More Women Leaders

Deborah is probably the most famous of all the women leaders in the Bible. She was not only a prophetess, but also a judge and leader of the nation of Israel (Judges 4 and 5). Other women spoken of as prophetesses in the Old Testament include Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14). In the New Testament, Anna (Luke 2:36) is mentioned as a prophetess, as are the four daughters of Philip, the evangelist (Acts 21:9).

It can easily be argued that leadership and authority coexist with the gifts of apostleship and prophecy based on the Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 12:28:

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having fits of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

This verse offers a hierarchy of those possessing gifts. It certainly infers the importance, in order, of these positions. Ephesians 2:20 further indicates that the apostles and prophets are the foundation of the Church with Christ as the Cornerstone.

Possibly the most well-known woman teacher in the New Testament is Priscella, the wife of Aquila. Priscella and Aquila were tentmaking church leaders who traveled with Paul (Acts 18). In Acts 18:24-26, the Jew Apollos entered the scene and was taught by the husband and wife team in their home "the way of God more adequately." This is clear evidence of a woman teaching a man in the early Church.