Misundestandings from I Corinthians 11 and Romans 12:6 concerning the ministry of women in the local church: "women to preach" or "women to prophesy".

In immediately getting to the point  I Corinthians 11 and Romans 12:6 shows that preaching is not the gift Paul is saying that a woman as well as a man can possess.   These together are also the texts used by many to say that a woman can preach.  However, after carefully examining the texts using careful exegesis (particularly arcing or tracing the argument), the texts show the opposite fact and isn't talking about preaching at all.  Especially, with relationship to women preaching. 

In going over I Corinthians 11 I want to show what is found concerning Paul's statement about women prophesying or praying in the church.  However what is noticed is that nowhere in that chapter does the discussion have anything to do with what some have considered preaching.  Not only is Paul misunderstood as having said that women could preach or pray.  The text says, "prophesying" and "prophesying" in the verses of I Corinthians 11 and it's context have nothing to do with women preaching, whether under the authority of their husbands or not.  It is not about that at all.

Actually prophesying in that chapter means nothing of the idea of being along the same line as the authority of Scripture.  Based on the context of I Corithians 11 it has to do with declarative statements from God through a person under the authority of Scripture for the test of authenticity, because of the fallibility of the human personality.  The issue is that it is not along the lines of Old Testament prophecy, or New Testament revelation.  Better said is it isn't in equality with Scripture as an infallible or inerrant authority.   The context must be taken under consideration when interpreting verses.  New Testament prophesy or "propheteias" that Paul discusses in the contexts of Romans 12:6 and I Corinthians 11, is rather a human report of something that God has brought to mind or prophetic utterances.  It is different from teaching, in that teaching is based on a written text of Scripture, while prophesy is based on the immediate impression that God is directing our thoughts to information that we would not otherwise have known or spoken. 

Also, in going over Romans 12:6 although 12:6a uses the same English word "prophecy" (propheteian) instead of "prophesy", the next portion of the verse, 12:6b, explains the use of the gift with relationship to "prophesyings" (propheteias) or prophetic utterances and is not refering to the text of Scripture or "prophecy of Scripture" as in II Peter 1:20 although the same Greek word "propheteia' is used.  Once again, the way in which a word is used in its context gives it proper meaning in a verse in which it is used.

An example of what the New Testament gift of prophesy was, would be for example, if someone in a prayer meeting or other occasion said, "I feel that we need to pray for a certain church in a certain city, because it is undergoing some attack," and the next day a report came by email or postal service confirming that was the case, and the prayers of the people were answered.  Also, another example would be, suppose you were under stress about some situation involving a report that was placed on a table in your office and you needed to find the report, but was uncertain of where to look because someone removed it to another location.  Then you felt the leading of the Lord or as we sometimes say, "Something told me to --- look in a certain drawer in an unusual place and there it would be found.”  Here are some texts that I think go along with this kind of and explanation concerning the "New Testament gift of prophesy" of which I believe women as well as men could possess, and it did not mean preaching the gospel:

1. Acts 2:17 

2. I Corinthians 14:1-4

3. I Corinthians 14:29-32 (cf. Matthew 7:15-16)

4. I Thessalonians 5:20-21**

5. I Corinthians 14:1

6. I Corinthians 14:37-38

All of the texts above show how the above mentioned issue concerning women preaching is misunderstood because biblical theology, the theology of the Bible, is not considered. This is also because the exegesis of the above mentioned texts have not always been considered as well.

The context for the above discussed biblical teaching from Romans 12:6 and I Corinthians 11 concerning the "New Testament gift of prophesy" that Paul discusses is not the same as "the prophecy of Scripture"; "word of prophecy"; or "prophecy" as Peter is talking about in II Peter 1:19-21.  Actually when the Scriptures themselves are being discussed the text uses the word "prophecy" with the "c" at the end before the "y".  When it is talking about a unction from the Lord concerning and immediate matter which is not Scripture but sifted through Scripture, the text uses the word "prophesy" with the "s" at the end before the "y". 

  

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Note** (In I Thessalonians 5:20 in the other literal translations the word is "prophesyings" but the NIV has it wrong as "prophecies".  It is good to have a good literal (formal) translation rather than a dynamic (equivalence) translation.  This is one of the reasons that I tell people all the time to study the Bible in various translations.)

Making a Motto for Ministry a Biblical Reality

I have had for years a motto for my life and ministry as a biblical Christian husband, father, friend, brother, preacher, pastor-teacher, and president & professor of a divinity school.   The motto simply states, "Training Disciples to Think and Act Biblically". 

If we, the Church of Jesus Christ, would train disciples to think biblically, then most assuredly they would at the least learn to act biblically...but then that reveals three possible and probable realities: 

(1) the actions being displayed are telling that the Bible is or isn't thought of; 

(2) the training is or isn't from the Bible;

(3) but then again, there are those who just aren't "DISCIPLES" -- whether they are doing the training, or are the one's being trained.