Search — Theology Explorer

Mike previews the five arguments he will cover: persecution, rabbi-training, universal priesthood, prophecy, and spiritual gifts. He says the first two are weak but the last three challenged him and offer corrections for complementarians.

soft complementarianism complementarianism egalitarianism

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

Argument 4 preview: If women can prophesy to the whole church, they can also teach and be elders

Since women prophesied at mixed-gender gatherings and prophecy is a high role involving authority, women should also be allowed to teach and serve as elders.

eldership Craig Keener prophecy argument

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

Argument 4 introduced: The prophecy argument — if women prophesied, they can teach and be elders

Mike introduces the fourth and one of the more challenging arguments. Women prophesied, prophecy is a high role with authority, therefore women can teach and be elders.

Elders as official teachers carrying apostolic doctrine

Preview of upcoming topics: apostles, universal priesthood, prophecy, spiritual gifts, NT Wright's arguments

Jesus is the new Moses, not the apostles

Preview of next video: prophecy argument, gifts arguments, universal priesthood

Five egalitarian arguments previewed; first two are weak, last three are stronger

Argument 4 preview: If women can prophesy to the whole church, they can also teach and be elders

Argument 4 introduced: The prophecy argument — if women prophesied, they can teach and be elders

Three egalitarian claims from women prophesying: (1) women could speak publicly, (2) prophecy is similar to teaching, (3) prophecy carries authority rivaling eldership

Claim 1 analysis: Women speaking publicly in mixed-gender gatherings is demonstrably true

Complementarian claim that women only prophesied privately is an error

1 Corinthians 11 clearly refers to prophecy in public mixed-gender gatherings; the whole section (chs. 11-14) deals with gathered worship

Four reasons why 1 Corinthians 11 must be about Christian worship gatherings, not just public places

Broader context of 1 Corinthians 11-14 confirms it is about gathered worship: Lord's Supper and spiritual gifts in church

MacArthur's conclusion quoted and rejected: 'women may have the gift of prophecy but normally are not to prophesy where men are present'

Key distinction: Scripture limits HOW women prophesy, not WHERE or WHEN

Claim 2 analysis: Prophecy is similar enough to teaching that women should be able to teach in mixed gatherings

Prophecy is NOT teaching — the Bible consistently keeps them in separate categories

The egalitarian move 'prophecy involves teaching, therefore all teaching is acceptable, therefore prophecy equals eldership' blurs God-given distinctions

Claim 3 analysis: Craig Keener argues prophecy carries authority that rivals eldership

Eldership is radically different from prophecy: anyone could prophesy instantly, but elders must meet extensive qualifications

Prophecy is tested; the prophet has no authority over the evaluation of their own prophecy

With elders, you test the man so the teaching will be pure; with prophecy, you test the prophecy because anyone can give one

Prophecy is passive in nature — the prophet is not supposed to speak beyond what God gave them

Keener himself acknowledges prophets had 'no authority outside of their message'

Prophecy and eldership are very different: prophecy is passive, requires no qualifications or appointment, and the prophet has no ongoing authority

Scripture places limits on women prophesying: they must acknowledge male headship (1 Corinthians 11) and may not judge prophecies (1 Corinthians 14)

Conclusion on prophecy: it pushes back against banning women from public speech but does not support removing all eldership restrictions

Romans 12:6-8 — teaching and leading are listed as spiritual gifts alongside gifts women clearly have

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 — speaking gifts (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, tongues, interpretation) seem available to women by analogy with prophecy

1 Peter 4:10-11 — 'whoever speaks' includes all speaking gifts and all are meant to be used

Gifts do not seem gender-specific; leadership and teaching could be gifts women have

Romans 12:6-8 revisited — women were in every gift category except teaching/leading; it is arbitrary to exclude them from those two

Video summary — Argument 4: Women can prophesy in mixed gatherings but prophecy is radically different from eldership

Mike is not a cessationist — he believes prophecy still occurs today

Aimee Byrd claims Huldah canonized the Torah by her prophecy — Mike calls this utterly ridiculous stretching.

Mike rejects the claim that female prophets only prophesied privately — Scripture doesn't support this restriction and there are examples of public prophecy.

Mike rejects limiting female prophets to speaking to women only, and rejects limiting Miriam to prophetic singing only.

Conclusions on Miriam: some degree of leadership, not like Moses, rebuked for pushing for more, not a priest, leadership sometimes focused on women and connected to prophecy.

Huldah delivers a powerful prophetic word to King Josiah about judgment on Jerusalem and mercy on him personally.

Prophecy has a passive element: the prophet relays God's instructions but does not have authority to make decisions for God.

There were probably more female prophets than those listed in the Bible, but they seem infrequent; multiple possible explanations exist.

Preview: next week will address whether female prophets prove women can be elders — transitioning now to women in other roles and the priesthood.

Summary of what women were in the OT: town representatives, queens with limited authority, one judge for decades, prophets with clear divine approval.

Full reading of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 without commentary

Paul's first argument: shaving analogy (verses 5-6)

Question 4: Cultural customs of head coverings at the time -- scholars' areas of agreement

Religious context: Romans covered heads during worship, prayer, prophecy, and sacrifice

Richard Oster's key insight: Corinth was a Roman colony with Roman religious head covering practices

Question 12: What does 'because of the angels' mean? Four views evaluated

Mike's preferred view: holy angelic observers who delight in seeing God's order in worship

Bible Link Settings