Male World View
The Bible, and most societies in the world, speak in a perspective with reference to the man. This is even done when referring to animals. He, him, his, etc., is the normal way of speaking in every-day language. In the Bible, Paul, and others, also express this common male world view.
Balanced Bible View
Even with the male world view being expressed in the Bible, when you see the overall facts in the Bible, you can see that God has a balanced view of male and female roles.
In Genesis 1:26-27, before the fall, we see that “man” was created in the image of God. God “created he him; male and female created he them.” So, “man,” “him,” and “them,” created in the image of God, were male and female. In Genesis 2:24, they were declared “one flesh.” This was before the fall. The element of the man ruling over the woman, and the curse, did not come into operation until after the fall.
In Ezekiel 11:19-20, it is prophesied that God would give His people “one heart” and a “new spirit,” taking out the “stony heart” and giving them “an heart of flesh.” This was so His people could walk with Him and be His people and He could “be their God.”
In Joel 2:28-29 (also in Acts 2:16-18), it is prophesied and referenced, that the Spirit would be poured out upon “all flesh” and “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” The meaning of the Greek word to prophesy is “to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office,” applying to both men and women (Strong’s Concordance G4395).
In Galatians 3:13-14, we are told by the apostle Paul that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, that we might receive the “promise of the Spirit through faith.” He went on to say in verses 26-28 that we are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, and neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So, “in Christ,” male and female are back to being “one” in a spiritual sense, with their spirits restored to the “pre-fall” condition by the Holy Spirit.
Inclusivity of Bible Expression
1 Timothy 2:4-6 tells us that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, for there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all…” (italics mine)
A strict interpretation of the language of the Bible here would conclude that God’s will is to save men, but the women are left out. It would say Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all men, but the women are left out. Anyone with common sense knows, by looking at all the scriptures of the Bible together, that “men” and “all” also refers to women.
1 Timothy 3:1-13 says “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” Seeing that “in Christ” there is neither male nor female, we cannot read a strict interpretation that the office of bishop (or deacon) is limited to a male. Just like God will have all “men” to be saved includes females, so if a “man” (or woman), desires the office of bishop (or deacon), “he” (or she), desires a good work. Females are included! If it is a man desiring the office, then he is to be married to one wife, and not practice polygamy. If it is a woman desiring the office, then she is to be married to one husband, and not practice polygamy.
If you are going to read the Bible with exclusivity in one part, then it applies to all parts. If you are going to read the Bible with an understanding of inclusivity, then that also applies to all parts.
In reading the whole of scriptures, there is no place that forbids a woman from holding a ministry office in the kingdom of God—not one scripture! Apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist is according to God’s call and equipping. There is no place that says this calling is according to gender. We should not take a method of language expression and use that to restrict the overall purpose of God. The fact is that male and female are one in Christ. God is simply looking for willing, obedient vessels whether they be male or female, or a donkey! (Numbers 22:28)
You say, “Well, the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church.” Yes! The head and body are one unit. Christ and His church are one spirit. They are to work together to accomplish one mission—to seek and save the lost. The divine order of God is that each person in the relationship respond to the call and anointing of the Holy Spirit. If the wife is called to pastor, that does not change the fact that the husband is still the head, with all the responsibilities of being the head.
Ephesians 5:18-33, especially verse 21, shows us that the Spirit-filled relationship involves mutual submission in the fear and reverence of God. The wife is to submit to the husband “as unto the Lord.” The husband is to submit to the wife to love her “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Mutual submission is the rule of the kingdom. Through this mutual submission, the gifts and callings of God are free to operate in each life.
Aquila and Priscilla are a good scriptural example of the husband-and-wife team. The husband and wife are God’s Holy Team to operate together in the callings and anointings of God on each of their lives to accomplish God’s work on the earth. They are to be mutually supportive of each other in whatever is God’s call on each of their lives. Acts 18
One last note: there is no such thing as “pulpit ministry” in the scriptures. It is simply people operating in the calling and anointing of God, going from house-to-house, synagogue-to-synagogue, town-to-town reaching people for Jesus. It is a body working together to reach people for Jesus.
