Galatians 3:28 (Amplified Bible)
“There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].”
Women have full equality with men in every aspect and area of ministry within the Body of Christ. This often raises the question: Why did Paul address women concerning silence in the churches and seemingly prohibit a woman from teaching or exercising authority over a man?
I believe that in some of the regions Paul was addressing, there existed what I would call a “mixed-seed” gospel. Although the Gospel had been received, remnants of previous idolatrous beliefs and religious practices remained. Pagan influences had become intertwined with Kingdom truth, creating a mixture that threatened the purity of the faith. Paul stood firmly for the purity of the Gospel and sought to guard the Church from doctrinal contamination.
Throughout Scripture we see prominent women whom God raised up into positions of leadership and influence. One such woman was Deborah, a judge, prophetess, and spiritual mother to her nation. She was highly esteemed in the sight of God and entrusted with leadership over Israel during a crucial season.
God created both male and female in His image. The woman, like the man, received the blessing of God and was given purpose and destiny. There is an equality of value, worth, and calling before the Lord.
The Hebrew understanding of “one flesh” carries the idea of a helper corresponding to him, a partner who stands alongside, complementing and strengthening. Throughout the Old Testament we find women such as Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Hannah, and many others, each entrusted with significant roles that helped shape the destiny of Israel.
These women were not spectators in God’s redemptive plan; they were participants. They carried promises, stewarded prophetic purposes, nurtured future generations, and stood as pillars of faith during pivotal moments in Israel’s history.
The New Testament likewise demonstrates God’s favour and purpose for women. Jesus Himself commended Mary when He said:
Luke 10:41–42
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion.
Mary’s choice to sit at the feet of Jesus was more than an act of devotion; it was an act of discipleship. In a culture where women were often excluded from formal theological instruction, Jesus affirmed her right to learn and grow in spiritual understanding. He declared that what she had chosen would not be taken away from her.
The Apostle Paul likewise recognized and honoured the ministry of women throughout the early Church. In Romans 16, Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila as fellow workers in Christ Jesus. Interestingly, Priscilla’s name is often mentioned before her husband’s, suggesting her significant role in ministry. Together they instructed Apollos more accurately in the ways of God, demonstrating a powerful husband-and-wife ministry partnership.
Then there was Junia, noted among the apostles, and Chloe, whose household held a position of influence and leadership within the early Church. Scripture reveals women serving, teaching, prophesying, evangelizing, and advancing the Kingdom alongside men.
There were women who prayed and prophesied in Corinth. Throughout church history, mighty women of God have continued to be vital instruments in the hand of the Lord. From revivalists to missionaries, evangelists, teachers, intercessors, and reformers, women have faithfully carried the Gospel into nations and generations.
The Holy Spirit does not discriminate in the distribution of spiritual gifts. The gifts are given for the edification of the Body of Christ and the evangelization of the world. Authority comes through the Word of God, submission to Christ, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Returning to the the term of “mixed seed,” I believe Paul’s primary concern was not the suppression of women but the preservation of truth. The purity of the Gospel was paramount.
Leviticus 19:19
“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.”
Deuteronomy 22:9
“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.”
While these instructions carried practical applications under the Law, they also reveal a spiritual principle. God desires purity. He calls His people to guard against mixture, compromise, and contamination.
Spiritually speaking, mixed seed can represent the blending of truth with error, Kingdom principles with worldly philosophies, or sound doctrine with deceptive teachings. Whenever mixture enters, fruitfulness is diminished. The result is spiritual crop failure.
Paul’s concern was for lasting fruit. His desire was that believers be led by the Holy Spirit into all truth and protected from teachings that would corrupt the Gospel message. His heart was for a healthy vineyard that would produce an abundant harvest for the Kingdom of God.
God desires purity in both men and women. He calls all believers to walk in holiness, integrity, and faithfulness. The issue has never been gender; the issue has always been truth.
As Catherine Booth wisely stated:
“If we are to better the future, we must disturb the present.”
Throughout history, women have often been catalysts for change, carrying courage, conviction, and compassion into places where transformation was needed. They have challenged complacency, nurtured revival, and raised up future generations in the ways of the Lord.
Today, women across the nations are rising with renewed boldness. They are teaching, mentoring, interceding, evangelizing, prophesying, and serving with excellence. They are not seeking prominence; they are seeking obedience to the call of God upon their lives.
The Lord is raising up daughters who know their identity in Christ, who refuse compromise, and who carry the pure seed of the Gospel. They are women of faith, women of courage, women of prayer, and women of wisdom.
Joel 2:28–29
“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
The promise of the Spirit was never limited by gender. God’s outpouring is for sons and daughters alike. His desire is that all His people be equipped, empowered, and released into their God-given assignments.
Therefore, rise up, Women of God. Walk confidently in your calling. Steward the gifts He has entrusted to you. Guard the purity of the Gospel. Speak truth with love. Lead with humility. Serve with faithfulness. And never forget that the same Holy Spirit who empowered the heroes of Scripture lives within you today.
May this generation of women arise with courage, conviction, and holy fire, carrying the pure seed of God’s Word to the nations and leaving a legacy that glorifies Jesus Christ.
Denise Sylvia Bruning
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