The answer to this question is, "Yes, women can preach God's word."

This topic, being one of the mostly debated in the church community today has spread to churches across the world. A lot of women in churches today are being told that it is a disgrace to preach to an entire church or group of individuals. There are churches that also call "the gifts of the spirit" fake so people of that congregation, even men, will suppress them. I grew up in a church where women were not allowed to do anything at all but sing hymns and talk afterwards. Preachers would commonly say that it's disgraceful for a woman to preach and so shameful to everybody - that church even stopped funding a foreign church when they found out that they let a woman preach. The church I went to, one woman - for an entire month would make the communion bread and prepare the table before other people got to church. A woman could not say prayer, either - instead, they had to tell a male member if they had a prayer request. In my heart, I felt held back - like this couldn't be correct with God's word. When I was out of that church, I had done a lot of research on the matter to be sure. There are other churches out there that let women do some things, but not everything they ought to be able to do. A lot of churches also forget that there were a lot of women in some type of authority or place of importance in The Holy Bible such as Deborah the judge and prophetess, Jael, Priscilla, Mary, etc.

But...women are supposed to be silent in church:

1 Corinthians 14:33 - 35 NIV:

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

This is the verse that most use to silence women in the churches. However, at this time - Paul was dealing with many churches that needed some direction and less corruption. Keep in mind:

~Women could have been interrupting others and gossiping about others.

~If these women were used to worshiping other god's to where they cause a commotion and brought that into church - that would have to be stopped.

~Women of this age weren't often allowed the right to education simply because they were female - it was usually men that had the right to education. When Paul says, "If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home," he is encouraging the husband's to teach their wives about God's word so that they may be able to speak and know what they are talking about.

~If there was a church and all the women were speaking, but it wasn't in like with God's word because they didn't understand what they were talking about, it would make sense for a higher authority of the church to say, "Please, be silent - and study on your own time at home." so that they do not corrupt anybody else - even if it was by accident.

~This verse was a "at that place, at that time" type of deal because he was trying to address cultural issues and how to maintain a proper order in church.

Here is another verse about being "silent" in the church that doesn't refer to man nor woman - so it means everybody.

1 Corinthians 14:28 - 30 NIV:

If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

But...women can't have authority over men:

The Bible verse that is most commonly used to "support" this statement is:

1 Timothy 2(:1 - 15) NIV:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

~To understand 1 Timothy 2, we need to recognize who exactly Paul was preaching to and why. Paul was teaching to a corrupt church, and explains this in a way in which people may understand. Let's look at 1 Timothy 2:1 - 15 to examine Paul's writing style. Paul wrote in a similar format as the philosopher's did, which was commonly an A, B, A, B format or a back and forth type style. To understand the point, the whole passage is important.

~Most spiritually abusive churches make the mistake of only bringing up 1 Timothy 2:12 where it says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must me silent." Now, reading this alone, one may believe women can't preach in church, but examining the surrounding context this is simply untrue.

~In 1 Timothy 2:1 - 7, it talks about a group of people, which is most likely an entire congregation of people and the point directed at everybody. To explore the context more if we read on, it mentions the men only in 1 Timothy 2:8.

~Further along, in 1 Timothy 2:9 - 10, it mentions women as a group. In 1 Timothy 2:11 - the first half of verse 15 it mentions a woman - singular.

~Then in the last half of verse 15, it mentions women as a group once again. Now, why would Paul do this?

~Notice women weren't the only one with the problems. Paul instructed men to lift their hands in prayer, without getting angry or arguing. The context where it mentions women, a woman, and then women again is highly significant.

~Women were instructed what to wear in 1 Timothy 2:9 - 10 because at that time in society - if you braided your hair a certain way and added ornaments - that is how prostitutes wore their hair at the time. In this society, it was a sign of sexual immorality or drawing unnecessary attention to one self.

~In 1 Timothy 2:11 - first half of 15 mentions a woman. This was addressing false prophets in the church because they did not know God's word - in this instance, possibly talking about one false prophet in particular. Keep in mind that women weren't as educated as men at this point in time. Women didn't get the type of education that men were allowed. In their society, they deemed it more proper for a man to learn and a woman to listen. So this was scripture that was not meant to be forever until the end of time. This was about how Paul dealt with problems in the church. This "woman" that taught falsely wouldn't be a good option for a preacher. When it mentions Eve being deceived, this is simply a comparison. Paul is not saying that Adam was better than Eve or Eve was better than Adam. Eve is a good example of a woman who was deceived and someone everyone may be able to relate to since it's one of the earlier teachings in The Holy Bible. They are making a comparison to allow the church to recognize what it is exactly that is going on. The last half of verse 15 urges women to continue in faith, love, and holiness. It never discourages anything beside false doctrine that would apply to today.

But...men and women can't be equal:

Galatians 3:26 - 29 NIV:

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Here, it talks about how all of us are spiritual equal - we are not above or below each other - we are all equal in the eyes of God. Together we are one - and it doesn't sound as if we have limitations in Christ.

In Genesis, man was made from woman - making them part of each other - equals. Together, they were one flesh. I hear some churches argue that man was more superior because he was created first. However, if that were true - wouldn't animals be more superior than man? I have heard some churches say, "Eve was cursed so she can't preach," which is false. Adam, Eve, and Satan were all cursed by God because they ALL disobeyed (Genesis 3).

~Keep in mind that a lot of philosophers had a heavy influence on Roman, Greek, and other societies, and most were anti-women. According to mythology, Zeus placed women on earth in order to curse men. A lot of them had strong opinions that influenced others:

"Females are inferior in goodness to males." - Plato

"Separate from the female, since it is something better and more divine." - Aristotle

"Women are a shameless set, the vilest creatures going." -Aristophanes (The Lysistrata)

"Clever women are dangerous." - Euripides

"As a result of visions, many people choke to death, more women than men, for the nature of women is less courageous and is weaker." - Hippocrates

"Mistresses we keep for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the daily care of our persons, but wives to bear us legitimate children." - Demosthenes

~It's no wonder that women of that time weren't allowed the same education as men - because a clever woman is dangerous. Also no wonder why society didn't want them in power - because they saw them as weak, vile creatures.

But...The Holy Bible never encourages women to preach:

Titus 2:1 - 6 NIV:

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

~Notice it encouraged woman to teach what is good, which would be God's word.

Joel 2:28 NIV:

“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

~This includes both men and women - prophesy can also mean to preach and/or be under the influence of divine spirit - God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit.