Can A Woman Preach In The Pulpit
Can a woman preach in the pulpit? Are there any bible verses supporting female pastors? The answer is Yes. Galatians 3:28-29 says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
This means that in Christ we are all equal, one’s gender is irrelevant. That is why God even gives spiritual gifts to anyone he chooses, whether male or female (1 Corinthians 12: 7-8).
I know the cause of the debate is 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 which says, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
And 1 Timothy 2:12 “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
The Bible makes reference to many women who were prophets, which means that God gave them this gift so that they could edify the church. 1 Corinthians 14:1,3-5 says, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
There are many bible verses supporting female pastors, read below.
Read more: The purpose of a woman in the bible
Table of Contents
- Can A Woman Preach In The Pulpit
- Bible Verses Supporting Female Pastors
- First Woman Preacher In The Bible KJV
- FAQ relating to can a woman preach in the pulpit
Bible Verses Supporting Female Pastors
Can a woman preach in the pulpit? Here are 15 bible verses supporting female pastors.
1. 2 Kings 22:13-15 – Even the priests inquired from Huldah, a woman prophet about God’s word
“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter. She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me…”
2. Matthew 28:5-10 – The angel and Jesus instructed the women to spread the message about Jesus’ resurrection
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Read more: 22 Bible verses about the value of a woman
3. Philippians 4:2-3 – Euodia and Syntyche preached with Paul
Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4. 1 Corinthians 12: 7-8 – God gives the gift to minister to any person he chooses, whether male or female
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
5. Luke 2:36-38 – Anna was a prophet and spoke about Jesus to the people of Jerusalem
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
6. 2 Samuel 20:22 – A wise woman of Israel who went to all the people with her wise advice
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
7. Acts 21:8-9 – Philip had four daughters who prophesied
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
8. Romans 16:1 – Sister Phoebe was a deacon
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.
9. Romans 16:3-4 – Priscilla and Aquila were Paul’s co-workers
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
10. Acts 18:26 – Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos about the way of God
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
11. John 4:39 – The Samaritan woman spread the testimony about Jesus to the people
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
12. Exodus 15:20 – Miriam was a prophet and led all the women
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
13. Acts 2:17 – God will pour out His spirit on both men and women
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
14. Galatians 3:28-29 – In Christ there is no male and female
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
15. 1 Corinthians 11:5
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
First Woman Preacher In The Bible KJV
1. Miriam in Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances
2. Deborah in Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
Read more: 10 Names of female warriors in the bible
3. Huldah in 2 Kings 22:14-15
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
4. Anna in Luke 2:36-38
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
5. Priscilla and Aquila in Romans 16:3-4, Acts 18:26
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Romans 16:3-4)
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:26)
6. The Samaritan woman in John 4:39
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
FAQ relating to can a woman preach in the pulpit
What does the Bible say about female pastors KJV
The Bible contains several scriptures about female prophets and women who led the congregation. However, Paul instructed women to be silent in church (1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
Where In The Bible Does It Say That A Woman Should Not Preach?
1 Timothy 2:12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Is It Right For A Woman To Preach On The Altar?
Yes, a woman can preach on the altar, there are numerous bible scriptures supporting this.
Should I leave a church with a woman pastor?
God has anointed women also to be pastors. God can choose anyone to be a pastor that is why the gifts of the spirit are not gender specific; in Christ, there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28-29).
