Question on Commission

"I WISH you would show me where Christ ever commanded women to go and preach the gospel. The commission was not given to women, but to men, if I understand correctly." TWR

This is a question which has troubled many minds beside that of our brother. And there is a degree of plausibility in his position, yet we think his conclusion cannot be maintained by the Scriptures.

God's word and his providence will always be found to be in harmony. By his providence we here refer only to those facts which indicate the choice and will of the Lord, which are not controlled or modified by the will or action of any agent.

Now we find that in all ages God has chosen women to occupy important positions in his work. The instances which are recorded in the Old Testament are so numerous and so well known that we need not refer to them particularly. As the question relates more especially to the commission of the gospel, we will notice the teaching of the New Testament.

1. In Acts 21:8, 9, we learn that the four daughters of Philip the evangelist prophesied. This could be only by the direct act of God, and is conclusive proof that the Lord, in the New Testament as well as in the Old, conferred the gifts of his Spirit on women, and set them forth to important positions in the work of the gospel. Indeed, according to the instructions of Paul to the Corinthians, there is no more important position in the church than that occupied by these four sisters; no more useful gift in the gospel than that conferred upon them.

2. We think the fact stated in Acts 21:8, 9, guides us to a perfect understanding of Paul's reference to those women who acted as servants of the church, who were helpers of the apostles, and who labored in the Lord. See Rom. 16.

3. On the day of Pentecost Peter applied the prophecy of Joel 2 to the position and work of the disciples of Christ in the gospel, under the commission, proving that the gifts of the Spirit were to be conferred on the women as well as on the men. And Paul said these gifts were "for the work of the ministry." Eph. 4. So that the instances referred to in Acts 21 and others, were not exceptional, but in strict conformity to the plan of the gospel. Nevertheless, there were restrictions against their being placed in offices as rulers of the business of the church. But the restriction could not shut them out of the work of the ministry, as we have seen.

In regard to the commission being given to men: this does not at all militate against the facts above stated. Even where the Scriptures are more explicit and the word men is inserted, women are not excluded. Thus: Paul says when Christ ascended on high "he gave gifts unto men," and adds that these gifts were "for the work of the ministry." And yet we find the same gifts conferred upon women, and they prophesied and worked in the gospel by virtue of these gifts and callings. Paul taught that God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30. We cannot say that it is not the duty of women to repent likewise, because they are not mentioned in the commandment. He also affirms that Christ "by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Heb. 2:9. We believe he tasted death for every woman also, though the apostle did not say so.

The point at which we should always aim is to find the complete harmony of all the scriptures. It is possible to take one passage and draw a conclusion from it which seems to be legitimate and unavoidable. Yet if the conclusion does violence to other scriptures, or interferes with the harmony of the whole, we may rest assured that it is not the correct one, however plausible it may appear.