08/31/2026
CAN A WOMAN BE CALLED TO PASTOR?
This subject continues to be debated, but our conclusions must be based upon the whole counsel of God’s Word—not upon one isolated verse removed from its setting.
There are basic rules of scriptural interpretation that must be applied honestly and consistently:
Who is speaking?
To whom are they speaking?
What are they talking about?
What situation or problem is being addressed?
What was the purpose of the instruction?
What does the rest of Scripture say about the same subject?
We must allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. We cannot build an entire doctrine upon one isolated verse while ignoring other passages dealing with the same subject. God does not contradict Himself, and no correct interpretation of one passage will contradict the clear teaching and examples found throughout the rest of His Word.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
—2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
This is especially important when studying 1 Timothy 2:12 and the qualifications for church leadership in 1 Timothy 3.
Paul wrote:
“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
—2 Timothy 1:11 KJV
Paul’s own ministry demonstrates that the phrase “the husband of one wife” in 1 Timothy 3 cannot mean that every minister must be a married man. Paul himself served as a preacher, apostle and teacher, yet there is no biblical record of Paul having a wife during his ministry.
If “the husband of one wife” were applied as an absolute marital requirement, then every unmarried man would also be disqualified from ministry.
The expression describes moral character and marital faithfulness. It carries the meaning of being a “one-woman man”—a man who, if married, is faithful to his wife and above reproach.
The emphasis of 1 Timothy 3 is godly character: blamelessness, marital faithfulness, vigilance, self-control, good behavior, hospitality, teaching ability, spiritual maturity and a good reputation.
Paul was establishing standards of godly character for church leadership—not teaching that possessing a wife is a requirement for receiving a ministry gift from Christ.
When the pastoral ministry is specifically named, Paul wrote:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
—Ephesians 4:11 KJV
Paul did not say, “He gave some men to be pastors.” These are ministry gifts that Christ gives to His Church.
Nowhere in the New Testament does Scripture say, “A woman shall not be a pastor.”
The Bible clearly records God using women to speak, lead, teach and minister.
Deborah was a prophetess and judge over Israel:
“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.”
—Judges 4:4 KJV
Huldah spoke the Word of the Lord to the representatives of the king.
—2 Kings 22:14–20
Priscilla, together with her husband Aquila, instructed Apollos—an educated and eloquent man—more perfectly in the way of God:
“Whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
—Acts 18:26 KJV
Although Acts 18:26 names Aquila first, other passages name Priscilla before her husband:
“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila…”
—Acts 18:18 KJV
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.”
—Romans 16:3 KJV
In Scripture, nothing is insignificant or accidental. Priscilla was clearly recognized as a fellow laborer who helped instruct Apollos in the truth of God.
Philip had four daughters who prophesied:
“And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.”
—Acts 21:9 KJV
Paul acknowledged women praying and prophesying:
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth…”
—1 Corinthians 11:5 KJV
Phoebe was called a servant—diakonos—of the church:
“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.”
—Romans 16:1 KJV
Paul wrote that Junia was “of note among the apostles.”
—Romans 16:7 KJV
Euodias and Syntyche labored with Paul in the Gospel.
—Philippians 4:2–3
On the Day of Pentecost, God poured out His Spirit upon both His sons and His daughters:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”
“And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”
—Acts 2:17–18 KJV
Therefore, Paul’s words cannot mean that every woman is forbidden from speaking, teaching or ministering, because Paul himself acknowledged women doing those very things.
Some also point out that Jesus’ twelve disciples were all men. However, that fact does not establish that every pastor must be a man.
The Twelve were also all Jewish. If every personal characteristic of the Twelve established an unchangeable qualification for every future minister, then Gentile men would also be disqualified. I’m just saying!
The Twelve occupied a unique role connected with the twelve tribes of Israel. Their being men does not constitute a biblical prohibition against women serving as pastors.
It is also sometimes argued that all sixty-six books of the Bible were written by men. That is not a biblical argument against women in ministry.
First, Scripture does not identify the human author of Hebrews.
More importantly, the authority of Scripture comes from the Holy Spirit—not from the s*x of the human writer:
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
—2 Peter 1:21 KJV
The same inspired Bible records God calling, anointing and speaking through women.
Yes, Bible-believing Christians hold different interpretations of 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14. Those passages must be studied carefully according to the established rules of scriptural interpretation:
Who was speaking?
To whom were they speaking?
What specific issue were they addressing?
What was the purpose of the instruction?
What does the rest of Scripture say about that same subject?
An interpretation that causes Paul to contradict his own acknowledgment of women praying, prophesying, teaching and laboring in the Gospel cannot be accepted without a careful examination of the passage’s complete context. God does not contradict Himself.
It is not scripturally accurate to claim that the Bible “strictly forbids” a woman from being called Pastor, because the Bible never makes that statement.
The biblical questions should be:
Has God called the person?
Is the person doctrinally sound?
Does the person meet the biblical qualifications of godly character?
Is there spiritual fruit?
Are people being shepherded, equipped and brought to maturity in Christ?
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
—Galatians 3:28 KJV
Galatians 3:28 declares our equal standing and spiritual inheritance in Christ. Being male or female does not determine a person’s value, access to God or ability to receive the Holy Spirit.
A woman should not pursue a title merely for recognition or simply because she is doing the work of the ministry—and neither should a man.
But a woman whom God has called, gifted and anointed should not be told that her calling is illegitimate simply because she is a woman.
God is the One who calls.
God is the One who gives ministry gifts.
God is the One who anoints.
And when God calls a person, we should be very careful about telling Him whom He is permitted to use! 🥰🙌
For further study, I recommend The Woman Question by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin. It is a powerful, Scripture-filled examination of this important subject. ❤️
—Pastor Janice
