Biblical Prophetess
Women Prophets in the Bible
Christianity Oasis has provided this Biblical Prophetess Bible Study focusing on Women Prophets in the Bible. The term Prophetess in the Bible refers women Prophetesses of the past, present and future. We'll look into that and how to become and remain a virtuous woman.
Christianity Oasis Ministry
presents
The Virtuous Woman
Step 27
Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Adventure
A Look at Women Prophets in the Bible
Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Virtuous Woman study program. This is our extremely essential and highly debated Modern Day Prophetesses quest taking an in-depth look at Prophetess Bible Scriptures to study the role of a Prophetess in the Bible. This absolutely be-YOU-tiful Prophetesses study of what makes a Prophetess in the Bible will clear up much misunderstanding as to who may or may not be prophetesses.
Start this adventure from the beginning:
Welcome back!
Prophetesses in the Past, Present and Future
Women Prophets in the Bible Gift
Another great Step today, loaded with truth ... Glad to have you here to share it with me!
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Sometimes we believe that we know the truth about something, but do we know the whole truth? Do we put ourselves in other people's shoes before we decide what the truth of a matter is and even try and determine their destiny?
Oft times when we read things, we like to apply the parts that we agree with to our lives, but the rest, we disregard. This is even true many times when we read the Bible. Sometimes we don't bother to search for the whole truth, because it may not fit our lifestyle ... Or our approval!
Since you are becoming more and more virtuous, you'll probably feel the urge to talk about your Christianity more with people, so let's discuss a very important question that a lot of people aren't quite clear on:
Should a Woman Preach?
Let's take a look at the whole truth, from several different viewpoints.
The Bible is a big book, no question about it, and many Christians have never read it cover to cover, let alone understood all of it's implications. In addition, we're all individuals and the interpretation for one person, is quite different from the interpretation for another, even when two people are reading the same translation (because the Holy Spirit provides different messages for different people at different times)!
Looking at things from a different point of view is a very important thing, and the challenge in this Step, is to open your mind to different viewpoints about women teaching or preaching using all Scripture on the matter.
We're going to start off with a little exercise in looking at things from a different perspective. Did you know that all things in the Bible do not apply to all people. Jesus Himself explained this when He was talking about the laws of divorce and said:
All men cannot receive this saying, except those to whom it is given.
Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Verses
Identifying Women Prophets in the Bible
In other words, every situation is different, and God judges the heart.
Here's a great example:
The 6th Commandment is: Thou shalt not kill. But ... Because king Saul did not kill all of the Amalekites, as God told him to do, it angered God and the Prophet Samuel came and killed the king of the Amalekites. This was one of the reasons that Saul's anointing was taken away and the kingdom of Israel was taken from him.
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
Yes, you read that right ... A Prophet of God killed a man because God wanted him to. Yet ... Thou shalt not kill. As you can see all laws are not applicable to all circumstances.
Just as Jesus said:
All men cannot receive this saying, except those to whom it is given.
Now you can see truth reveals that we can be mistaken about the truth in the Bible and we need to study God's Word to find the whole truth.
So, without much further ado, let's look at the topic at hand:
Holy Spirit Inspired Biblical Prophetess in the Bible
Women Prophets in the Bible Scriptures
Are Women Allowed to Preach?
In the Bible, a prophetess is a woman who speaks the messages of God to others. Did you know there are several of these prophetess chosen women mentioned in the Bible? Check these out:
Miriam, Moses' sister:
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Deborah, who was a judge of Israel:
And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Huldah, who prophesied during the reign of king Josiah:
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
Biblical Prophetess in the Bible List
Women Prophets in the Bible Names
Isaiah's wife:
And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
Now many say ... Okay, I agree there were women that spoke the Word of God, but that was back then, what about the New Testament? OK.
Anna:
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Then they say, Okay, but what about after Jesus rose to Heaven and the New Covenant began? All right.
Philip's four daughters:
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Truth
Women Prophets in the Bible View
The truth that women would prophesy (share the Word of God) is Prophecy.
Look at the words of the Lord that the prophet Joel spoke about what would happen when the end is near:
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour
out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in
those days will I pour out my Spirit.
The Apostle Peter confirmed this as well:
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams:
So, we see that women have spoken and will speak the Word of the Lord.
But, what about those hardcore doubters that accept this truth, but will then say that perhaps they did and will prophesy, but what about the present day?
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Research
Women Prophets in the Bible Definition
You may be wondering why these rascals are so very determined to prove their point. It may be because of a few things Paul said.
There are two places in the New Testament where Paul addresses this subject. This passage is directed at married women.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is
not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their
husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
In this passage, Paul says "I" don't allow:
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived
was in the transgression [wrong].
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if
they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety
[control].
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Messages
Women Prophets in the Bible Led by God
If you are a woman, you are probably pouting, right about now ... If you do not hear.
Let me remind both, yet again of what Jesus said:
All men cannot receive this saying, except those to whom it is given.
We can dissect this a little further, too. The selection from 1 Corinthians specifies that married women should not speak in the Church. What about outside the church? Well, then you have to define "Church." Is any gathering of two or more Christians considered "Church?"
I suppose that's another matter of interpretation for everyone to debate about.
Unmarried Women
We learned earlier that Philip's four daughters prophesied. Acts 21:9, you'll learn that these women were all virgins (unmarried), and the scripture from the Prophet Joel Joel 2:28-29 and Peter Acts 2:16-17 that you read above says that the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon the handmaidens (unmarried), so we have evidence that unmarried women have prophesied after Jesus was taken to Heaven.
So, women have, will and are prophesying according to the Word of God.
Now these Christian woman preaching bashers can only say "Okay, I agree with all that, but married Christian women cannot preach."
They may use scripture such as:
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin [unmarried]. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible
Unmarried Women Prophets in the Bible
But they need to read the next verse also:
And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
What if this matter is just as we found out earlier, that one rule does not apply to all situations.
As Jesus said:
All men cannot receive this saying, except those to whom it is given.
Now, it may seem like this study is very pro-women, so we'll look at the other side of the coin as well. Without a doubt, not every woman should be preaching or teaching but only those led by the Holy Spirit.
In fact, many events recorded in the Bible confirm that when the advice of a woman was followed ... Things turned out for the worst.
But ...
While you are considering that, add this little tidbit ...
Consider the story of Deborah who instructed Barak, and Huldah who the priest of Judah turned to for instruction.
They came to her because she was a Prophetess. She had the Word of God and they came to her for it.
Preaching and teaching is definitely not for everyone ... But that's for God to decide, not man. You on the other hand, have to discern whether or not the individual's words, whether it be man or woman ... Married or single ... Are words that are divinely inspired, and you then have the choice of whether or not you will listen or believe. But it seems you should hear the words as to check the fruits as to prove all things. I mean ... What if it is God's Word spoken through them? What if a woman is indeed a prophetess of God, and you stifle her because you haven't looked at this from a different and more spiritual point of view as we have been taught to?
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Discussion
Women Prophets in the Bible Quotes
I mean ... Most that disagree with a woman sharing the Word of God say they take the Bible literally and that is why they say what they say referring to the Scripture Paul shared.
But ... Is not Scripture to be taken literally?
Like this one:
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams:
All Flesh
According to this Scripture, when taken literally ... In attempting to silence a woman, you may have just attempted to hush God's Word. You may be telling God's messenger-ette to simmer down now, skeedaddle back to the kitchen and leave the proclaiming of God's Word up to the men, when God Himself may have sent her to share what was in His mind, through her words. Just as He said He would.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in
those days will I pour out my spirit.
All Flesh
God will choose whoever He wants to and is not limited to man's limited understanding.
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Old Testament
Women Prophets in the Bible New Testament
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are:
I am in harmony with Paul that a woman should not be sharing her words in Church:
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is
not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their
husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Timothy 2:11-15
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived
was in the transgression [wrong].
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if
they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety
[control].
Prophetesses - Biblical Prophetess in the Bible Summary
The Calling of Women Prophets in the Bible
But ... The truth is that a woman's words, can sometimes be the Words of God and His Words shared thru her can be shared anywhere, anytime to anyone.
It does not make her the teacher or the one showing authority over a man ... But, rather that God is teaching through her.
Whether you're a married or unmarried woman or man, the best thing to do is pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and above all, let God's will be done ... Not man's.
Ponder on These Words of Truth
May the Grace and blessings of God follow you through the day! See you next time for our final Step!
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There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit. It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not, you are right in the middle of it.
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