Does the Bible authorize “Women Pastors”?

Here are the relevant passages on pastors. Acts 20:17,28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-7;1 1 Timothy 5:17-21;Titus 1:5-9;Hebrews 13:7-8;1 Peter 5:1-5.

Acts 20:17-35

In verse 17 Paul calls the Ephesian elders to meet him in Miletus. He is recounting how he lived among them in serving the Lord and that he is going to Jerusalem and won’t see them again. In verse 28, the elders are exhorted to pay careful attention to themselves and to all the flock that the Holy Spirit has made them overseers to care for the assembly of God.

There are three words used in this passage that refer to the same persons, elders, overseers, and care. The greek word care is a present active infinite verb translated “to care for” the dictionary form is the verb “shepherd”. Instead of shepherd, churches refer to the primary minister as pastor. Therefore, when some consider women to be eligible for the position of pastor, they are saying that they are eligible to be elders and overseers as well.

Ephesians 4:11-12

Here we read of different positions Jesus gave to equip the saints for the work of ministry for the building up of the body Christ. One of the positions is called shepherds or in some translations pastors.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

This passage addresses the qualifications for an overseer. In the previous passage these qualifications would apply to an elder or pastor also. One of the qualifications is that the overseer must be the husband of one wife. Therefore, women are disqualified for being overseers, pastors, or elders.

1 Timothy 5:17-21

Timothy is instructed by Paul to treat elders who rule well to be worthy of double honor especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. He describes that honor as being paid for their labor and two or three witnesses are required to bring a charge against an elder. If an elder persists in sin, He is to be rebuked in front of all so that the rest of the elders may stand in fear. The point I want to show here is that overseers in the same letter are now called elders by Paul.

Titus 1:5-9

Titus was left in Crete to appoint elders in every city so that what remained would be put in order. He instructs Titus in the characteristics of an elder and again one of the characteristics is the husband of one wife. He goes on to call the elder an overseer. Again a woman does not meet the necessary qualifications to be an elder, overseer, or pastor.

Hebrews 13:7-8,15

The writer asks the readers to remember those who are in charge of them and respond accordingly as they spoke the word of God to them (my translation). Their response was to consider the outcome of their leaders way of life and imitate their faith. Here the point is that those who speak the word of God (i.e. labor in word and doctrine)refers to the elders as leaders in the assembly. Those leaders are to be obeyed and will give an account to God for the souls of their flock.

1 Peter 5:1-5

The apostle Peter exhorts the elders as a fellow elder to shepherd the flock of God that is among them, exercising oversight, being examples to the flock. Here all three functions are used; elder, shepherd or pastor, and overseer for the same individuals.

Summary

First, women are disqualified from being pastors because they don’t meet the qualification of being the husband of one wife. These passages indicated that God intends this position for qualified males because no provision is made for women to qualify as the wife of one husband. Lastly, the terminology of leaders in charge of the members of a congregation is described using elder, pastor, or overseer.