Recently I was asked a question by a woman about the person named Junia(Romans 16:7) mentioned in the Bible, whom Paul comments were “outstanding amongst the Apostles.” The woman was asking whether or not I believed women could be Apostles considering what Paul said about Junia.
Let me first state that I understand why this question is coming up because there has been a surge of new people both women and men who appear to be operating in “spiritual gifts.” So if women can’t be apostles how could the power of God appear to be with them if they’re functioning in a ministry that was not meant for them? These ideas and questions are all valid and I want to address them today by letting the reader into a conversation I had with the women I wrote about above on this very topic.
Here is her original question:
But I am more interested in your comment that “women cannot be in the ministry of apostleship.” Can you say more about that? I know it’s not common, and was a definite NO in the OT, but there is a female apostle in the New Testament, and many women in ministry today, so would love your thoughts behind that. What am I missing? Thank you
My Response:
Hey, happy to have you. If you’re referring to Junia he/she (the gender is still heavily debated) was not for certain an apostle(Again a heavily debated topic); especially if the person was indeed a woman; the qualifications for an overseer are clearly laid out in scripture. Also, a woman’s role in the church is outlined in scripture, so unless scripture is contradicting or being misinterpreted something isn’t quite adding up. I don’t believe scripture contradicts and so if there appears to be a contradiction something needs proper interpretation. To do so we can reason and make deductions based on what scripture says on the entirety of any specific topic and draw a conclusion from the totality of the writing and not just one single verse here or there.
She responds:
Thanks for the fast response.I am! I read that Andronicus and Junias were possibly a husband and wife team, and in my Bible they are noted as outstanding among the apostles. When it comes to the scripture around the role of women, I have always believed things to have changed from OT to NT, but this is an area I need to more deeply explore.
My Response:
Yes, the controversy with that verse is that being “outstanding amongst the apostles” doesn’t mean you’re an apostle, but more so you were highly regarded in the presence of the apostles. Let’s say you are a referee with a role in professional sports and I say Christina was highly regarded amongst the professional athletes. It does not mean you are a professional athlete, but rather that they recognize you, and that your service amongst the atheletes is appreciated, and highly regarded.
We see a similar sentiment with Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2:
“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”
But again none of this discounts the fact that the jury is still out among scholars and those who study hermeneutics, on whether or not, Junia was even a woman. It is still a highly debated issue upon which there has been no definitive conclusion.
What we do have however is the rest of the scriptures to test whether or not it would be possible for Junia to be an apostle; if indeed this person was a woman. As many are aware, apostleship is one of the highest if not the highest of church offices.
Here’s what scripture says:
1 Corinthians 14:34-37 “ 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. 35 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. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
In verse 37 Paul even makes a point to emphasize that if anyone wants to debate this issue, understand that this commandment is from Jesus Christ himself, and not from Paul alone. Some like to argue that this was only for the church of Corinth, which is not true because Paul wrote this same statement also to Timothy to teach those who were given to Timothy the same.
1 Timothy 2: 11-14 “11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
What’s his reasoning for this? Adam and Eve. He went to the beginning of creation stating that Adam was formed first. And again this is the same sentiment he said in 1 Corinthians 14:37 came from Jesus himself and not from Paul. I think many would perhaps be shocked to know that God through Jesus is the author of and a supporter of these statements being made by Paul and clearly let’s us know in 1 Corinthians 14:37. With that said apostleship would certainly be a position of authority and would require one to usurp authority over men to hold such a position. So how can one conclude women could hold this position if it’s in contradiction to a commandment from the Lord? These are all new testament verses by the way, none of this is old testament.
Let’s take a look at so more scripture on the matter:
1 Corinthians 11:2-3 “2Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
Paul says, to keep the traditions that he delivered to them, and then states that the head of the woman is the man. Acknowledging that despite gifts, talent, or ability there is still a Godly order. This doesn’t directly discount a woman’s gifts, or her ability, but rather calls attention to understanding, order and structure, despite ability.
A man may be more intelligent, more versed in Scripture, and more spiritually gifted than the elders, or the pastor of his church. However, that doesn’t then give him the right to take over the church because of his gifts; he must still remain in order. A child can be more gifted, more spiritually adept, and smarter than their parents, but that doesn’t then give them the right to become head over the household or to take the lead. They must still learn obedience, and submission and learned that they are under the headship of the parents regardless of gifts or ability. Jesus was a perfect example of one since a child was more knowledgeable, more spiritual, and more than his earthly parents, and yet he remained in order and obeyed them (Luke 2:51-52) as scripture commands(Exodus 20:12).
Later on in 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 Paul says “7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.”
Paul then in the next Chapter after 2 Timothy, gave Timothy the qualifications for an overseer. This is directly after saying, he does not permit a woman to speak in church. In the same letter, he gives qualifications for an overseer
1 Timothy 3:1-5 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”
Overseers must be the husband of one wife and be head over their household managing their families well.
The verse people tend use to in an attempt to subvert this is Galatians 3:28.
Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
But again readers must remember these are all Paul’s writings, and he’s not contradicting himself, so anyone interpreting these verses can not read it through the lens of any interpretation that causes a contradiction because there is none. This verse is talking about us being one in the spirit however, in the body we still have roles and rules as I stated earlier, and as all of Paul’s previous writings have stated.
The same verse said there is neither slave nor free. So to make the case that this verse permits a woman to teach would also make the case that this verse permits a slave, who is in legal slavery to overthrow his master, and take rule over his master as well. And as we know, the Bible is clear, that slaves are to obey their masters(Ephesians 6:5-9), so that would fall out of line with the rest of scripture again. We even see Paul returning a slave named Onesimus to his Master Philemon in the Book of Philemon in the bible, so that scripture(Galatians 3:28) doesn’t subvert anything said in the scriptures previously.
Another verse people may use to subvert is:
Acts 2:17-18: “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”
We do know that women can prophesy and be a prophetess(Corinthians 11:2-16) so there’s no contradiction here. Women can be prophetess, they can pray, they can dream, and they can receive a word from God. However, a woman being a Prophetess does not give her authority over the church but rather expresses there are spiritual gifts she can exercise in ministry under the authority of a male head if it’s going to be in church. Also, let me state for the record for the people that say “How can a woman prophecy if she can’t speak in church?” Who during the church service is the only time and place when people receive prophetic words? Many prophetic words are given for one specific person, some are made through direct home visits, and with modern technology today ,some prophetic words are even shared through phone calls. There are a host of women on youtube right now in their vehicles, recording on their phones what they say are prophetic words outside of a church setting.
Again, this is all out of The New Testament, and this is all revelation Paul received from Jesus Christ. These are not Paul’s commandments. As he stated earlier. When Paul gives his opinion, he makes it clear that he’s given his own opinion. However, on these matters, he says he received it directly from the Lord.
Here’s one example below, where Paul let the reader know he’s given his opinion:
1 Corinthians 7:12 “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.”- he makes it clear that this is not a direct commandment from the Lord, but rather what he believes is the most Christlike thing to do.
In verse 10 he again makes it clear that what he saying is from the Lord Jesus and not himself:
1 Corinthians 7:10 “10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.”
None of this discounts, a woman from being in ministry and serving in ministry. Women are in fact called to serve in ministry. However, this does disqualify them from being in positions of authority in which they are taking leadership roles over men.
And lastly, I will say that God is sovereign and anyone can be used, I’ve heard a story about a woman who was called in ministry, because none of the men would step up but later, on in her ministry, she was asked to hand over the ministry to a man. However, these situations are the exception and not the rule. The rules are that which we have laid out in Scripture plainly. Anyone claiming to be privately called I believe would be confirmed by other witnesses and tested as it would go against a commandment from the Lord. A woman shouldn’t just think she received a private word or had a single dream, and think she can ignore all of scripture because she thinks God has spoken to her. The enemy also gives dreams so we must test the spirits.
One more verse I want to put out as I’m preparing for my lesson for tomorrow since we were talking about apostles. This again is Jesus speaking to the Churches
Revelation 2:2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; “
We see here that Jesus even comments that the church has tested those who claimed to be Apostles and found them to be liars.
When we read the words Jesus wrote to Christians in the Churches in the book of Revelation I think we will see a Jesus that isn’t exactly like some of the modern depictions we see today. I recommend giving the letters to the 7 churches a read in the book of Revelation.
Here’s another example of the resurrected Jesus speaking to the churches in
Revelation 2:19-23: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
Society has been shown this water-downed depiction, as if the words of Paul are more stiff than the words of Jesus himself, when Paul by and large says that many of the things he writes are from Jesus and not from himself. When we read the letters to the churches in Revelation we can see Jesus speaking in a very serious manner about a woman Prophetess teaching in the church and seducing men into false teachings. Stating that the men there should not be allowing what’s taking place to happen.
There is of course so much more that can be said on this topic, but I believe this particular write is already long enough as it is. God bless you all who are in Christ Jesus The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I hope this write up has found you well. If you have any questions, opinions or concerns you’re more than welcome to comment down below or email me at [email protected].
God Bless
Eddie Fews
Do you have questions? Do you need prayer? Do you need deliverance from unclean spirits? Email me: [email protected]