Foundational Doctrines: Gender Roles in the Church

In today’s politically correct culture of feminism, many do not understand the individual roles that God has given both men and women in the church. In this article, we explore the foundational Biblical teaching of gender roles in the church.

1. God’s specifically designed and assigned gender roles. God intentionally designed men and women to be different. His design includes the functional roles that both men and women are to serve in life. Man was created first to serve as a steward of God’s creation (Gen. 2:5-9, 15), while the woman was specifically created to be a “helper suitable” for man (Gen. 2:18). The “firstborn” principle of man’s creation demonstrates God’s intention for man to be the spiritual leader of the home and the church (1 Tim. 2:13). Men and women have equal value, ability, and spiritual worth before God (cf. 1 Peter 3:7). However, God has assigned specific roles to each of the genders. Men are to lead in the affairs of the church (1 Tim. 2:8; 3:15). Women have been given the special task of management of the home (1 Tim. 2:15; cf. 5:14).

2. Women are not permitted to teach or do anything that “exercises authority” over men when the church gathers together. God assigned the role of spiritual leadership to the male gender. God created woman to be a helper to man in this pursuit and commanded her to voluntarily submit to his leadership (Eph. 5:24). God gives instructions about how men and women are to conduct themselves in the “affairs of the church” (1 Tim. 3:15). Men are responsible for taking the lead in worship, such as leading prayers (1 Tim. 2:8). Women must dress in respectable apparel and behave modestly so as not to distract men from their spiritual leadership (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Women are to learn quietly in the church with a submissive spirit (1 Tim. 2:11). Women are not allowed to be in any position of exercising authority over men in the church by teaching or any other perceived leadership role in a congregation (1 Tim. 2:12). This is not a cultural command limited to the first century but is rather God’s intended designed and assigned roles for the genders (1 Tim. 2:13-14).

3. Women are not allowed to have “speaking roles” when the church assembles together. When the “whole church” gathers together (cf. 1 Cor. 14:23), God has instructed that things be done in a decent and orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:40). Included in these instructions, God directed in all the churches that women should “keep silent in the churches” (1 Cor. 14:33b-35). Although there were female prophets in the first century church (1 Cor. 11:5; Acts 21:9), when the “whole church” assembles women are prohibited from having speaking roles.

4. God expects women to lead children and other women in the church. Just because God has assigned leadership roles to the male gender in the church assembly does not mean that women are to be passive and uninvolved in the work of God’s kingdom. Women were very active in the ministry of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3). Women served as active servants in the early church (Rom. 16:1-2) often working harder than some men (Rom. 16:6, 12). All Christians, men and women, are to be involved in personal evangelism (cf. Acts 18:26). Women should lead other women in study and prayer (Acts 16:13; cf. 17:4). In fact, Scripture directly instructs older women to teach and train younger women (Titus 2:3-5).

5. A woman can do anything in the church today provided she does not exercise authority over a man. God has specifically designed and assigned roles for the genders in his church. Man has been assigned the role of leadership. Women must submit to God’s wisdom in this matter. But when it comes to the work of the church, women can do anything that men can do provided they do not exercise authority over men.