Women in the Ministry

Bible Matters 530: Women in the Ministry

God wants women serving in his ministry!  Jesus’s words to Peter presented in the Testimony for The Gospel of Thomas says it all.  Women are equal to men and worth of everlasting life. 

The Gospel of Thomas – Saying 114: Peter and Mary – Simon Peter said to them, “Mary should leave us, because women aren’t worthy of life.”   Jesus said, “Look, am I to make her a man? So that she may become a living spirit too, she’s equal to you men, because every woman who makes herself manly will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

God’s doctrine out of the mouth of two or three witnesses speaks the truth.  Only one witness, Paul, spoke out against women teaching in the church.  God’s truth is telling you to ignore Paul’s testimony. 

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 – Let your women 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. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

1 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.

On the other hand, Paul also stated that men and woman are equal and are of God.

1 Corinthians 11:12 – For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Jesus never spoke one word against women serving in the ministry of serving God.  Mary Magdalene was his most faithful servant.

Luke 10:42 – But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Yes, Mary Magdalene served Jesus’s ministry with a vengeance.   Those ladies were front and central when Jesus was crucified. 

John 19:25 – Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Matthew 27:55-56 – And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

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.

Matthew 27:55-56,61 – And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.  And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

After Jesus’s resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. 

Mark 16:1 – And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Matthew 28:1 – In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:9 – Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mary Magdalene diligently sought to please God and serve his Son.  Mary recorded her testimony in “The Gospel of Mary” by Mark M. Mattison.   A translation committed to the public domain and may be freely copied and used, changed or unchanged, for any purpose. It is based on the Coptic text of Papyrus Berolinensis 8502, 1.

Her relationship with Jesus made Andrew and Peter jealous.  Mary spoke on the power of soul from a lesson taught to her by Jesus.  Andrew and Peter doubted her testimony.  Levi stood up Mary Magdalene. 

The Gospel of Mary:  Conflict over Authority – In response Andrew said to the brothers (and sisters), ‘Say what you will about what she’s said, I myself don’t believe that the Savior said these things, because these teachings seem like different ideas.”

In response Peter spoke out with the same concerns. He asked them concerning the Savior: “He didn’t speak with a woman without our knowledge and not publicly with us, did he? Will we turn around and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?”

Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what are you thinking? Do you really think that I thought this up by myself in my heart, or that I’m lying about the Savior?”

In response Levi said to Peter, “Peter, you’ve always been angry. Now I see you debating with this woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you then to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That’s why he loved her more than us.

Mary had a way to move people’s hearts to the gospel. 

The Gospel of Mary: Mary and Jesus-Then Mary arose and greeted them all. She said to her brothers (and sisters), “Don’t weep and grieve or let your hearts be divided, because his grace will be with you all and will protect you. Rather we should praise his greatness because he’s prepared us and made us Humans.”

When Mary said these things, she turned their hearts [toward] the Good and they [started] to debate the words of [the Savior].

Peter said to Mary, “Sister, we know the Savior loved you more than all other women. Tell us the words of the Savior that you remember – the things which you know that we don’t, and which we haven’t heard.”

In response Mary said, “I’ll tell you what’s hidden from you.” So she started to tell them these words: “I,” she said, “I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw you in a vision today.’

“In response he said to me, ‘You’re blessed because you didn’t waver at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure.’

God has made it clear.   Men and women should not waiver in sharing God’s Word.  Blessed are those that share the word of God. 

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God revealed his position to me of having woman serving in the ministry on 3/27/24.   I had been witnessing to churches using God’s seventh book in this ministry, “A Bride Of Christ.” On this Wednesday, before Easter, I prayed to God about setting up a witness at a local church.  The pastor spoke on women being silent in church and God did want women speaking in his ministry using testimony from the single witness Paul, (ref.  1 Corinthians 14:34-35.) It was mission month and I looked at the congregation made up of more women than men.  This pastor alienated the women in his church away from serving God.  I thanked him for speaking on Chapter 31 Serving Jesus: PoE from “A Bride of Christ.”   Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, God wants women serving in his ministry.

In bibles numbers:

3 – Divine fullness, Perfection

27 – Ministry of Salvation

24 – Priesthood

31 – Offspring.

As offspring of God’s children, seek the priesthood in the Kingdom of God, sharing God’s word as ministers of salvation, in the fullness of God and perfect in all good works.  Endure to the end and you won’t taste death.

Gospel of Thomas: Saying 1: True Meaning – And he said, “Whoever discovers the meaning of these sayings won’t taste death.”

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.