Women Teaching and Praying

Roy Deaver wrote this article. It appeared in the July 1974 edition of The Christian Courier, published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, Californian and edited by Wayne Jackson.

Question: Is it in harmony with the Scriptures for a woman to lead in prayer, as in a chain prayer in a devotional, where men are present?

Answer: No, such is not in harmony with the Scriptures. All such practices are contrary to the divine restriction which God has placed upon the woman's work.

If the Bible teaches that we are saved by works (James 2:14-26) and that we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9), then it becomes obvious that there are different KINDS of works. There are works which are INCLUDED and there are works which are EXCLUDED.

If the Bible teaches that women are to pray (and all Christians are instructed to pray) and if it teaches that women are NOT to pray, then it becomes obvious that there are different KINDS of praying so far as concerns the Christian woman. There is a KIND of praying which she is to do, and there is a KIND of praying which she is forbidden to do.

In I Timothy 2:8 Paul speaks as follows: "I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing." We call attention particularly to the word "men" here. This is not the ordinary word for man (in the sense of mankind) but rather is the word aner which is used to distinguish man (male) from the woman. Therefore, it is clear that there is a kind of praying which the woman is not to do.

In verse 12 Paul continues: "But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness." This passage definitely forbids the woman to teach but reference is to a particular KIND of teaching. The Greek Testament is much plainer on the point which I seek to make than are our English translations. The Greek Testament says: "But I permit not a woman to teach, nor in any other way to have dominion over a man..." The oude is explicative in force. Thus, it is clear that the kind of teaching which is forbidden is the kind which necessarily and inherently involves having dominion over a man. Likewise, it is the case that the kind of praying which is forbidden is that which necessarily involves having dominion over a man.

The Christian woman can (and must) teach but she cannot (with God's approval) teach in such a fashion as to have dominion over man. Taking a leading part in teaching when men are present is clearly forbidden. Leading in prayer when men are present is clearly forbidden. Such leading (or leading part) by the very nature of the case or situation inherently involves exercising authority. And, this exercising of authority (or dominion) over a man is the very thing which has always been forbidden by God since the creation of man. Paul himself stresses that this is not a New Testament principle exclusively, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve..."

But suppose an elder or a woman's husband asks her to lead in prayer. No elder and no husband has a right to ask a woman to do anything which is contrary to God's law.

It is my judgment that I Timothy 2:8-15 is discussing basically, conduct with relationship to the worship (regular worship) situation. However, Paul makes it clear that the principle is applicable at all times, in all places and in all circumstances. At no time, in no place and in no circumstance is the woman to place herself (or allow herself to be placed) in a position in which she would ever run the risk of exercising dominion over a man.