The question is not posed directly in this wording in the New Testament, and the answer is formed from several passages. In 1 Tim 2:12, Paul does not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, while the requirements for a bishop and elder in 1 Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:6 are stated as “the husband of one wife”; at the same time, women pray and prophesy in the New Testament (1 Cor 11:5; Acts 21:9) and are described as helpers and co-workers in ministry (Rom 16). Christians interpret how these passages fit together in different ways.
What does the Bible say about this
- 1 Tim 2:11–15: Paul writes that a woman should learn quietly and with complete submission; he does not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man; she must remain silent. The reason given is that Adam was created first, and Eve, having been deceived, fell into transgression.
- 1 Tim 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9: whoever aspires to be a bishop desires a noble work; a bishop must be above reproach, “the husband of one wife,” able to teach, and managing his household well; Titus is to appoint elders in every city, and they are described as “the husband of one wife,” with faithful children. These requirements are stated in the masculine gender.
- 1 Cor 11:4–5: Paul speaks of every man and every woman praying or prophesying; regarding a woman, he says that her head should be covered while doing so. Here women pray and prophesy, but this passage does not say that they teach the congregation as elders.
- 1 Cor 14:26–40: Paul describes the order of the gathering—a psalm, teaching, revelation, a tongue, and interpretation—with speakers taking turns; in 14:34–35 he writes that women should remain silent in the churches and ask their husbands at home. How these words relate to 1 Cor 11:5 is interpreted in different ways.
- Rom 16:1–7: Phoebe is called a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae and a helper of many; Priscilla and Aquila are Paul's co-workers (in Acts 18:26, they explain the way of the Lord more accurately to Apollos together); Junia is mentioned in Rom 16:7 in a phrase whose meaning concerning the apostles is interpreted in different ways.
- Phil 4:2–3: Euodia and Syntyche contended for the Gospel. Acts 21:9: Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. None of these women is called a pastor in the passages cited.
- Interpretations differ: the restrictive reading holds that 1 Tim 2:12, 3:2, and Titus 1:6 together limit the roles of teacher, overseer, and elder to men; the examples of women in Rom 16 and Acts 21 describe ministry, but not this role. This is one interpretation.
- Another reading, permissive in nature: 1 Timothy 2:12 is understood as a restriction related to specific circumstances, while the passages about women praying, prophesying, and serving are seen as evidence that women are not forbidden from all spiritual ministry.
- Conclusion: the possibility of women serving in pastoral ministry is inferred from combining these passages as an interpretation; they do not directly formulate this modern question.
Brief answer prepared by the editorial team; verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
9 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
1 Timothy 2:11–15
11 Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission; 12 and I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, fell into transgression; 15 nevertheless, she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness with self-control.
1 Timothy 3:1–7
1 This is a faithful saying: if anyone desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent, not quarrelsome, not greedy for money, but gentle, peaceable, and not covetous, 4 one who rules his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity; 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the Church of God? 6 He must not be a recent convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5–9
5 This is why I left you in Crete: that you might set right what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, as I commanded you: 6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who are not accused of debauchery or rebellion. 7 For an overseer must be blameless, as God's steward, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding firmly to the trustworthy word that agrees with the teaching, so that he may be able both to encourage others with sound doctrine and to refute those who oppose it.
1 Corinthians 11:2–16
2 I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in everything and hold to the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, because it is the same as if she were shaved. 6 For if a woman will not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved, let her cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 This is why a woman ought to have on her head a sign of authority over her, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor man of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so also man is born through woman; and everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory, because her hair is given to her as a covering? 16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 14:26–40
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, and an interpretation—let everything be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in another tongue, let it be two or at most three, and in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if a revelation is given to another who is sitting there, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 33 for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 let your wives keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but let them be submissive [to their husbands], as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn anything, let them ask about it at home from their own husbands, for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or did it reach only you? 37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that what I write to you is the commandment of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him remain ignorant. 39 Therefore, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues; 40 but let everything be done decently and in order.
Romans 16:1–7
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea. 2 Receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a helper to many, including me. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them—and also greet the church that meets in their house. 5 Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow prisoners, who are well known among the apostles and who were in Christ before I was.
Acts 18:24–26
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man and well-versed in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, spoke and taught accurately about the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
Acts 21:8–9
8 The next day Paul and we who were with him departed and came to Caesarea. We entered the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven deacons, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
Philippians 4:2–3
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women, who contended alongside me for the Gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
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