Complementarianism: A Biblical View of Women in Ministry

Women in ministry is a controversial subject in modern culture. The question surrounding women’s roles in the church remains a point of much debate and intense discussion. While those who subscribe to an egalitarian view believe that women can occupy any role in the church that men can, those who subscribe to a complementarian view believe that women are limited in their function in the church and, therefore, cannot occupy the same roles as men. This project analyzes the role of women throughout the Old and New Testaments from both the complementarian and egalitarian perspectives. It also conducts an exegetical analysis of 1 Timothy 2:8-15, along with 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-36, to demonstrate the biblical position concerning the order and function of men and women within the church. In addition to the exegetical analysis of the aforementioned passages, the questions surrounding their relevance for today are addressed through an analysis of their universal aspect.