women in the bible, warning lengthy

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I mentioned before having written a paper on women in the bible .
Bro. Litteral had expressed a interest in it and since I could not find it
I will try to recreate it as closely as possible as follows.



Women In The Ministry, Fact or Fiction?

There are many views on women in the ministry with opinions ranging to the
extreme on both sides.
We acknowledge that God has set up a divine order of authority in the home
and that certain criteria must be met by those expressing a desire to serve
God in a ministerial capacity.
rather than just quote scripture alone, we compare scripture with other
scripture in order that we might rightly divide the word of God.

The Bible speaks specifically of eight women who prophesied or were
Prophets.

1. Miriam , Moses ' sister was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20) and functioned
in a ministerial capacity being used by God.
Her well known error of attempting to usurp the authority of Moses was met
by swift punishment from God (leprosy) but after a time of repenting and
prayer by Moses for her forgiveness she was forgiven and restored.

2. Deborah was a judge in Israel, She was also a prophetess ( Judges 4:4 ).
Her husband was a keeper of the Kings wardrobe and was not a judge or
prophet. All the nation of Israel came to Deborah for her judgment and when
She received a word from God for the commanding officer of the Israeli army
(Barak) she sent for him to come to her, which he did.
She then gave him the word that God had given unto her , he being fearful
required her to come with him, to which she agreed and did go.
However she prophesied, the victory would be awarded to a woman since he
believed not her words and would not go without her.
This came to passs a Jael a woman living in a tent had opportunity to kill
the enemys leader when he slept in her tent after coming to her for refuge.

3. Huldah , the prophetess.
Huldah was a prophetess in the days of King Josiah. When Josiah found the
book of the law during the cleaning of the Temple, Josiah commanded Hilkiah
the high priest to inquire of the Lord for the King. At that point the High
Priest then goes to Huldah, the prophetess to have her inquire of the Lord
for him  ! (2 Kings 22.)

4. Anna the prophetess.
Anna recognized Jesus as being the Messiah when Jesus was brought to the
temple to be circumcised, (Acts 21:8, 9).

5. Phillips daughters.
Acts 21: verses 8, 9 teach us that Phillip the evangelist had four virgin
daughters that prophesied.

{Angels when announcing the miraculous birth of a child appeared first to
the woman. We have in the bible the record of the angels appearing first to
the women in each case regarding the birth of Sampson, John The Baptist and
Mary. Which would seem to question the mode of thinking of God having to
make his word, requests or commands known first to the head of the
household...To the contrary, God spoke to the women first in this matter
that affected their lifes so personally.

Sampsons Mother,
Judg 13:6  Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God
came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an *angel of
God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me
his *name:
Judg 13:7  But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a
son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing:
for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his
death.
Judg 13:8  Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the
*man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we
shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Judg 13:9  And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the *angel of God*
came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband
was not with her.
Judg 13:10  And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband, and
said unto him, Behold, the *man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me
the other day.
Judg 13:11  And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man,
and said unto him, Art thou *the man that spakest unto the woman? And he
said, I am.
{*Note the term man is used interchangeably to describe the angel of the
lord or angel of God. *}

*AND AS Appearing To MARY*****
Luke 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art
highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luke 1:29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast
in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luke 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found
favour with God.
Luke 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a
son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus you will find women who he ministered to
and who ministered to him.
They shared the perception of what was to come, God giving them
understanding that at times their male counterparts lacked.
Their depth of feeling and compassion touched Jesus, and he being touched
by them showed love toward them by sharing the  most intimate and special
moments of his life with them.
Literally , women were with him at his birth, his first appearing at the
temple (his circumscision) , his first miracle, and were present and a
recipient of his teaching, his preaching, his healing, his deliverance, his
love , his death, his burial, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring
of his Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Women financed his ministry, and ministered to him from their substance,
they shared their homes and even opned them to have church in them. They
travelled with him far and wide.
 They supported Jesus publicly at times when his disciples had scattered
out of fear.
Truly God has shown us that he is no respector of persons , that there is
neither male nor female in his eyes (spiritually) and he blessed us as
women by giving us the most important moments of his life. 
Women have their place, And Jesus has made it the best place to be for he
knows us as none other can.
Understanding even the travail of a mothers heart.
I share with you some of the ways in which women were ministered,
fellowshipped and what the bible has to say about what these women did

**********Annointing The head of Jesus***************
Mat 26:7  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very
precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Mat 26:8  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To
what purpose is this waste?
Mat 26:9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the
poor.
Mat 26:10  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the
woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it
for my burial.
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
*preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath
done, be told for a memorial of her.
{This woman having been given some insight and understanding of what was to
come that his disciples yet lacked}

***********Jesus has compassion on Women and heals them****************
Mark 5:33  But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in
her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
Mark 5:34  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;
go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 5:35  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's
house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the
Master any further?
Mark 5:36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto
the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
{this woman considered by the law to be unclean, now healed by Jesus, this
soldiers daughter also raised from the dead}

**************Jesus speaks on Elias being sent only to the
widow*************
Luke 4:25  But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the
days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when
great famine was throughout all the land;
Luke 4:26  But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city
of Sidon, unto a *woman that was a widow.

*****************A woman annoints his feet*******************
Luke 7:37  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she
knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster
box of ointment,
Luke 7:38  And stood at his feet behind him *weeping, and began to wash his
feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed
his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

*****************The woman saved and forgiven**************
Luke 7:44  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this
woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but
she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her
head.
Luke 7:45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in
hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luke 7:46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath
anointed my feet with ointment.
Luke 7:47  **Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same
loveth little.
Luke 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luke 7:49  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within
themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
Luke 7:50  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace.

*******************Jesus comments on Mary's choice to sit as his feet and
learn**************
Luke 10:40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him,
and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art
careful and troubled about many things:
Luke 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that *good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
{Yes, we must make first things first.}

*******************Jesus heals woman bound for 18 years******
Luke 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity
eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up
herself.
Luke 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto
her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

*************Jesus uses women as illustrations in his parables*************
Luke 15:8  Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one
piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently
till she find it?
Luke 15:9  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her
neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece
which I had lost.
Luke 15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

**********Jesus does his *first recorded miracle at the request of a woman,
His Mother*******
John 2:4  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine
hour is not yet come.
John 2:5  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you,
do it.

******Jesus speaks to the samaratin Woman**************
John 4:7  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto
her, Give me to drink.
John 4:8  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
John 4:9  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou,
being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews
have no dealings with the Samaritans.
John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of
God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
{Specially noteworthy as Samaratins were unclean to Jews and considered
unworthy to associate with, it especially astonished Jesus' disciples to
return and find him carrying on a conversation with a Samaratin *woman*.}

**********This woman in turn did the work of an ****evangellist in bringing
many people to Jesus*****
John 4:28  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the
city, and saith to the men,
John 4:29  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is
not this the Christ?
John 4:30  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
John 4:39  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the
saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

***************Jesus forgives woman taken in adultery****************
John 8:10  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he
said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned
thee?
John 8:11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, *Neither do I
condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

***********Jesus compares our sorrow at his absence as the sorrow of a
woman in travail.*************
John 16:21  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is
come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more
the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
John 16:22  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and
your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
{showing that he understood and did hold in high esteem the feelings that
we as women experience}

***********A WOMAN DISCIPLE? ********DORCAS****************
Acts 9:36  Now there was at Joppa a certain *disciple named Tabitha, which
by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and
almsdeeds which she did.
{women were also disciples, she was so loved that Peter was sent for . He
praying for her raised her from the dead}

************Woman ministers to disciples*********
Mark 1:31  And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and
immediately the fever left her, and she *ministered unto them.
"Minister in this verse defined as"
1247. diakoneo, dee-ak-on-eh'-o; from G1249; to be an attendant, i.e. wait
upon (menially or as a host, friend or [fig.] teacher); techn. to act as a
Chr. deacon:--(ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.

****************Lydia the business woman**********The apostles go to stay
at her house.*******
Acts 16:14  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.
Acts 16:15  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.

*****Acknowledging the womans part in the birth of Jesus*******
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
*made of a woman, made under the law,

*******How christian women are supposed to be treated by other christians
and their responsibilities***************

1 Tim 5:2  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all
purity.
Titus 2:3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good
things;
Titus 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their
husbands, to love their children,
Titus 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

********* A Letter to The Elect Lady  **************

2 John 1:1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in
the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 John 1:2  For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with
us for ever.
2 John 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and
from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2 John 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in
truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

{PAUL CONTINUES to write to her}
2 John 1:5  ****And now I *beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new
commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we
love one another.****
2 John 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is
the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk
in it.
2 John 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist.
2 John 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have
wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2 John 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds.
2 John 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with
paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that
our joy may be full.
2 John 1:13  The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

*********Women PUBLICLY MOURN His impending Death******************
Luke 23:26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a
Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that
he might bear it after Jesus.
Luke 23:27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of
*women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luke 23:28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep
not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

***Women who loved and followed Jesus & watched the crucifixtion Jesus****
Mat 27:55  *And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed
Jesus from Galilee, *ministering unto him:
Mat 27:56  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and
Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Mark 15:40  There were also *women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mark 15:41  (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered
unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
Luke 23:49  And all his acquaintance, and the *women that followed him from
Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Luke 23:55  And the *women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed
after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luke 23:56  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and
rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

************ANGEL announce Jesus has risen to the women who came looking
for him*****
Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for
I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the
dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see
him: lo, I have told you.

****Jesus MEETS the women, sends word with them for his disciples to meet
him in Galilee****
Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great
joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped
him.
Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren
that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
*Luke 24:10  It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of
James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto
the apostles.
Luke 24:11  And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed
them not.
*Luke 24:22  Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished,
which were early at the sepulchre;
Luke 24:23  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they
had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luke 24:24  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre,
and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.{DISCIPLES
Talking unwittingly to Jesus}

***********Jesus first appears to a woman after his resurrection and before
his ascension***********
John 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw
Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
John 20:15  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest
thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou
have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him
away.
John 20:16  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto
him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master*.
John 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended
to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
{she being priviledged to be the only person to see Jesus before he
ascended to the father}

***************  Mary tells the bretheren  
*********************************
John 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen
the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

********Jesus showed care and concern for his mother and her future yet
while he hung upon the cross****
John 19:26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing
by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
John 19:27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that
hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
John 19:28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

********Women shed tears over the body of Jesus missing*****
John 20:13  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto
them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have
laid him.

************* Women present in the UPPER ROOM , Day of Pentecost 
**************
Acts 1:14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples,
and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

****  Women also jailed for Jesus and sufferred for the gospel.*******
Acts 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every
house, and haling men and *women committed them to prison.
Acts 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if
he found any of this way, whether they were men or women*, he might bring
them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering
into prisons both men and women*.
Heb 11:35  *Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:

******Women Supported The Gospel Financially AND travelled with JESUS and
his disciples*********
Luke 8:1  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city
and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God:
and the twelve were with him,
Luke 8:2  And *certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luke 8:3  And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and
*many others, *which ministered unto him of their substance.****
Acts 17:4  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas;
and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a
few*.
Acts 17:12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women*
which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Phil 4:3  And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, ***help those women
which *laboured with *me in the *gospel, with Clement also, and with other
my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Also note the deaconess; Phoebe
(QUOTE Holmon Bible Dictionary)

PHOEBE (foh' bih) Personal name meaning, "bright." "Servant," "minister"
(REB), "deaconess" (NASB, NIV note), or "deacon" (NRSV) of church at
Cenchrea whom Paul recommended to church at Rome (Rom. 16:1-2). See
Deacon.............
The list of qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:11 requires that "women" must
"likewise" (NASB) be similar in character to the men. Although this remark
may refer to the wives of male deacons (KJV, NIV) it probably should be
interpreted as a parenthetical reference to female deacons, or deaconesses
(NIV footnote; NASB footnote; NRSV footnote). Romans 16:1 refers to Phebe
as a diakonos of the church at Cenchrea. Williams New Testament translates
this as deaconess. The NRSV uses "deacon." Other translations use
"servant." In this verse, Phebe's role as "helper" and Paul's obvious
regard for her work seem to support the conclusion that she functioned as a
deacon in her church. Deaconesses are mentioned prominently in Christian
writings of the first several centuries. They cared for needy fellow
believers, visited the sick, and were especially charged with assisting in
the baptism of women converts.

Rom 16:1  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the
church which is at Cenchrea:
Rom 16:2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye
assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a
succourer of many, and of myself also.

{There are also records of husband and wife ministry teams such as Aquilla
and Priscilla who together expounded the word more perfectly to such as
Apollos. 
There is truly a place for women in Gods service , from witnessing,
evangelizing or announcing the "good news" to a room of preachers,  that
Christ is risen !
Jesus was /is a "man" of compassion and can understand the emotional needs
of women. 
He loves us all and bids us all to "come". }

Lynna Lunsford
lynnal@apostolic.net
Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, One faith, One Baptism