Proverbs 31 Woman, Biblical Womanhood, and Women in Ministry | Part 1

Over the past month, I’ve taken a somewhat deep dive into the book of Proverbs, and I was in awe of the genuine wisdom within those chapters. I know it’s sometimes called “The Book of Wisdom,” but wow!

As I completed the book, I was able to study Proverbs 31 more deeply than I have ever studied before. Sure, I’ve quoted bits and pieces of it. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with it, but until today, I didn’t truly understand it.

There’s so much to dive into, so this will have to be a multi-part post.

Women in Ministry

Although it’s last in my title, I want to begin with just a short realization I came to regarding women in ministry from the jump on this chapter.

As Christ followers, it’s imperative we study God’s word so we can determine if we are being taught from Biblical standards or from tradition and culture. Part of studying God’s word includes studying the culture of the time it was written as well as original Hebrew and Greek. Sometimes what we learn from culture and history can help us better understand things in context because the meaning can be very different from what we think it means in our time.

Have you ever heard of a ghost writer? This is a person who is hired to write material for someone else. That someone else is actually the author.

Did you know Proverbs 31 was written by a ghost writer? While King Lemuel was the one who put pen to paper (so to speak), it was his mom who was the author. I haven’t looked into why she wasn’t actually the one who put pen to paper, but studying the culture and history, what I would guess is she first, cannot read and write, so she uses spoken word only. Secondly, I believe culture during that time would not allow her to be the actual writer.

Proverbs 31:1 (NKJV)
The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

The remainder of the chapter comes from King Lemuel’s mother. Although I have many examples throughout the Bible to indicate women were also leaders, disciples, prophets, apostles, etc., this one is new to me.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed) and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

How can we even argue that women are forbidden from teaching and preaching the Word of God when this chapter is just one example of the literal written Word of God coming from a woman? We may not know her name, but we know this chapter comes to us from a woman, and if God inspires a woman to be author of his Holy Word, it truly doesn’t make sense to say a woman isn’t allowed to teach or preach it.

I feel like I know what you’ve been taught throughout life because it’s likely the same thing I’ve been taught. Try knowing your entire adult life you’ve been called into ministry to write and teach the Word while also being in a church-world that teaches women are not only under the authority of all men (which is completely un-Biblical), but women are to be silent and can never carry this calling into ministry.

Let’s talk about it. Comment here to let me know your thoughts and questions. It’s okay to have questions.

This topic is to be continued. . .