What does the Bible say about women pastors?

"Let the women keep silence in the assemblies; for it is not permitted to them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. And if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in an assembly."

"The ingenuity of will, however, has found a supposed loophole. The word 'speak,' say they, means only to talk familiarly or to chatter. This is wholly untrue. It is the regular word for giving utterance, as may be seen in 1 Peter 4:10-11. … Now here it is the same word for 'speaking' as is forbidden to the women in the former scripture. It is speaking in public, not prattling. The prohibition therefore is complete. Woman's place is a retired one; she is to learn in quiet with entire submissiveness."

"As to women speaking in any way in the assembly, scripture is clear — it is not to be. 1 Cor. 14:34-45 cannot be misunderstood by those who only desire to do the Lord's will."

"Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection. But to teach I permit not a woman, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman quite deceived is involved in transgression."

"This clearly is not limited to the assembly; as the apostle traces the ground of it in the constitution and natural character of woman. 'For Adam was first formed, then Eve.' Her subsequent formation out of the man is never to be forgotten by such as fear God and believe His word. … An individual woman may be comparatively able and well-instructed; but under no circumstances is leave given for a woman to teach or to have dominion over a man; she is to be in quietness."

"Women were to walk in modesty, adorned with good works, and to learn in silence. A woman was forbidden to teach or to exercise authority over men; she was to abide in quietness and silence. The reason given for this is remarkable, and shows how, in our relations with God, everything depends on the original starting-point. In innocence Adam had the first place; in sin, Eve."

"The word of God comes to the church (the woman), not out from it, as Romanists would teach us; the Christian woman is to learn and act upon the great principle, and learn from the man, and not assume to be the man's teacher."

"Privacy is the woman's sphere, and subjection her appointed place, in relation to the man. Both law and gospel teach this — equally, and true faith has observed it in every age. Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. If Miriam prophesied, it was to the women of Israel. If Deborah was raised up, it was a judicial token of dishonour to the nation which had lost its true manhood by departing from the Lord. If Huldah's voice is heard yet later in the day of Judah's backsliding, she speaks from the recesses of the 'college.' The Scripture everywhere discountenances female prominency as something inconsistent with the original law of creation, and with the modesty and meekness which are the woman's chief adorning in the sight of God."

"For 'pastors and teachers' the apostle treats in Eph. 4:11 as Christ's gift for the perfecting of the saints. Ordination there was where either government or even service in external things was the object."

"Had then women no seemly or suited, no good and useful, place in Christianity? None can deny that they have, who see how honoured were some of them in caring for the Lord Himself in His ministry (Luke 8:1-3), who know how He vindicated Mary that anointed Him when the apostles found fault under evil influence. … Mary the mother of John Mark gives her house for the gathering together of many to pray; and the four daughters of Philip were not forbidden to prophesy at home, though even there authority could not be rightly exercised over a man. Lydia is a beautiful example of Christian simple-heartedness and zeal… Nor was Priscilla out of place when she with her husband helped the learned Alexandrian, mighty in the scriptures, to know the way of God more thoroughly. Romans 16 pays no passing honour to many a sister, from Phoebe who served the church at Cenchreae."

"We find that the service which would commend widows to the bounty of the church were these: 'If she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.' (1 Tim. 5:10)"

"In the early days more than now, saints often got together in an informal way, in private houses and elsewhere, for prayer and edification. To such gatherings, not meetings of the assembly as such, and not of a public character, I conceive the exhortations of 1 Cor. 11 to apply."