N.T. Wright: The New Testament Is Clear on Female Preachers

What About 1 Timothy 2?

Wright argues that these two passages give context for other, more “difficult” passages to interpret which mention women. For instance, 1 Timothy 2 contains words that don’t occur in other places in the New Testament, making it hard to interpret. Wright, who has “wrestled with” the meaning of this passage for quite some time, thinks “it’s quite wrong to take one particular reading of 1 Timothy 2 and allow that to override what is coming through in those other, great passages which seem to me very, very clear.” 

During our interview with Wright, he shared another passage of Scripture that also implies women should be allowed to preach. Wright calls 1 Corinthians 11 a “tricky passage” which can be hard to interpret. However, one thing is clear: 

Paul is very adamant that when women are leading in worship, they should look like women and not look like imitation men. The fact that he is concerned about them being recognized as women…shows that a) he does want them to be leading in worship and b) he wants it to be clear that they are doing so as women.

Wright concludes the “narrative [of women communicating the word of God] is so clear” in the New Testament.

You can listen to our interview with Wright here:

N.T. Wright on the Dangers of Neglecting the History of the New Testament

To listen to Wright’s comments at Rock Church, check out the following video: