Dr. Couch, can you explain the popularity, and the seeming endorsement by pastors and churches, of women Bible teachers? They seem to have a "body wide ministry." Is there any scriptural support for this?
ANSWER: There is not a problem of women teaching women the Word of God and giving practical biblical guidelines for living the Christian walk. But to be quite frank, I sense that the women teachers that are so popular like to show off their talent. While they attract women to their ministry, I feel that they often also enjoy the fact that some men tune in and like their expositions of Scripture.
Older women have a place in teaching younger women. Paul writes that they can "encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be dishonored" (Titus 2:4-5). This ministry would set the pattern for what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:4-5). The woman can pray and prophesy, and it would be obvious that this would be with women, and not with men or in a mixed group. "Prophesying" would be teaching in this context, not foretelling of future events that are coming. In this 1 Corinthians 11 context, Paul still puts the woman teacher under the authority of the man or of her husband. She is not to operate alone in her ministry.
Paul adds, "I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet ('unemotional')" (1 Tim. 2:12).
The liberal feminists try to say that the above verses are cultural and not applicable for us today, but this is not so. Looking at the passages closely we find that he is not arguing from the standpoint of culture but from the position of biblical doctrine. These verses stand as guidelines for women today. Women are more emotional and not as objective as men. God wants male leadership in the churches and not feminize the congregations.
Finally, women can teach women, and they should! We can respect this, though I think that there is a not of showmanship going on with the popular women teachers that are seen on TV today.
Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)
