Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?

Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

MAY THE PEACE OF OUR LORD

be with you! Once again, we are
inviting you to a thorough study of
the word of God in the Bible. As you
all know, our objective in
undergoing this study is to search
for the truth because nowadays, we
encounter so many false teachers
and false preachers.

All of us are witnesses to the rampant

deceits in religion today. That is why, in
our humble little way, we are using
ourselves as instruments of God in
exposing these different kinds of deceits. It
is our hope that, in doing so, we could open your minds on matters
concerning spirituality and on matters concerning the salvation of our soul
should we become worthy in the sight of God. Whether we like it, or not,
time will come that we will face God to be judged. That is why while there
is still time, it is important that we find out what awaits us in the future.
God gave us the liberty to design our lives, and we are the ones who work
for our salvation. As St. Paul said in Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my
beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.”

I want you to pay attention to the admonition: “work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling.” Therefore, we are the ones who work
for our salvation. This cannot be done by God alone, contrary to the claim
of many Charismatic groups today. These people preach that salvation is
God’s work alone, and that man does not have to do anything anymore.
That is not true! We do not disagree that salvation is a work of God, but
man also has to do his share. He should also work for his salvation. God’s
work plus man’s work result to salvation. Philippians 2:13-14 says, “For it
is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”

The verses mention of two works – the work of God and the work of man.
And one of the things that we need to do is to search and understand what
the will of God is. God could not save us if we do not want to understand
the will of God. It is in understanding the will of God and in understanding
the truth that we will attain salvation. As written in I Timothy 2:4, “Who
will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.”

The Bible said God wants all men to be saved, but with one provision: Man
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

should come to the knowledge of the truth. A person who did not bother to
know the truth would not be saved. This is the reason why we are trying to
lead the people in their quest for the truth. This is our responsibility as
human beings. And in our search for the truth, we must display
zealousness in the same way that we are zealous in searching for our basic
needs like food, clothing, etc. Everyday man keeps on searching for those
things. Man also searches for his would-be companion in life. Apparently,
in this world, man has been too preoccupied in searching daily for his
needs. As a result, he has neglected to search for something more
important. Acts 17:26-28 says, “And hath made of one blood all nations of
men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they
should seek the LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him,
though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move,
and have our beings as certain also of your own poets have said, For we
are also his offspring.”

This tells us God’s intent in creating man. That is why, if there is one thing
that man must seek for, it is nobody else but GOD, from whom he owes
everything that he has in life. If we are spending so much time searching
for a husband, or a wife . . . if we are spending as much time looking for a
more lucrative job . . . if we are saving money to build a house for our self .
. . the more we should spend much time in seeking for God’s
righteousness, especially today when we are living in the midst of so many
lies and frauds in religion.

It is due to the growing number of pastors who are capitalizing on religion

in misleading other people for their personal gains that we are tackling,
today, the qualities of a true preacher. We will talk about the preacher. We
will try to determine who is true and who is a false preacher. And by
referring to the Bible, we will try to find out who is real, and who is a
deceiver. We will look for a preacher whose motive in preaching is not
money; we will look for a preacher who is truly desirous to preach the
word of God and lead the people to salvation.

First of all, we will talk about the issue on whether, or not, a woman could
become preachers. We are aware of the fact that there are organizations of
faith that do not allow a woman to stand in the pulpit and preach the word
of God before their congregation. An example of this is the Catholic
Church. The Catholic Church does not ordain any female priest. There are
no female priests and no female cardinals, although, once upon a time,
there had been a female Pope in Rome. And perhaps, this is one ugly truth
that is being concealed to the majority of the Catholics. Very few are aware
of the fact that, once upon the history of the Catholic Church, a woman
had become a Pope, and she died while giving birth in front of many
people. This thing had been kept a secret for so long a time. Until now,
they have been very firm with their stand that no woman should become a
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

preacher. Actually, the Iglesia ni Cristo of Manalo shares the same belief.
They, also, do not have any female minister.

However, nowadays, there are religious organizations that are being

headed by women. An example of this is the Seventh Day Adventists,
which was founded and headed by Mrs. Ellen G. White. According to a
book of this group, Ellen G. White was not just the founder of their
organization, but they also acknowledge her as a prophetess.

But let us find out if God permits a woman to be a leader of a religious

organization like the Seventh Day Adventists. Let us begin to ask: Does the
Bible tell any specific pronouncement that a woman could neither become
a leader nor a preacher in a religious organization? What is the difference
between being a leader and being a preacher? For us not to be misled, let
us find out what the prohibitions are to a woman. Are there prohibitions to
a woman? This is what St. Paul said in I Timothy 2:11-14, “Let the woman
learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor
to usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first
formed, then Eve. For Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived was in the transgression.”

You will notice that woman has been given a restriction on what she can
do in the church. This doctrine could be rooted from the very long history
of mankind, and St. Paul made reference to the first man and woman that
God created. St. Paul said, “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.”

What does that mean? A woman should not be a teacher to a man because
Adam was first formed than Eve. Besides, Adam was not deceived while
Eve was deceived. Therefore, the Bible does not permit a woman to teach,
or to have dominion or jurisdiction over a man. But is the woman also
prohibited from preaching? As far as the Bible is concerned, to teach and
to preach are two different things. A teacher is different from a preacher.
Let us read what Titus 1:9 says, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to
convince the gainsayers.”

Teaching is different from preaching; a teacher is different from a

preacher. A preacher is dependent on the teachings that a teacher will
impart to him. A preacher simply derives his preaching from a teacher that
is why, we could see that a teacher has a greater responsibility than that of
a preacher. If we may make a comparison, the teacher is the mastermind,
while the preacher is just an accomplice. And for a preacher to preach very
well, a good teacher is needed. In other words, in the Bible, a preacher is
different from a preacher. In Romans 12:4-8 it says, “For as we have
many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members are of
another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given
to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of
faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching: Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do
it with simplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence, he that showeth mercy,
with cheerfulness.”

St. Paul showed us that teaching is different from exhorting, or

preaching. The Bible said that the women are forbidden from teaching
and from having leadership over a man. But we cannot read any verse
that forbids a woman from preaching. Let us go over once again to the
verse that prohibits a woman from teaching and from becoming a leader
(in religion). I Timothy 2:11-12, “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.”

These verses mention two prohibitions to a woman. She is prohibited to

teach and to rule over a man. But does the Bible prohibit a woman from
preaching? I Corinthians 11:4-5 says, “Every man praying or
prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head, But every
woman that prayeth or prophesieth with his head uncovered
dishonoureth her head: for that even all as if she were shaven.”

Man is forbidden to cover his head whenever he prays or prophesies.

Please take note, St. Paul said “every man”. That is without exemption.
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head.”

On the other hand, if a woman is praying or prophesying, with her head

uncovered, she is dishonoring her head. Therefore, a man should pray and
prophesy with his head uncovered, while a woman should pray and
prophesy with her head covered. A woman can pray to God and she can
prophesy provided that her head is covered.

Take note also that, according to the Bible, prophesying is both a right of a
man and a woman. It’s just that a woman is given a specific requisite – her
head must be covered. Why? I Corinthians 11:7-10 says, “For a man
indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and
glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not
of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created
for the woman, but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the
woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

Here, we could see the discrepancy between a man and a woman in the
sight of God. What does the Apostle Paul mean? Let us continue in I
Corinthians 11:14-16, “Doth not even nature itself teach you that, if a man
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it
is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man
seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of
God.”

In the Church of God, one of the doctrines that we observe is that a woman
should have long hair because God gave her long hair for a covering. On
the other hand, the man is prohibited from having long hair because if a
man has long hair, it is a shame unto him. I Corinthians 11:14 says, “Doth
not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
shame unto him?”

Actually, even if we apply this in our day to day life, it does not really make
a man look good if his hair is long. As mentioned by St. Paul, that is one of
the lessons that nature is teaching us. “But if a woman have long hair, it is
a glory unto her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” A woman’s long
hair is her covering; it is her veil. In other words, a woman’s long hair is a
sign that she is under the jurisdiction of man. As written in I Corinthians
11:7, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is
the image and glory of God.”

A woman’s long hair signifies that she is under the jurisdiction of a man
serving God, and this man, in turn, is under Christ’s jurisdiction.

In the Bible, a person’s hair alone already conveys something. If you see a
man with long hair, that means that he is still ignorant of the teachings of
the Gospel, because one of the teachings of the Gospel is that, it is not right
for a man to grow his hair long. It is a shame unto him. On the other hand,
it is a shame on a woman if her hair is short because “if a woman have
long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” Do
not forget the verses: I Corinthians 11:4-5, I Corinthians 11:14-15.

A woman’s long hair is a glory unto her. A woman who is praying and
prophesying must have a covering on her head. And the biblical meaning
of that head covering is the long hair of a woman. While a man who is
praying or prophesying should have his head uncovered. That is, a man
must not have a long hair because a long hair is a shame unto him.

What do those verses want to tell us? Both the man and the woman have
the right to prophesy and to pray to God . . . only, with certain
specifications. A man should pray and prophesy with his head uncovered,
while a woman should have her head covered whenever she prays and
prophesies. And that cover refers to her long hair, which was given to her
for a covering.

This is the reason why in our congregation, our sisters in faith do not cut
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

their hair, while our brothers regularly have their haircut. It just amazes
me why those churches who claim that they are upholding the “full”
Gospel do not teach this thing to their members. Evidently, what they
teach is not the full Gospel because they are taking for granted certain
doctrines of the Bible. They do not teach everything to their members.
Don’t tell me that that particular admonition of St. Paul to the Corinthians
is not a part of the Gospel. You are not being true to your members; you
are deceiving them. You see, the Bible has a doctrine from the head to the
foot of a Christian. If a woman will pray and prophesy, her head should be
covered, and that cover is her long hair. A woman’s long hair serves as her
head cover, or veil. A woman’s long hair symbolizes God’s jurisdiction over
her. If a woman does not wear long hair that implies that she is not under
God’s jurisdiction. To prove that for a woman to be under God’s
jurisdiction she has to bear the sign that is being spoken in I Corinthians
11:10 and that is her long hair.

Now, let us find out from the Bible: what does the word “prophesy” mean.
This is what I Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophesieth speaketh
unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

What is the biblical meaning of “prophesy”? Definitely, it is different from

fortune telling. Fortune telling is prohibited by the Bible. What the Bible
mentions is “prophesying”. And a woman has the right to speak and
prophesy. St. Paul defined “prophesying” as “to speak for edification,
exhortation, and comfort”. That is why a woman could prophesy, because
to prophesy means to speak for edification, exhortation, and comfort.

A pastor who would insist that a woman does not have the right to speak is
a deceiver. We could read from the Bible that a woman could prophesy.
Only, she needs to have a covering on her head. A woman is forbidden to
prophesy if her head is without a covering. But if a man would prophesy,
he should not have a covering on his head.

Now, if the meaning of “prophesying” is “speaking for edification,

exhortation, and comfort”, it implies now that, insofar as the Bible is
concerned, a woman has the right to give exhortation and comfort to those
who are inside the church. However, do not forget that a woman is not
given any right to teach and to rule over a man.

We must realize that the terms “to teach” and “to lead” are different from
“to preach or exhort”. Teaching is the basis of preaching. What a woman
could teach is simply taught to her by the leader and teacher in the church,
and that leader and teacher is a man. The Bible prohibits that a woman
should be a leader and teacher in the church, like what Ellen G. White did
to the Seventh Day Adventists. That is why, in any angle you look at it,
you’ll realize that everything about it is wrong. For one, their collection of
donations from their members is very unbiblical. Imagine, they have 17
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

different kinds of collections? They have made a big business out of

religion. A woman has the right to prophesy and speak for edification,
exhortation, and comfort, but she cannot be a teacher and leader in the
church.

Now, there is a biblical verse which, according to those who

misinterpreted it, says that it contradicts what we have mentioned earlier
because the verse states that a woman does not have the right to speak. I
Corinthians 14:34 says, “Let your woman keep silence in the churches: for
it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be
under obedience, as also saith the law.”

Apparently, this is the verse that the Catholic Church, and the INC of Mr.
Manalo, used as a basis in claiming that a woman does not have a right to
preach. Let us try to analyze this by using the Bible. If their claim were
true, then, it would appear that St. Paul is contradicting his own
pronouncement. Remember he was the one who said that a woman could
prophesy, but she needs to have a covering on her head. And prophesying
is speaking! Now, here is another verse telling that a woman is not
permitted to speak. Let us continue reading I Corinthians 14:35, “And if
they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a
shame for women to speak in the churches.”

Please take note that the woman being referred to here is not any woman.
Besides, the verse did not refer to “all women”. The women being referred
to here are the married women, who, despite their being married, are still
ignorant. That means that their knowledge of our Lord is still not
sufficient. Why? The verse said, “And if they will learn any thing, let them
ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the
churches.”

Who is the woman being referred to? the woman, who, despite being
married, still lacks knowledge. If the woman had not been properly taught
yet, if she does not know what she would talk about, it would be a great
shame for her to speak. In other words, this refers to the women who are
still new in the church. They still do not know much about the Holy
Scriptures and they do not know yet all the teachings of God. That is why
St. Paul said, it is a shame for such women to speak. Actually, if we are
going to consider the exact context of the verse, it also implies that it is
also a shame for a man to speak if he does not know what he is going to
say. It is equally shameful for a man to speak if he is still ignorant of the
Bible. Chances are, he will just mislead other people. No matter how good-
looking he is ... no matter how well dressed he might be ... no matter how
good his voice is, if he is still ignorant of the Bible, he should not speak. It
is also a shame for a man to pray and prophesy if his hair is long.
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

This is the reason why in our congregation, we do not let anybody speak
before our brethren if he, or she, is still not fully equipped with knowledge
of the Bible. The Bible said, it is a shame for a woman to speak, but that
does not apply to all women. The women that are not permitted to speak
are those who still lack full understanding of the truths in the Bible. They
are the ones not permitted to speak in the church. But if the woman had
been taught and if she has a covering on her head, she can prophesy. She
can speak for edification, exhortation, and comfort.

Therefore, no pastor should make a sweeping declaration that the women

are not permitted to speak. It is not wrong for a woman to speak. What is
wrong is if she would speak without being taught first. As written by St.
Paul in I Corinthians 14:34, “Let your women keep silence in the
churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak.”

A married woman who lacks understanding is not permitted to speak, but

if she had been taught and if she understood what had been taught her,
and if she bears the sign of jurisdiction on her head, which is her long hair,
then, she can prophesy. She can speak for edification, exhortation, and
comfort. In fact, this is what Colossians 3:10-11 says, “And have put on the
new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that
created him: Where there is neither Greek now Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond not free: but Christ is all, and
in all.”

Christians should put on the “new man”. And putting it on symbolizes that
you are already learned; you no longer have to ask your husband at home.
Why? Because you have been taught already! And once the people had
been well taught, they all become equal in the sight of God, whether, or
not, they are man or woman, Greek or Jew, slave or free. Galatians 3:27-28
says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
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.”

If we have become one in our knowledge, in Christ there is no longer

discrimination whether we are male or female, or whether we are Greek or
Jew, or whether we are bond or free. In terms of knowledge, we are one in
Christ. As written in Colossians 3:10, “And have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”

That is why a Christian has an obligation to know everything about God.

Even if she is a woman, she can speak if she had been taught, and she had
learned. Who are not permitted to speak? Those who lack understanding
and knowledge. That is why if a woman wants to know something for
herself, it would be better if she asks her husband at home. It is a shame
for her to speak in the church if she is still ignorant. But if she had been
fully furnished with knowledge and if she has met the standards set by
Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

God for a woman to prophesy and pray, and that is the presence of a
covering on her head, then, she may be given the right to speak. This is
what Luke 19:40 says, “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you
that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry
out.”

When the Pharisees told our Lord Jesus Christ to order His Apostles, who
kept talking, to stop talking because their words are hurting them, our
Lord Jesus answered them that if His Apostles will hold their peace, He
would make the stones speak. Thru the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, He
could readily make the stones speak. What does that mean? If the stones
could speak, why can’t the women! That is why it is not wrong if we permit
the women to speak. But not all women could be given the right to speak!
Only those who had been well taught, and those who submitted
themselves under the authority of God. It is not wrong for a woman to
prophesy, or to speak for edification, exhortation, and comfort. A woman
can prophesy if she is already equipped with complete knowledge of the
Bible, and if she bears the sign of God’s jurisdiction on her head, which is
her long hair.