gender roles

Just as men must pray with the right kind of inner disposition that produces holiness toward God and unity toward the brothers, women must have the right kind of inner disposition.

The same is true when it comes to prophecy. Two or three prophets should speak, and then the church is to weigh what is said, since it was always possible that someone claiming to speak by the Holy Spirit was mistaken or even duplicitous.

F. F. Bruce notes, “That there was liberty in the church (for it is church order, not private or domestic devotion, that is in view here) for women to pray or prophesy is necessarily implied by Paul’s argument: he does not suggest that there is anything undesirable about their doing so…., but requires them to do so with their heads covered.”

Women are essential in building up the church through their service and disciple-making, and that they may have opportunity to help teach and guide even other Christian ministers in the truths of the gospel.