5 Examples of Women in Ministry: A Biblical Perspective

Does the Bible give examples of women in ministry? Yes. Mary Magdalene announced the resurrection, Phoebe served the church as a deacon, Priscilla labored beside Paul, Junia was called an outstanding apostle and the daughters of Philip prophesied.

In the Gospels we see the value Jesus places upon women. He often broke cultural norms by going out of His way to interact with women. He restored their dignity even amid detractors in a society that marginalized them. One beautiful example is the woman Jesus defended in this Alabaster Box Poem.

Jesus also empowered women for His Kingdom purposes and they had a major role in the spread of His message both during and after His earthly ministry.

Here are 5 biblical examples of women in ministry.

Quick Answer

The Bible records many women serving in ministry. Mary Magdalene was the first witness of Jesus’ resurrection, Phoebe was a deacon of the church in Cenchreae, Priscilla ministered alongside Paul, Junia was outstanding among the apostles and Philip’s four daughters prophesied. Jesus consistently empowered women and the early church continued that pattern.

1. Mary Magdalene: First Witness of Jesus’ Resurrection

Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the risen Lord. She was alone at the empty tomb when Jesus appeared to her, and she initially mistook Him for the gardener.

Jesus told her to go and tell the other disciples about His future ascension. She told them “I have seen the Lord!” and also gave them His message (John 20:10-18).

A woman was the first to witness and testify of the resurrected Christ. The other disciples first found out about His resurrection through her. It was only later that evening that Jesus appeared to His disciples.

Mary is one of several women of the Gospels whose faith still instructs us today. Her story reminds you that the Lord entrusts His most precious news to willing hearts, not impressive resumes.

2. Phoebe, Priscilla and Junia: Women Paul Endorsed

The New Testament letters are built on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings. The apostle Paul echoes Jesus’ endorsement for women in ministry.

In Romans 16, Paul acknowledges several women by their ministry function by giving personal greetings to:

Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. (v. 1)
Priscilla as his co-worker in Christ Jesus. (v. 3)
Junia, as an outstanding apostle. (v. 7)

He also honored other women by name in his letters (Philippians 4:3-4). These were not honorary titles. Paul entrusted Phoebe with carrying his letter to the Romans, and Priscilla helped explain the way of God more accurately to the gifted preacher Apollos (Acts 18:26).

3. Can Women Hold a Spiritual Office in the Church?

In Galatians 3:28, the apostle Paul states that we are all united as the Body of Christ, regardless of race, gender or social status.

Paul tells us the spiritual offices of the church are appointed by God (1 Cor. 12:28). Paul also tells us that five offices are gifts from Christ which He bestowed on the Church after His ascension to Heaven (Eph. 4:8, 11).

If these five spiritual offices had passed away after the ascension of Christ, Paul would not truly be an apostle, Timothy would not be a pastor at Ephesus and Junia would not have been an apostle either. All of these men and women were functioning in their spiritual office long after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

The Holy Spirit who inspired Paul’s letters would not have had him address these offices in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 if they were not relevant to the Body of Christ today.

Other examples of a spiritual office include our identity in Christ as kings (Rev. 1:6). Women are spiritual kings in God’s Kingdom, just as men who love Christ are a part of the spiritual bride of Christ (Eph. 5:31-32, Rev. 19:7).

4. What Does “Your Daughters Shall Prophesy” Mean?

On the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church, Peter stood up and preached a sermon. He quoted God’s words in the Old Testament book of Joel:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Acts 2:17 (emphasis mine)

God the Father stated thousands of years before Pentecost that He would sovereignly pour out His Spirit, and one of the signs of this includes His daughters prophesying.

The Greek word for prophesy here means to “speak under inspiration” and “set forth matter of divine teaching by special faculty” (Strong’s Concordance, #4395).

Later on in the book of Acts we read that Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied, highlighting this as an expected occurrence (Acts 21:9).

5. Does 1 Timothy 2:12 Silence Women in Ministry?

In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul seems to discourage women from teaching:

I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

However, this verse likely refers to a specific situation involving disruptive women in the church in Ephesus.

In researching this verse, I have noticed that Paul uses uncommon Greek words here that only appear once in the New Testament. Also, notice there is no mention of “God” or “Christ” here as is the case in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:8-11. Therefore, I don’t believe this verse is discussing the permanent order of the church, but rather Paul is addressing a particular case of women who were disrupting this church in Ephesus.

Perhaps the second most cited passage used to oppose women in ministry is Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 11. However, in all his discussion about head coverings, Paul never prevents a woman from praying or prophesying in the church. Women cannot keep silent while praying and/or prophesying.

Remember the Proverbs 31 woman? In verse 26, the Bible says that she opens her mouth with wisdom and the law (teaching) of kindness is on her tongue. The Hebrew word for law here is Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible). The Strong’s Concordance tells us this is an “instruction and direction” (Strong’s #8451). Therefore, the virtuous woman is teaching.

What if Esther kept silent? The whole Jewish race would have been lost. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was used by the Holy Spirit to birth Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God. What if Mary Magdalene kept silent? She would have disobeyed a direct command from Christ and the other eleven apostles would have been delayed in their receiving of the news of His resurrection.

Why Do Women in Ministry Matter Today?

Jesus is the Head of the Church. All of the epistles of the New Testament are built on the foundation of Jesus’ teachings and therefore everything needs to be interpreted through His words. He is our Lord, not Paul, and He alone holds the words of eternal life.

It’s key that the life of Jesus, the Living Word of God, be examined and modeled.

Jesus supported women not keeping silent, which is evident by His commission to Mary to tell the other disciples of His resurrection. Mary was apostolically sent by the Lord.

Friend, if God has placed a call on your life, these women are your witnesses that He means it. The Church needs all hands on deck, men and women alike, to reach the world with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are examples of women in ministry in the Bible?

Mary Magdalene was the first witness of the risen Christ, Phoebe was a deacon in Cenchreae, Priscilla labored beside Paul, Junia was called outstanding among the apostles and Philip’s four daughters prophesied. The Old Testament adds leaders like Deborah the judge and Huldah the prophetess. Together they show women serving God’s people in nearly every era of Scripture.

What does the Bible say about women in ministry?

The Bible shows Jesus empowering women and the early church affirming them. Peter preached at Pentecost that God pours out His Spirit on sons and daughters alike so that both prophesy (Acts 2:17). Paul greeted women by their ministry functions in Romans 16 and taught that in Christ there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28).

Was Junia a female apostle?

In Romans 16:7 Paul greets Junia as outstanding among the apostles. Junia is a woman’s name, and early church writers such as John Chrysostom understood her to be a female apostle. Her greeting sits alongside Phoebe the deacon and Priscilla the teacher in the same chapter, showing a pattern of women in recognized ministry roles.

Does 1 Timothy 2:12 forbid women from preaching?

Many believers understand 1 Timothy 2:12 as Paul correcting a specific problem with disruptive women in the church at Ephesus rather than issuing a permanent ban. Paul uses rare Greek wording in this verse, and in 1 Corinthians 11 he assumes women pray and prophesy publicly. The passage should be read alongside the example of Jesus, who commissioned Mary Magdalene to proclaim His resurrection.