1 Timothy 2:11-12 says, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” This passage teaches us that a female believer in Christ should not take the place of a PUBLIC TEACHER but to be subject to male believers who are being used of God to teach His Word. We see this clearly taught in 1 Corinthians 14:34 which reads, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” God has ordained that MEN are to be the LEADERS in teaching the Bible in public places, so whenever a local church comes together to learn the scriptures women should sit in quiet subjection and benefit from the gift of teaching that God has given to the men. Later, in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul wrote, “And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful MEN who will be able to teach others also.” This truth is linked with what we see in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS MAN, and the head of Christ is God.” From the very beginning of creation God established this order referred to as HEADSHIP, which one is placed in a position as the LEADER and another is placed under them in a position of SUBJECTION. This does not mean the woman is inferior to the man; it simply means that her God-given place is one of submission to the man and if she steps out of that place, she would be guilty of “having dominion over the man.”

Having said that, the female believer is still able to “preach the gospel or explain scripture to a man” in a “private setting.” We have two notable examples of this in Scripture. In Acts 18:24-26 we read, “And a certain Jew names Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, KNOWING ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, THEY TOOK HIM UNTO THEM, AND EXPOUNDED UNTO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY.” Here we see an earnest believer (Apollos) needing more instruction concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ and a dear Christian couple took him aside (in a PRIVATE SETTING, perhaps in their home) to instruct him. Notice, THEY “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly,” which means Priscilla was free to teach him, along with her husband, in this private setting. It is a testimony to the humility of Apollos that he was willing to be taught by this humble couple, and it is a testimony to the woman’s right to teach if she is not taking the place of a “public teacher of the Word of God.”

 Later, in Acts 21:8-9, we read, “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered THE HOUSE of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had FOUR VIRGIN DAUGHTERS WHO PROPHESIED.” One “who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” Here too we learn that female believers are free to speak/teach God’s Word as led of the Lord as long it is done in a “private setting,” which in this case was in THE HOUSE of their father. I believe these two examples show that you are free to present the gospel or explain scripture to your male friend if you do so in your proper SPHERE, which is in a PRIVATE PLACE. In this case you are NOT SINNING but being a faithful servant of Christ. I pray your testimony through the Word of God will be blessed to your friend, for his eternal blessing and for God’s glory.  (DO)  (627.5)