The Case for Women's Service in Ministry

Years ago, N.T. Wright gave a presentation regarding his interpretation of certain biblical texts which have been used to suggest that women cannot take part in ministry. Here’s a brief overview of some of his thoughts.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Galatians 3:28

According to Wright, Paul is declaring that God has one family, not two, and that God’s family consists of all those who believe in Jesus. Wright maintains that in this passage, Paul is not speaking to how we ought to relate to one another within this single family–but he is more or less stating that “the ground is even at the foot of the cross.”

In context, Paul is speaking to those who wished to enforce Jewish regulations upon Gentile converts, but within this family of God these distinctions are now irrelevant.

Wright explains, “We do not become hermaphrodites or for that matter genderless, sexless beings when we are baptised. Paul would have been the first to reject the gnostic suggestion that the original creation was a secondary, poor shot at making a world and that we have to discover ways of transcending that which, according to Genesis 1, God called very good.”

He further points out that while Jesus chose twelve male apostles, eventually all of those disciples forsake Jesus and run away. It is the women who come first to the tomb, who are the first to see Jesus risen, and who are the first to be given the news that He has risen from the dead. The women are in essence apostles of the apostles, and they are given a valuable place in the resurrection story.

And in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, Wright asserts that what most likely bothered Martha was the fact that Mary sat at Jesus’ feet within the male part of the house rather than staying in the back rooms with the other women. When Jesus confirms that it is right for Mary to be at His feet, He is affirming her place as one of His students despite the fact that women were typically excluded in that culture.

During the crucifixion of Jesus, it is the women who were able to come and go and watch what was happening without fear from authorities. They were not seen as a threat. Yet, by the time of the Book of Acts, as persecution arose against the early church, women were being targeted equally among men. That means that women had become seen as influential figures, and even leaders, within the community.

What thoughts and questions do you have about women serving in ministry and learning about God alongside men? Head over to our Facebook page and let us know!