Women in Christianity: Their Role According to the Bible

When we talk about the role of women in Christianity, we’re stepping into one of the most discussed topics in church history.

But here’s something important to understand right from the start. This conversation isn’t about whether women are equal in worth, value, dignity, or even ability. It’s also not about whether women can hold leadership positions in business, government, education, or law. And, it’s not about who gets to lead and who doesn’t. Rather, the key issue: What is God’s order and design, and how do we align ourselves with God’s created order?

The Bible and the Christian church are clear on these two points: Women and men are truly created in the image of God, and both are completely capable of leading in many areas of life.

The source of our value comes straight from Genesis 1:26–27. God created humanity, both male and female, in his image. That’s where our worth comes from. It’s not our gender or our role that determines our value. It’s the fact that we bear God’s image.

We also need to clear up a common misunderstanding. Many people mistake submission with “lesser value” or think it means “inferior,” but that’s not how the Bible uses this word. The Bible actually describes Jesus, the Son of God, as eternally in submission to God the Father.

They’re equal in value and worth, but they have different roles. Consider 1 Corinthians 11:3, which helps us understand this relationship better. We need to let the Bible define these terms instead of letting society tell us what they mean.

So what are we really talking about when we discuss women in Christianity? In today’s society, the main conversation centers specifically on the church and, to a lesser extent, the home. However, it’s important to recognize that the biblical text primarily addresses roles of men and women in the home and then how those roles impact the church. So, let’s investigate the question of whether God’s design includes women serving as pastors, elders, or in positions of spiritual authority over an entire church congregation.

This is where Christians have different views. Some are called egalitarian, and others are called complementarian. Both groups base their beliefs on how they interpret key passages of Scripture.

Here’s something important to remember. This is what we call a secondary issue. It doesn’t affect salvation. Faithful Christians who love Jesus and affirm the authority of the Bible land on both sides of this question.

What Does the Bible Say About Women?

The Bible absolutely upholds the equal value of women, created in the image of God. From the very first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, we see God valuing, using, and honoring women. But some people ask, “Is there sexism in Christianity?” It’s a fair question, especially when we look at how some people have acted throughout history.

Some Christians have misused Scripture to justify sexism, but that’s not faithful to Jesus or what the Bible actually teaches. When people twist God’s Word to put down women or treat them as less valuable human beings, they’re not following Jesus’s example.

The Bible shows women as leaders, prophets, judges, and key players in God’s plan. It shows them as intelligent, capable, and essential to spreading the gospel message.

Jesus and Women

Jesus and women had a relationship that was revolutionary for that time period. In first-century Jewish culture, women were often overlooked or undervalued. But Jesus consistently treated women with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Think about how radical this was. In Jesus’s time, women couldn’t even testify in court because people didn’t think their word was trustworthy. But guess who Jesus chose to be the first witnesses of his resurrection? Women. Mary Magdalene and other women got to spread the greatest news in human history to the rest of the despairing disciples.

Jesus welcomed many women as disciples and learners. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna traveled with Jesus and his disciples. This inclusion was clearly countercultural. Women (especially those of low social status) rarely participated in religious teaching, but Jesus included them in his inner circle.

In John 4, Jesus has a long theological conversation with a Samaritan woman. Not only was she a woman, but she was also from a group that Jews typically avoided. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truths to her and used her to reach her entire town.

In Luke 10, we read about Mary and Martha. When Martha complained that Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus instead of helping with dinner, Jesus defended Mary’s choice. He said Mary had chosen “the good portion.” Jesus was saying that women should prioritize spiritual learning, not just household duties.

Jesus also defended women when others criticized them. In Luke 7, a woman anointed Jesus’s feet with expensive perfume. The religious leaders criticized her, but Jesus praised her faith and devotion.

Jesus consistently elevated women, defended them, taught them, and included them in his ministry.

Women in the Old Testament

Long before Jesus walked this earth, God was already showing how much he values women. The Old Testament includes some pretty incredible stories of female leaders and heroes.

Deborah was a judge who led Israel during a difficult time. She wasn’t just a spiritual leader but also a military strategist. In Judges 4–5, we see her making important decisions for the entire nation.

Esther risked her life to save her people from genocide. She used her position as queen to approach the king and reveal a plot against the Jewish people. Her courage and wisdom saved an entire nation.

Hannah shows us what faithful prayer looks like. In 1 Samuel 1, we see her pouring out her heart to God and trusting him with her deepest desires.

Ruth demonstrated incredible loyalty and faith. As a foreign widow, she could have returned to her own people. Instead, she stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi and chose to worship the God of Israel. Her story shows how God welcomes people from all backgrounds.

Rahab was a Canaanite woman who was neither Jew nor following Jewish law. Nonetheless, she helped Israelite spies escape from Jericho. She showed brave faith in a God she was just learning about. She even appears in Jesus’s family tree in Matthew 1.

Miriam was Moses’s sister and a leader in her own right. She led the Israelite women in worship and celebration after they crossed the Red Sea. She was called a prophetess and played an important role in Israel’s journey.

These stories show us that God has always used women in powerful ways. He’s called them to leadership, prophecy, and important roles in his plans throughout history.

Women in the Gospels

Women in the gospels were key witnesses, disciples, and voices of faith. They didn’t just watch from the sidelines, they actively participated in Jesus’s ministry and played crucial roles in spreading his message.

They watched Jesus die, they prepared his body for burial, and they were the first ones at the tomb on resurrection morning. These women were given the job of telling the other disciples the good news.

The woman at the well in John 4 became the first evangelist to the Samaritans. After her conversation with Jesus, she ran back to her town and brought many people to meet him.

Women also supported Jesus’s ministry financially. Luke 8:1–3 tells us that Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other women “supported them out of their own means.”

The Role of Women in the Bible

There are two main ways that faithful Christians interpret what the Bible teaches about women’s roles in the church. Both views love Jesus, respect the Bible, and value women highly. They just interpret and understand certain Bible passages differently.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

The complementarian view says that men and women are completely equal in worth, dignity, and value, but God ordained an order for the family that impacts specific roles in the church. People who hold this view believe that positions of spiritual authority in the church, such as elder or pastor, are intended for qualified men. They base this on what they see as the creation order in Genesis, not on cultural norms that might change over time.

This view emphasizes that male leadership carries the weight and burden of responsibility for spiritual shepherding. They point out that Adam was held accountable for humanity’s fall, even though Eve ate the forbidden fruit first. This responsibility isn’t taken lightly. Scripture reminds us in James 3:1 that those who teach and lead will be judged more strictly.

It’s important to understand that this view isn’t about superiority or hierarchy. Christian men and women who hold the complementarian view are not opposed to female leadership outright—rather they believe that certain roles were designed by God specifically for men to fill.

Complementarians believe that women still lead, teach, and serve meaningfully in many ways. They just see certain roles as specifically designed for men. This view sees these roles as rooted in God’s intentional design for human relationships. They believe this design was established at creation in Genesis 2, affirmed throughout Scripture, and meant to reflect Christ’s relationship with the church.

It’s about aligning with God’s ordained order that, when practiced in love, promotes harmony and mutual flourishing.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

The egalitarian view also says that men and women are completely equal in worth, dignity, and value, and it extends that equality to roles within the church and church ministry as well.

People who hold this view believe that women can serve in any role within the church, including leadership roles such as elder, pastor, prophet, or teacher. They see these positions as equally open to women leaders and appointed based solely on gifting and calling, not gender.

This view sees biblical leadership qualifications as rooted in spiritual maturity and character, not in male or female identity. When they read passages like 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14, they understand them as addressing specific cultural situations in the early church, not universal restrictions for all times and places.

Egalitarians point to Galatians 3:28, where Paul writes that “there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” They see this as applying to church leadership as well as salvation.

This view holds that mutual submission, shared leadership, and partnership between men and women reflect God’s design for human flourishing. They believe that leadership in the church is about using God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ, regardless of sex.

Both views uphold women’s dignity, both reject misogyny, and both are trying to be faithful to Scripture.

How to Understand Difficult Bible Verses About Women

Some passages in the Bible seem confusing when we first read them. People on both sides of the complementarian-egalitarian discussion interpret these verses differently. Let’s look at the main passages and see how both views understand them. We’ll present both views on each passage in no particular order or preference.

1 Timothy 2:11–12

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.

Note: The Koine Greek term can easily refer to wife in this context and man can be husband. This passage is likely more about the roles of husbands and wives and not about broader roles of men and women in the church and its leadership.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians see this passage as reflecting a timeless principle rooted in the creation order. They point to verses 13–14, where Paul references Adam and Eve, as evidence that this isn’t just about culture but about God’s design from the beginning.

While women are undoubtedly gifted and equal in value, complementarians believe the role of elder or pastor of a congregation is intended for qualified men. They see teaching with authority in the gathered church as part of this distinction.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians believe Paul was addressing a specific situation in Ephesus, not creating a universal rule for all churches everywhere. They point out that the Greek word “authentein” (translated as “exercise authority”) appears only once in the entire New Testament, which makes its meaning uncertain.

Many scholars think “authentein” refers to domineering or abusive authority, not all forms of teaching or leadership. The context of Ephesus is important here. The city was known for the worship of Artemis, where women held religious authority in ways that might have been confusing for new converts.

Egalitarians also point out that in 1 Timothy 3, when Paul lists qualifications for elders and deacons, he uses words that could apply to both men and women in the original Greek. They believe this passage doesn’t prohibit women from teaching or leading when they’re biblically qualified.

Ephesians 5:22–24

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Notice that this passage focuses on marriage and not men and women’s roles in general.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians point out that this passage is framed by Ephesians 5:21, which calls for “submit[ting] to one another out of reverence for Christ.” They see this as the key to understanding the whole passage. The mutual submission comes first, then Paul gives specific examples of how that works in different relationships.

They also emphasize the cultural context of Paul’s time. In that culture, wives had very few rights and were expected to submit to their husbands completely. Paul’s instructions to husbands to love their wives sacrificially was actually revolutionary for that time.

Egalitarians believe Paul’s main message is about sacrificial love and mutual respect, not about establishing permanent hierarchy.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians acknowledge that men and women are equal in value, but they see this passage as affirming distinct roles within marriage. They point to the comparison of Christ and the church as evidence that this is about more than just cultural accommodation.

Husbands are called to loving, sacrificial, servant leadership. This isn’t domineering, abusive, or prideful leadership. It’s the kind of leadership that Jesus modeled.

Wives are called to respectful submission, modeled after Jesus’s willing submission to the Father. Complementarians see this arrangement as reflecting God’s design for order, unity, and partnership within marriage rather than conforming to cultural expectations or stereotypes.

1 Corinthians 14:34–35

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.

Notice how the word “women” is used but the context and the concluding part of the verse refers to “husbands.” The Scripture is arguably talking about the relationship between husbands and wives and not broadly about men and women in this context.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians point out that Paul is addressing specific disruptions in Corinth’s chaotic gatherings, not issuing a universal ban on women speaking in church. The context of 1 Corinthians 14 is all about bringing order to worship services that had become disruptive and confusing.

They also note that earlier in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul acknowledges and gives instructions for women praying and prophesying publicly in church. It wouldn’t make sense for Paul to approve of women prophesying in chapter 11 and then completely forbid them from speaking in chapter 14.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians also believe Paul is addressing specific disruptions in Corinth’s gatherings, not issuing a universal ban on women ever speaking in church. They agree that the context is about bringing order to chaotic worship services.

Like egalitarians, they point to 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul acknowledges women praying and prophesying publicly. This shows that Paul wasn’t against all forms of women speaking in church.

However, complementarians see this as aligning with their broader view that while women can participate in meaningful ways, including prophecy and prayer, the authoritative teaching and governance roles in the church are intended for biblically qualified men.

Men and Women’s Roles in the Bible

The roles of men and women are typically discussed in the Bible in two main contexts: primarily the home and secondarily the church.

In the Home (Marriage and Family)

The Bible gives specific instructions about marriage relationships. Husbands are called to lead with love, sacrifice, and responsibility, as we see in Ephesians 5:25–33. Wives are called to respect and support their husbands’ leadership, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:22–24.

Complementarians interpret this as meaning that men and women are not just physically complementary but also emotionally. This man/woman distinction leads to a God-ordained order that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. They see the husband as having the primary responsibility for leadership in the family, while recognizing that this leadership should always be loving and servant-hearted.

Egalitarians see these passages as describing mutual partnership without necessarily fixed roles. They emphasize the mutual submission mentioned in Ephesians 5:21 and believe that both spouses can lead in different areas based on their gifts and abilities.

In the Church (Leadership and Authority)

This is where the biggest differences between complementarian and egalitarian views become apparent.

Egalitarians believe both men and women can serve in any church role based on gifting and calling. They see passages like Galatians 3:28 as applying to church leadership structures.

Complementarians believe elder and pastoral roles are intended for qualified men, based on passages like 1 Timothy 2:11–12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34–35. However, they strongly affirm that women can serve in every other leadership role in the church.

Outside of the Home and Church

Here’s something most complementarians and egalitarians completely agree on. The Bible does not prescribe sex roles for broader society such as business, government, education, or other areas of public life.

Both views affirm that women can and should lead in these areas based on their gifts, calling, and qualifications.

The Role of Women in the Church Today

Looking at women in the early church can inform and provide a blueprint for how we think about the role of women in the church today. Though people interpret these examples differently, they still provide plenty of insight and provide us with examples worth considering.

Women in the Early Church

Phoebe is called a “deacon” or “servant” in Romans 16:1, and Paul commends her highly. Egalitarians see this as evidence of women in official church leadership roles. Complementarians also recognize Phoebe’s important role but may interpret “deacon” differently than the office of elder.

Priscilla is mentioned alongside her husband Aquila as someone who taught Apollos “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Egalitarians point out that Priscilla is often mentioned first, possibly indicating her prominence. Complementarians note that she taught alongside her husband, not as the sole authority.

Junia is mentioned in Romans 16:7 as “outstanding among the apostles,” though there’s debate about what “among the apostles” means exactly.

Women in the Church Today

Across different denominations today, women serve in various ways, but how far these roles extend often depends on the church’s theological tradition.

In complementarian churches, women serve in many leadership roles including teaching other women and children, leading various ministries, serving as deacons, and participating in church governance. The roles of pastor and elder are typically assigned to qualified men.

In egalitarian churches, women can serve in all the same roles as men, including pastor and elder, based on their gifts, calling, and qualifications rather than their sex.

Both types of churches recognize the vital contributions women make to church life and ministry.

Conclusion

Women in Christianity have always played vital and essential roles in God’s plan. From the Old Testament heroes to the women who first witnessed Jesus’s resurrection, God has consistently used women in powerful ways throughout history.

The discussion about women’s or wives’ roles in church leadership is a secondary issue where thoughtful, Bible-loving Christians disagree. Complementarians and egalitarians both affirm the equal value and dignity of women. They both reject sexism and misogyny and they both want to faithfully follow what Scripture teaches.

The difference comes down to how they interpret certain biblical passages and apply them to church leadership structures. Complementarians see distinct roles with certain leadership positions intended  for qualified men. Egalitarians see equal access to all church roles based on gifts and calling rather than sex.

What matters most is that we treat both men and women with dignity as people made in God’s image. We need both men and women working together to spread the gospel and build up the church.