There are those in Christendom who hold that women should not be in seminary because seminary is meant to train pastors, and women are not to be pastors. Some who hold this view also say that women should not even be teaching other women theology, but only topics like homemaking. In their view, teaching theology is the purview of the elders in the church, and women desiring to learn theology are to ask their husbands. Practically, for those with this view, this also means that women-led Bible studies and women teaching other women Scripture are unbiblical.
This is a misinterpretation of the Titus 2:3-5 passage that exhorts older women to teach younger women.
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
Those who hold that women are not to teach theology even to other women interpret this passage to mean that what older women are to teach younger women is things related to homemaking and family. While this is true (women are to teach other women about marriage, child-rearing, homemaking), the passage actually says “they are to teach what is good.” What is good? Is not God’s Word good? Psalm 19:7 tells us that God’s Word is perfect. Should not women tell other women about the perfections found in God’s Word? Is not God Himself good? Should not women teach other women about the goodness of God? This is theology – knowing God and who He is. Even teaching other women about marriage and homemaking will include aspects of theology, for theology affects everything that we do!
The push for women not to pursue theological education is not what this passage is teaching. I am complementarian, meaning that I believe that, in the context of the church, only men are to be pastors/elders, preaching God’s Word during congregational worship. This does not mean that women are not to teach other women. It means that they are not to preach to men as part of the church’s gathered time of corporate worship. Women are not to be pastors. That authoritative role has been given to men (1 Tim. 2:12). That does not mean that women cannot learn how to teach other women, often using the same principles that are taught to men in learning to preach.
While formal theological education/seminary is not practical for most women, it is not forbidden in Scripture. For those who cannot do formal training, that does not mean that they cannot learn more about the Bible and theology and then teach it to other women. Jesus approved women learning his teaching, as we see in Luke 10:39-42:
“And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
To know God, one must know Scripture, because God reveals himself more fully in Scripture. Women need to know the truths of who God is, not only because it affects their own lives, but because they are so influential in the lives of their children. Women need to know Scripture so they can teach other women and their children who God is and the way to have a relationship with him.
Teaching women how to understand and teach the Bible, as well as helping them to develop a biblical worldview and sound theology, is what Eunice Institute is all about. It is also an important part of discipleship. Jesus calls all His followers to make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 tells us:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
To obey Jesus’s teaching, we must teach those we are discipling what Jesus taught. This is theology. This is teaching the Bible. This is a mandate for all believers, both men and women.
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