Can women teach in Church?

Can women teach in Church? Yes, although it depends on the context in which the teaching is being done.

Teaching: A New Testament Distinction

In the New Testament there appears to be a distinction between two types of teaching: teaching done by all believers[i] and teaching done solely by Church leaders.[ii] To put it another way, teaching as a general activity or teaching as an authoritative activity.[iii]

The Two Types of Teaching

One of clearest examples of the general activity of teaching can be found in Colossians 3:16:

‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom …’

Paul explains here that all the members of the Church at Colossae, regardless of gender, not only have a responsibility to grow in their own knowledge of Scripture, but also to teach each other in line with God’s Word.

However, an example of authoritative teaching can be found in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. In chapter three Paul provides two lists of qualifications and abilities that Timothy should be looking for when appointing either elders or deacons (1 Tim 3:1-13). Although there is a noticeable overlap between the two lists, one of the distinct qualifications in the list for elders, which is not mentioned in the list of deacons, is the ability to teach.

Now given that Paul has already written elsewhere that it is the responsibility of all believers to teach, it may seem strange to see the requirement to teach mentioned only in the list of elders.

Strange unless Paul has a different type of teaching in mind, which I am persuaded he does - authoritative teaching.

Women and Teaching

The real question becomes, since all believers (including women) are called to teach each other generally, are there any restrictions regarding women teaching in an authoritative way?

In chapter two of his first letter to Timothy, just three verses earlier than the list of qualifications for eldership, Paul provides the answer:

‘I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man…’ (1 Tim 2:12).

Now for many 21st century western women this is an extremely difficult verse to read. However, it is equally one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Church today. To be clear, Paul is not saying that women cannot and should not teach![v] Paul is not even saying that women cannot and should not teach men in a general way. What Paul is saying here in Timothy is that women are not permitted to teach in a way that exercises spiritual authority over a man as this type of authoritative teaching is reserved for male elders in their local congregation.[vi]

So, in summary, can women teach in Church? Yes, although it depends on the context in which the teaching is being done.

[i] Other examples of teaching done by all believers: Acts 18:24-26, Col 3:16, Heb 5:12, Titus 2:3-5 and 2 Tim 3:14.

[ii] Other examples of teaching to be done specifically by Church leaders: 1 Tim 3:1-13, 1 Tim 5:17 and Titus 1:9

[iii] Other ways of describing this distinction could be either public and private teaching or formal and informal teaching. Likewise, egalitarians generally reject any NT distinction with regards to teaching (see Belleville, Two Views On Women In Ministry, 59). Whereas complementarians affirm a NT distinction (see Schreiner, Two Views on Women In Ministry, 107; Blomberg, Two Views on Women In Ministry, 169)

[v] The same gift of teaching is available to women as it is to men (Romans 12:7).

[vi] As to exactly what contexts constitute authoritative teaching requires discernment from Church leaders.