all parts of society has come under increasing scrutiny. One area of

recent controversy is the role of women in the Christian Church. Some

churches whose traditions and practices are less rigidly tied to

Biblical doctrines have begun placing women in leadership positions

such as pastor or teacher. Other churches which interpret the Bible

more literally have been slow to adopt such changes. Much of the

confusion is based on attempts to interpret scriptures pertaining to

women. In this essay, we will use the Bible to understand the role of

women in the church of the first century and apply that understanding

to the church of the twentieth century.

Many people would dispute the Bible's relevance to contemporary

thought in general, and in particular to the role of women in worship.

If the Bible were not written under divine inspiration, a person or

practice is not bound by its teachings. He or she can therefor pick

and choose whatever corresponds to his/her point of view. However, if

the Bible is of divine inspiration, then a cautious consideration of

passages relevant to a particular issue must be undertaken. T

would not be given in marriage and they would be like the angels.

of a more egalitarian way of life in line with their new-found

and customs that have arisen after the Bible was written may thus be

that many women in the church had been converted to this message and

frequently uses this passage as a guideline when discussing women and

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger

the modern reader is at least inclined to ask what it means that men

reference. The teaching that Paul is concerned about here is

message makes women inferior to men.

sinner. But women will be kept safe through childbirth, if they

equally a reflection of God's image; the word "man" here is used as a

and Eve as described in Genesis chapter one. The Apostle Paul

Some common words found in the essay are:
Philippi Bible, Ephesus Paul, Christian Church, Apostle Paul, Christ Jesus, Eve Adam, Version Bible, Church Primarily, Apollos Lord, Ephesus Corinth, role women, gospel message, adam eve, women worship, apostle paul, women church, renounce traditional roles, church , teach authority, christ jesus, worship service,
Approximate Word count = 1987
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)