What Exactly is Preaching?
Back in the days when only men preached behind pulpits, people knew what preaching was. Now that many women preach, people are confused with what it actually means. Many have accused me of preaching since I write biblical truths for a blog and social media. Do I preach? No! I teach biblical womanhood as God has commanded that older women do. Writing for a blog and on social media is NOT preaching.
If you carefully read through Acts, you will see that it was John the Baptist, Jesus, the disciples, and Paul who preached. Not one woman is told that she preached, not one. Preaching is different than teaching or writing and I am going to tell you how.
Let’s look at this verse: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). Does this verse mean that all of us are to preach the word? NO! This verse was written to Timothy who Paul was training to be a preacher. Here are what some commentaries of old have to say about this verse:
“Preach the word.—The language of the original here is abrupt and emphatic, written evidently under strong emotion and with intense earnestness. St. Paul charged his friend and successor with awful solemnity, as we have seen, ‘preach,’ or proclaim, loudly and publicly, as a herald would announce the accession of his king.” (Ellicot’s Commentary)
“Preach the word – The Word of God; the gospel. This was to be the main business of the life of Timothy, and Paul solemnly charges him in view of the certain coming of the Redeemer to judgment, to be faithful in the performance of it.” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)
“Preach—literally, ‘proclaim as a herald.’ The term for the discourses in the synagogue was daraschoth; the corresponding Greek term (implying dialectial style, dialogue, and discussion, Ac 17:2, 18; 18:4, 19) is applied in Acts to discourses in the Christian Church.” (Jamieson-Fausset Brown Commentary)
“Preach; proclaim like a herald, cry like a common crier in the hearing of a multitude.” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)
“Preach the word,…. Either Christ the essential Word, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel ministry; or the word of truth and faith, the Gospel of salvation, the word of righteousness, peace, and reconciliation by Christ; which is to be preached in like manner as heralds proclaim the will of their princes; openly, publicly, and with a loud voice, without adding to it, or taking from speaking out the whole, and keeping back no part of it; and that with all courage and boldness.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Bible)
The ministry of preaching was given to men. Preachers preach. Women are forbidden from preaching yet many do. Women are to have meek and quiet spirits. Women up on stage preaching don’t have meek and quiet spirits. They are doing something that they are not called to do. They are to teach the young women biblical womanhood. Teaching young women biblical womanhood is not preaching. God gave men the low, strong voice to proclaim loudly and publicly for a reason. Preaching is for men.
For Christ sent me [Paul] not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Corinthians 1:17
15 thoughts on “What Exactly is Preaching?”
Absolutely. No where in the Bible does it say or allow for a woman to preach. Those who do or allow it, have taken a text out of context, which is then turning it into a pretext. A pretext is a lie.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 gives qualifications for a bishop or minister of God’s word. Verse 2 specifically says, “… the husband of one wife,…” How one can take this text and pervert it to say woman, is beyond me. Further in verse 4, it also says “ One that ruleth well his own house…” it says “his” own house because the man is the head of the woman as Christ is head of the church. (1 Corinthians 11:3, “ “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”)
God is a God of order and there must be order. Sadly, too many women “rule” their own house which, again, isn’t what was ordained by God…and there’s other verses to support this with reference to the man.
The older women do have a responsibility to train the younger women. Teaching them biblical womanhood is not preaching and those who do, are following according to Titus 2:4, 5. I’ll add that some younger women think that they have all the answers…they don’t, because there are things that they haven’t faced yet in their life that they may. Those younger women need to learn how to be more humble and not have the attitude that they know it all. It doesn’t matter how many children that younger woman may have, she still hasn’t gone through things that the older have. But this is also the problem with mankind in general…the younger generations seem to think they know more when in fact, they could learn an awful lot from someone older and has faced many trials.
Hi Lori
Let me begin by stating The existence of church is to equip the body of believers. Ephesians 4:11-13 gives the purpose for the church Christ Himself gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers SO THAT the body of Christ can be BUILT UP until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
In Act 21:8 Phillip is given the work of an evangelist . In 2nd Tim 4:5 Paul exhorts Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. Timothy is told to do the work of an evangelist . Individual people are to obey the great Commission doing the work of evangelism to bring people into the fold and THEN to participate in church as a working member of the body of Christ. Church isn’t supposed to be a mixed bag if believers and unbelievers . See Matt 28:16-20, Jude 1:3 I. Jude 1:23 all saints are to contend for the faith and save others by snatching them from the fire. See Romans 19:9-13
Yes you teach biblical womanhood TO Women who ALREADY believe and consider the Bible to be the final authority in faith and life. You are not teaching anyone who does NOT believe. You are not converting anyone because your audience has already been converted and are already doing the work of the saints they (we) have been called to do.
You CLEARLY stick to teaching women about biblical womanhood which is the only thing the bible calls a woman to teach besides spreading the gospel in a general sense.
I get what you’re saying, but sadly where I am in my walk of life, I know more about biblical womanhood than my elders do, and my Mom is actually thankful that I have this knowledge so that I can show her. I agree that there are things I can’t possibly know from experience (which is always better when you’re teaching) because I haven’t experienced them yet, but I do have the knowledge and wisdom of God through studying the Bible, which I am applying to my own life now and hopefully in the future too. Everything I have learned thus far I have learned straight from God through His Word and I am so thankful that I’m not just left in the dust because I’m waiting for an older godly woman to find me. It’s sad that the church where I live has failed me where I have to resort to my own studying to figure out what God wants me to do according to His Scripture, and I’m not going to let people despise me having more knowledge of the Bible than them simply because I’m young because God is my teacher. I do wish I had more life experience though, because it seems that people don’t want to believe that Biblical principles work unless you yourself have lived them out. ? Like, I don’t need to be sexually promiscuous to say that fornication is damaging, ya know? Sorry, I didn’t mean for this to get into a rant ? I do hope you understand that I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said and I wish that’s how it was in my life right now. I wish I could just sit back and have older women teaching me instead of having to seek these things out on my own.
I’m sorry for making another comment, but I forgot to add that I don’t think I have all the answers, and I pray that I will never think I do. Whenever I have a question and search the Scriptures until I find the answer. Whenever I don’t find a direct answer for something, I just remember that faith and prayer go a long way. Ok I’m done now ?
Thank you for addressing this. Do you think women preachers can be real Christians but are simply being disobedient to God? Or is a woman preacher a sign that they are not true Christians?
Shelly, Lori may be teaching to women who already believe, but she is nonetheless teaching. She has been married for ~40 years and has a lot to teach a believer who has only been married 2-3 years.
Being a believer does not mean you have the answers, it means you know where to look for them. Lori is a resource for many young, Godly women.
I would like to know what you think then of Gianna Jessen, the abortion survivor who shares her story, often at many churches. I personally have found her to be a strong inspiration in my life.
God’s Word commands that women be silent in the churches. She can share her story but not in church services. It’s forbidden for women to speak during them.
I am not sure how female preachers can be true believers since they should know the Word of God yet they must twist it in order to do what they are doing. Most also begin to preach things that aren’t biblical. How can one walk in clear disobedience to God’s commands while claiming to be a preacher of His Word?
I don’t think they can be true believers because they are living in sin. God’s word is clear.
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Hello everyone,
I agree that women should not be preaching and I also agree that older women should teach younger women and girls to be biblical women just like older men should teach younger men and boys to be biblical men. However, I came across a website a few months ago, click here if you can: http://www.biblebanner.com/ and in that website is this: http://www.biblebanner.com/articles/general/silent.pdf. It might prove interesting to read.
With Respect,
Jason Hancock
If you believe that someone is not saved because he is living in sin then you’re not saved. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Living a good life doesn’t prove that someone is saved the bible said that our good works is as a filthy rags before God. The reason we have to keep the commandment is because it’s right and profitable for us to do so if we want to enjoy the blessings that God has for us in this earth but it has nothing to do with our salvation. What’s make someone a believer is that he had put his faith in Christ only to be saved. Not Jesus + i live a good life.
Through faith works should come. Faith without works is dead. Fruits should be there if you’re saved.
Good explanation. This is a reason I dont even like to see women street preaching. Even though they’re not at a church meeting, it’s still preaching. They still proclaim loudly. I think it would be appropriate for them to hold signs.
What is your opinion on women speaking at abortion mills? They might say things like “we have free resources for you and we want to love you and share Jesus with you and dont want you to kill your baby.” They might even share biblical truths or even the gospel at these protests, but with a microphone so people can hear because they would be maybe talking to multiple people a distance away.
I’m asking for discernment because where I go the women do this stuff, and I was against it at first but now I’m wondering if it would be ok. A man encouraged these ladies speaking because the mothers dont want a man telling them what to do. He said if the women speak it might help the mothers to listen. What do you think?