(1) Is it wrong for a woman to teach fellow women in a ladies class during mid-week class for women?
In every way the New Testament gives the right to act, the Scriptures authorize women to teach the Scriptures.
The apostle Paul directed Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). The word “men” in this passage translates the Greek term “anthropois,” which means “universally with reference to the genus or nature, without distinction of sex, a human being, whether male or female” (J.H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. 46). Part of a preacher’s work is teaching faithful people, both men and women, to teach the Word of God. Thus, by statement, the apostle authorizes faithful women to teach the Scriptures.
The apostle Peter commands all Christians, men and women, to equip themselves to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15). Paul instructs Titus to command aged women to teach practical scriptural truths especially applicable to the feminine gender to younger women (Titus 2:3-5). Thus, Scripture commands women to teach the Bible.
Priscilla, with her husband. Aquila, explained to Apollos, an eloquent preacher who only knew John’s baptism, “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-26). Thus, approved examples authorize women to teach the Word.
Several passages indicate women received the gift of prophecy (e.g., Acts 2:17; 21:8-9; 1 Corinthians 11:5). Since the function of a prophet was to teach (1 Corinthians 14:4), it is
necessarily implied that women may teach God’s will.
(2) Is it wrong if the church fix this ladies class?
The Scriptures authorize the local church to teach the Bible. They do this by statement (Ephesians 4:16), command (Acts 20:28), example (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8), and necessary implication (1 Timothy 3:14-15).
The Scriptures authorize the local church to employ any arrangement to teach the Bible which does not violate New Testament principles. God has bound (matters of faith) the organization the church is to employ to teach, the local church (1 Corinthians 1:2) and the information to be taught: the Bible (Galatians 1:8-9; Romans 15:4). But he has not bound the arrangement through which the church may teach. It may be the whole church assembled (Acts 20:7), groups smaller than the church (Acts 20:17; Galatians 2:2), letters (Colossians 4:16), books, tracts, a correspondence course, magazines, radio, television, internet site, or classes. No single arrangement is exclusively bound.
The only limitation the Lord places on a woman teaching that He does not also place on a man is that women may not teach over men (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12).
Indeed, a woman may teach fellow women in a ladies class during mid-week class for women? In fact, it is more appropriate for an older woman to fill this role than it is for a preacher (Titus 2:3-5).
(3) Is it wrong for a preacher to be present during the ladies class?
A woman may not teach the Scriptures with authority over a man nor in any other way be over men in the local church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12). The preacher should not attend the women’s class if a woman is over the class.
However, an elder might sit in on the women’s class to be sure it is done correctly if it is understood he is there as an authoritative observer, not as a student. In this case the woman teacher is not over a man. It would be parallel to a school principal observing a woman teacher in her class in a public school.
(4) Should ladies class where a woman should teach ladies class be a private arrangement with the preacher without the knowledge of the Church?
This is answered under question one. This is simply an arrangement for doing what the church is authorized to do: teach the Bible. It is good for the class to be a function of the local church.
(5) The statement from the scripture that said, “Where two or three gathered in my name I am there” Does it mean that all such gatherings are for worship assembly?
The context of this passage, Matthew 18:20, pertains to the church withdrawing from unrepentant sinners (Matthew 18:15-19). However, it is a general principle applying to our fellowship in the local church. Whatever we do as a local church that is in harmony with His will, He is in fellowship with us in the doing of it. This includes but is certainly not limited to the public worship assembly of the local church. No, not all gatherings of the church are necessarily worship. For example, the church could come together to discuss whether or not to withdraw from a sinner (Matthew 18:17) or to hear a report concerning a preaching trip (Acts 14:27). Since the church is a spiritual relationship (John 18:36; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 1:3,22-23), all proper activities of the church are spiritual.
