Romans 16:1-5 NKJV

“1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Likewise greet the church that is in their house.”

Honoring Christian Women

Jesus Christ honored and valued women, and he used some of them to spread the good news of the gospel of Christ to the people. He did not degrade them or treat them as though they were of less value than men. And the Scriptures teach men that they are to treat their wives also with much value, honor, and respect. In fact, they are to become one flesh with their wives, and they are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and they are not to be harsh with them, and they are to be faithful to them.

The apostle Paul also honored women in ministry, as did the apostle John (2 John 1:1-3). Although it is debated as to whether John was addressing the “chosen lady” as the church herself, or if he was addressing a chosen woman in whose house the church met, we don’t really have the answer to that one. So we should not assume that he was not addressing a Christian woman in whose home the church, the body of Christ met. And we don’t know if any of these home gatherings were led by any women, though it might have been.

And regarding Phoebe, all the information we have on her is what is given to us in this passage of Scripture in Romans 16, that she was a servant of the church, and she seemed to be someone in some sort of position of importance or authority in some area of ministry. We know she was a helper, but we don’t know exactly in what area of ministry she was a helper. But she helped Paul in his ministry, and Paul gave instructions that she was to be received in a manner worthy of the saints, which is how it should have been.

Today’s Church Culture

In the church culture of today, women are often degraded as though they are less than men. But if God designed that husbands should become one flesh with their wives, that does not make their wives less than their husbands. It does not make men superior to women. They just serve in different roles. And God designed woman to be man’s helpmeet, to work with him alongside him, not to be trampled under his feet as though she is nothing but a slave. And Phobe was a helper to many, including to Paul.

Now I am not one who believes that women should rule over men or that they should try to compete with men to be just like men. God made us different for a reason. But God gifted us equally, and the Scriptures teach us that on the day of Pentecost that it was both men and women who were prophesying and they were all together, not separate. And Peter declared that what was taking place then was a fulfilment of what the Prophet Joel prophesied, that in the last days God’s sons and daughters would prophesy.

And to prophesy is to preach, to proclaim the Word of the Lord, and Jesus did send some women to preach the gospel, even to men. And we are still in the last days before the return of Christ, so us women are to be prophesying (preaching, proclaiming the Word of God) to the people, as well. And it can be in mixed company, according to what took place on the day of Pentecost. The only stipulation I see in the Scriptures toward women is that we are not to rule over men, and we are not to instruct men in authority over them.

We are Not All The Same

And then let’s look at the example of Priscilla and Aquila, who were Paul’s fellow workers in Christ Jesus. And she is named first, not her husband. And together her and her husband instructed a man named Apollos, explaining the way of God to him more accurately. And one of the gatherings of the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ, met in their home. Paul did not raise up her husband while ignoring her or degrading her or treating her as though she was less. But he gave her equal honor alongside her husband.

So not every woman is called to be a nursery worker, or a seamstress, or one who excels in roles and tasks often assigned to women only. And I am in no way pushing for women to be like men or to serve in male dominated roles. But in the last days God’s sons and daughters will prophesy and dream dreams and have visions from God. And this is of God if it is in agreement with the Scriptures, for not all dreams, visions, and prophesies are of God. But God does use women to be his messengers, so let them!

And, especially since we live in a day and age where there appears to be an extreme shortage of biblically qualified men to be elders and pastors of the gatherings of the church, for so many of them are spiritually AWOL (partially because so many of them are addicted to pornography and all that goes along with that, or else they are just living for the flesh, and are not doing the work of the Lord which God requires), then we need to let our daughters who are living the life God has for them to live, to prophesy (to preach).

As a General Rule

And I agree again that as a general rule women should not serve in positions of biblical authority over men. But if there is an extreme lack of spiritually qualified men to do the job because they are so caught up in living by the flesh, instead, then we should let the women who do meet the qualifications (except that they are not men) to preach, and if absolutely necessary, to be in positions of spiritual leadership over a gathering of the church, the people of faith in Jesus Christ. For we don’t need the blind leading the blind.

But putting aside having any women serve in positions of biblical authority over men, we should still allow women to prophesy (to preach), for you don’t have to be in authority over anyone to share what the Scriptures teach with the people of God. And the day of Pentecost, and the prophesy of Joel, via Peter’s words on that day reciting Joel’s prophesy, all point to both men and women prophesying, even in mixed company, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and under the authority of biblically qualified men.

[Genesis 2:24; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 15:19-20; Matthew 19:4-9; Matthew 26:6-13; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 5:25-34; Mark 7:20-23; Mark 10:6-9; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:36-38; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 24:1-12; John 2:1-11; John 4:1-42; John 8:1-11; John 20:1-18; Acts 2:17-18; Acts 21:9; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Corinthians 11:5; Galatians 5:13-24; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; James 4:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Peter 2:13-19; 2 John 1:1-3]

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Fear not! I’m with you. Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you. Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide you; Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep you with Him always.

Walk in His footsteps. He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love; Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you. Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies now you will see.

Fellowship with Him throughout the day.
Tell Him your heartaches. He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort. He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll strengthen, true to the end.

Honoring Our Women in Ministry
An Original Work / June 8, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love