We have been commanded by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to teach others (Matthew 28: 19, 20, Mark 16:15, 16). Although a woman is not scripturally able to teach over a Christian man (I Timothy 2:8-15) and she is not to lead public prayer with men present or to have authority over a man in spiritual matters (Titus 2:3-5). There are many things a woman can do in the area of teaching.
There are several examples found in the New Testament of women teaching others. Pricilla is the first woman that comes to mind when thinking about this topic. In Acts 18:24-26, it is recorded that there was a Jew named Apollos born at Alexandria who was mighty in the scriptures. Apollos was instructed in the way of the Lord, but he only knew the baptism of John. Verse 26 states that “And he them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Priscilla is said to have taught beside her husband privately.
Paul records in Titus 2:3-5 that the aged woman are to be teachers of good things, and that they are “to teach the younger woman to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” We have a great charge to follow and we find that it is our duty to be teaching others.
Another woman that comes to mind is Lydia. The conversion of Lydia is found in Acts
16:13- 15.
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.”
The first thing to notice with Lydia is that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul. She heard his words and believed them. Notice in verse 15 that she was baptized and her household! She had to have been an influence for good on her family. Today there are many women who have influenced their husbands and families to become Christians. We can follow that example and teach our families.
Lois and Unice also comes to mind (II Timothy 1:5). There is not much space taken up in the New Testament about these two women, but the verse wherein their names are found speaks volumes. They were the mother and grandmother of Timothy. How many times we read of Timothy in the Bible. We know that they were an influence for good in Timothy’s life. I pray that that can be said for each of us.
Many other women are mentioned in the New Testament as examples of great women. Let us look unto their examples and follow them diligently. Let us not fear to proclaim the word of God from the mountain tops and to be teachers of His word. Woman can be an influence for good and teachers of the word. Even if we are limited in our roles as teachers we can accomplish great things for the Lord.
References:
e-sword, King James Bible of 1601
