preachers/ministers of the good news etc., outside of the congregation, of the word of God (YHWH) per Acts 2:17-18, " 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." (Revised Standard Version; RSV) here prophesy refers more correctly to preach in accordance with the commission given at Matther 24:14, previously quoted. The fact that women should be proclaimers/preachers of the word was clearly shown at Pentecost of 33 AD when God's (YHWH's) active force or holy spirit was poured out on both men and women. This pouring out was actually prophesized at Joel 2:28-31, " "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30 "And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes." (RSV); and Acts 2:17-18 says, "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." (RSV).
The fact that women were considered capable by God (YHWH) of being prophets and judges is clearly shown in the case of Deborah who was both a prophet and judge, with God's (YHWH's) approval, is clearly shown at Judges 4:4-9 it says, "Now Deb'orah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapp'idoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deb'orah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of E'phraim; and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abin'o-am from Kedesh in Naph'tali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naph'tali and the tribe of Zeb'ulun. 7 And I will draw out Sis'era, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'" 8 Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." 9 And she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sis'era into the hand of a woman." Then Deb'orah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh." (Revised Standard Version; RSV).
Today, in the same manner, it is proper for women to share in assisting others with respect to learning more about God's (YHWH's) word - the Bible; about God (YHWH) - the creator of all that exist; about his beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ: and assisting with regard to telling them the truth and exposing false doctrines of the creeds. This is clearly shown at Psalms 68:11, "The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host." (ASV). This fact is also highlighted at Philippians 4:2-3, "I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
