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Before answering this question, it must be emphasized that the scriptures does not teach that man is superior to woman. Instructions such as this are based on gender roles rather than on intrinsic worth. There is neither Jew or non-Jew, slave or free, male or female (Gal 3:28) in the church in the sense that we are all equally sinful and in need of God’s redemptive work in our lives. We are all equal in God’s eyes in the context of the condemnation and justification of mankind. There is no difference in access to God in the church. However, this does not mean that there are no differences in gender roles.

The bible prohibits a woman from teaching and from exercising spiritual authority over a man. This instruction precludes women from being pastors, who teach, preach and exercise spiritual authority over the flock.

In church, the difference in gender roles is mainly covered in three passages: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 1 Corinthians 14:33-38, and 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35, “the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”

1 Timothy 2:12-14  “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

The latter two passages (quoted above) are more instructional in nature on the topic of women teaching in the church, while the first passage (1 Corinthans 11) is linked to the same passage in 1 Corinthians 14:33-38 in the sense that chapters 11-14 of 1 Corinthians are one continuous argument covering the use of spiritual gifts, church order and gender roles in congregational worship. Paul makes it clear that this teaching (1 Corinthans 11-14) is a commandment from God. This alone should silence any that these gender roles are only limited to historical or cultural preferences or the opinions of Paul.

Similarly, in all three passages, especially 1 Timothy 2:12-14, the reason given for not allowing women to preach in the church is that man was created first, then woman. It is an appeal not to cultural reasons, but to the created order. Since the order of creation is not something that can be changed with time, the instruction for women not to teach or exercise authority over men cannot be done away with in our modern age. Paul explains that what he is teaching is not something new, but that this is the way things have been from the beginning of creation; and that this teaching is not to be change. It is hard to imagine how the Apostle Paul could have been clearer in what he is trying to say. After establishing that only men should teach, in the next chapter, Paul goes on to establish that the teaching ministry of the church belongs to men. (1 Tim 3 and Titus 1)

While the bible does not forbid women teaching other women or children, it is the clear command of God that women are not to teach men in the church. Women are helpers to their husbands, are Godly Homemakers (1 Tim 5:14; Titus 2:5), teach children and other women, and even to prophesy in church. But when it comes to teaching, the bible draws a clear line that it is a role reserved only for men.

As mentioned, this does not mean that men are superior to women. Part of the push for women to teach has to do with the false notion that those who hold to a position of church authority are more righteous than those who do not teach. We sometimes draw up an artificial divide between clergy and laity, and forget that in Christ, we are all equal. Elders in the church are to be understood not as superior to other believers, but as “first among equals”. We are not to entertain the idea that a pastor is necessarily more holy than a lay member. When God sees us (believers), He sees the righteousness of Christ that is imputed on us. It is not our self-worth that gains us favour in God’s eyes. Only what Christ has done on our behalf will set us right before God. God does not decide to give “more of Christ’s righteous” to some, and less to another believer. The full righteousness of God is imputed on behalf every believer when he comes to faith in Christ.

If we really understand that we stand equal before God and are equally in need of the grace of God, and that we are all fellow brothers and sisters in the family of God, we would not equate “the permission to teach in the church” with the idea that “men are more special” for being allowed to do so. Neither should we view the biblical teaching of male leadership-only as “demeaning”. Such a notion is only possible if we have wrongly entertained a superior-inferior, Clergy-laity distinction that is never taught in Scriptures.