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The Role of Women in the

Church

Louise Rushmore

Discussion of “The Role of Women in the Church” treats the topic of subjection, though
only a single facet of that God-appointed chain of authority; excepting YEHOVAH the Father, eve-
ryone is subordinate to someone else (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Hebrews 2:8). “But I would have
you know, that the head of every man is Christ [Yeshua]; and the head of the woman is the man;
and the head of Christ is God [YEHOVAH]” (1 Corinthians 11:3). It is just as wrong for a woman
to take man’s place as it is for man to take Yeshua’s place.

The church is subject to Yeshua (Ephesians 1:22; 5:24); all men are subject to “the right-
eousness of God” (Romans 10:3; James 4:7); everyone is subject to governments (Romans 13:1-7;
Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13); and, children are subject to parents (Luke 2:51; Hebrews 12:9). Further, it
cannot be denied that the Bible also plainly teaches that women are subject to men (1 Timothy
2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:3). And, Scripture abundantly denotes that wives are required to be subor-
dinate to their own husbands (Ephesians 5:22-25; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:5-6), even
if their husbands are not Christians (1 Peter 3:1).

The “Role of Women in the Church” or the home is only controversial to those who exhibit
diminished respect for the authority of YEHOVAH and his Holy Word! Christians who reject the
subordinate role of women despise “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1, 4-5) and blaspheme the Word of
YEHOVAH (Titus 2:5)!

The subjection of women to men is a divinely given principle that predates both Christian-
ity and Judaism; YEHOVAH God instituted the respective roles of men and women in the Garden
of Eden, at the dawning of Patriarchy. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow
and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy hus-
band, and he shall rule over thee” (Genesis 3:16). Therefore, the subordinate role of women to
men does not pertain to custom or culture, but predates both. Also, the Gospel has not altered or
removed the subordinate role of women any more than it has affected (1) painful childbirth, (2)
sweat and labor, and (3) physical death (Genesis 3:16-19), all of which will remain until the end
of time.

The inspired Word of God gives several reasons for the subordination of women: (1) “For
Adam was first formed, then Eve” (1 Timothy 2:13); (2) woman, not man, was deceived by Satan
(1 Timothy 2:14); (3) woman was created from man (1 Corinthians 11:8); and, (4) woman was
created for man (1 Corinthians 11:9). Yet, a woman’s salvation and worth are not tied to a man
(Galatians 3:28); still, the Gospel does not dissolve physical distinctions between races, political
or economic status, or sexes.

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