Certainly! Here are the biblical references to women speaking, preaching, teaching, praying in tongues, prophesying, and serving as apostles and prophets in the New Testament Church:
1. **Women Speaking and Teaching:**
- Acts 18:26 - Priscilla and Aquila instruct Apollos.
- Titus 2:3-5 - Older women are instructed to teach younger women.
- Luke 2:36-38 - Anna, a prophetess, speaks about Jesus in the temple.
2. **Women Praying:**
- 1 Timothy 2:8-15 - Instructions for men and women in prayer.
3. **Women Prophesying:**
- Acts 21:9 - Philip's daughters prophesy.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 - Women prophesying in the church, with instructions for modesty.
4. **Women Preaching and Teaching:**
- Acts 2:17-18 - Peter quotes Joel about sons and daughters prophesying.
- Acts 21:8-9 - Philip's daughters are recognized as prophetesses.
- Romans 16:1-2 - Phoebe is commended by Paul and is likely a deaconess or minister.
- Romans 16:3-4 - Priscilla and Aquila, a married couple, taught Apollos.
- Romans 16:7 - Junia is mentioned as an apostle by Paul.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 - Women praying and prophesying in the church.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 - Instructions for orderly worship, including women prophesying.
5. **Women Apostles and Prophets:**
- Romans 16:7 - Junia is referred to as being of note among the apostles.
- Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are listed as gifts to the church.
These passages demonstrate that women played significant roles in the early Christian Church, including speaking, teaching, praying, prophesying, and even serving as apostles and prophets. Their contributions were vital to the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church.
Let's take a closer look at some of these important scriptures...
Romans 16:7: Paul refers to a male apostle, Andronicus, and a female
apostle, Junia, as "outstanding among the apostles" (NIV) The Amplified
Bible translates this passage as "They are men held in high esteem among
the apostles" The Revised Standard Version shows it as "they are men of
note among the apostles". The reference to them both being men does not
appear in the original Greek text. The word "men" was simply inserted
by the translators, apparently because the translators' minds recoiled
from the concept of a female apostle. Many translations, including the
Amplified Bible, Rheims New Testament, New American Standard Bible, and
the New International Version simply picked the letter "s" out of thin
air, and converted the original "Junia" (a woman) into "Junias" (a man).
Woman Teaching
Some interpret "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2.12) to mean that women should never teach in the assembled church; however, commentators point out that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching. Paul's commended co-worker, Priscilla, taught Apollos, the great preacher: "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18.24-26).
The Ephesian Women
Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church: "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" (Rom 16.1). Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis were the Lord's workers: "Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us...Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord" (Rom. 16.6,12). So were Euodia and Syntyche: "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4.2). Paul was very likely prohibiting the Ephesian women, not all women, from teaching.
Were Ephesian women targets for false teachers? See 1 Tim. 2.9-15 and 2 Tim. 3.6-7. This is given to Timothy in Ephesus. I don't think it is a stretch that Paul had to address this matter to them because it was pertinent, so Paul brought it up.
In Paul's reference to women listening and learning quietly and submissively, he is speaking about an attitude of quietness and composure (not total silence). In addition, Paul himself acknowledges that women publicly prayed and prophesied (1 Cor.11.5): "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved." Apparently, however, the women in the Ephesian church were abusing their newly acquired Christian freedom. Because these women were new converts, they did not have the necessary experience, knowledge, or Christian maturity to teach those who already had extensive Scriptural education.
In 1 Tim. 2, Paul talks about the male and female roles in the church. Some scholars see these verses about Adam and Eve as illustrating of what was happening to the Ephesian church. Just as Eve had been deceived in the Garden of Eden, so the women in the church were being deceived by false teachers. And just as Adam was the first human created by God, so the men in the church of Ephesus should the first to speak and teach because they had more training. This view, then, stresses that Paul's teaching here is not universal but applies to the churches with similar problems.
The Corinthians Woman
"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" (1 Cor. 14.34,35). The women were not to disrupt the Christian meetings with outbursts of questions to their husbands, but to respect those who were teaching at the time of service. Paul here is addressing the issue of unity, harmony and the order of the Spirit during worship. All may prophecy, teach etc, but one at a time, being subject to one another. This passage of scripture in no way instructs women to remain silent altogether, only in regard to them asking questions of their husbands and the apropriate time and manner indicated so as not to disrupt the service and create confussion.
Does this mean that women should speak in church service today? It is clear from 1 Cor. 11, that women prayed and prophesied in public worship: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven" (v.5). Women were only to cover their hair is they were sahven or had short hair. These were women who were new converts from the temple of Diana who had shaved hair as idoltrious worshippers, and where identified as such becuase of it. Paul's concern is the appearance of evil in their testimony of non subjection to Christ. Paul goes on to say in this chapter that a womens hair is her covering given to her by God, and is a glory to her in that it shows her submission to her authority. Women today do not have such associations with the temple of Diana, so women are not required to wear a material covering.
It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ.
In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public, but today obviously, things have changed. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that there Christian freedom gave them the right to question men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 14.34,35 was to promote unity, not to teach about women's roles in the church.
Articles:
Can Women Be Apostles?
https://www.charismamag.com/spirit/church-ministry/20285-can-women-be-apostles
Women Apostles
http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/womenapostles.htm
Female Prophets, Disciples, Ministers & Apostles Mentioned in the Bible
http://www.gospelassemblyfree.com/facts/women.htm
Book: Why Not Women
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Women-Biblical-Leadership/dp/1576581837
Woman Teaching
Some interpret "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2.12) to mean that women should never teach in the assembled church; however, commentators point out that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching. Paul's commended co-worker, Priscilla, taught Apollos, the great preacher: "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18.24-26).
The Ephesian Women
Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church: "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" (Rom 16.1). Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis were the Lord's workers: "Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us...Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord" (Rom. 16.6,12). So were Euodia and Syntyche: "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4.2). Paul was very likely prohibiting the Ephesian women, not all women, from teaching.
Were Ephesian women targets for false teachers? See 1 Tim. 2.9-15 and 2 Tim. 3.6-7. This is given to Timothy in Ephesus. I don't think it is a stretch that Paul had to address this matter to them because it was pertinent, so Paul brought it up.
In Paul's reference to women listening and learning quietly and submissively, he is speaking about an attitude of quietness and composure (not total silence). In addition, Paul himself acknowledges that women publicly prayed and prophesied (1 Cor.11.5): "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved." Apparently, however, the women in the Ephesian church were abusing their newly acquired Christian freedom. Because these women were new converts, they did not have the necessary experience, knowledge, or Christian maturity to teach those who already had extensive Scriptural education.
In 1 Tim. 2, Paul talks about the male and female roles in the church. Some scholars see these verses about Adam and Eve as illustrating of what was happening to the Ephesian church. Just as Eve had been deceived in the Garden of Eden, so the women in the church were being deceived by false teachers. And just as Adam was the first human created by God, so the men in the church of Ephesus should the first to speak and teach because they had more training. This view, then, stresses that Paul's teaching here is not universal but applies to the churches with similar problems.
The Corinthians Woman
"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" (1 Cor. 14.34,35). The women were not to disrupt the Christian meetings with outbursts of questions to their husbands, but to respect those who were teaching at the time of service. Paul here is addressing the issue of unity, harmony and the order of the Spirit during worship. All may prophecy, teach etc, but one at a time, being subject to one another. This passage of scripture in no way instructs women to remain silent altogether, only in regard to them asking questions of their husbands and the apropriate time and manner indicated so as not to disrupt the service and create confussion.
Does this mean that women should speak in church service today? It is clear from 1 Cor. 11, that women prayed and prophesied in public worship: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven" (v.5). Women were only to cover their hair is they were sahven or had short hair. These were women who were new converts from the temple of Diana who had shaved hair as idoltrious worshippers, and where identified as such becuase of it. Paul's concern is the appearance of evil in their testimony of non subjection to Christ. Paul goes on to say in this chapter that a womens hair is her covering given to her by God, and is a glory to her in that it shows her submission to her authority. Women today do not have such associations with the temple of Diana, so women are not required to wear a material covering.
It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ.
In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public, but today obviously, things have changed. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that there Christian freedom gave them the right to question men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 14.34,35 was to promote unity, not to teach about women's roles in the church.
Articles:
Can Women Be Apostles?
https://www.charismamag.com/spirit/church-ministry/20285-can-women-be-apostles
Women Apostles
http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/womenapostles.htm
Female Prophets, Disciples, Ministers & Apostles Mentioned in the Bible
http://www.gospelassemblyfree.com/facts/women.htm
Book: Why Not Women
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Women-Biblical-Leadership/dp/1576581837
Do You Know Why (Women and Men) Fivefold Ministry is Essential?
How Many Apostles in the New Testament–12 or 25?
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