The heading of Priscilla's Page before each lady's article implies a distinction of some sort between female and male authors. The New Testament makes a distinction between the religious roles of women and men. For instance, sisters in Christ must remain silent in the worship assemblies (1 Corinthians 14:34), except for their part in congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19), confessing their faults (James 5:16) and professing Christ (Romans 10:9-10).
Further, Scripture forbids a woman to teach or have dominion over a man (1 Timothy 2:12). Yet, a sister in Christ may and sometimes must teach men, however, without subjecting men to her. Priscilla participated in the teaching of a preacher named Apollos (Acts 18:26) and sisters in Christ teach men--even in the assembly--when they sing (Colossians 3:16).
Outside the assembly where women may be members of a Bible class taught by a man, or as participants in a religious discussion where no one is subject to another in the group, a man may learn something from words spoken by a woman--without violating 1 Timothy 2:12. Likewise, 1 Timothy 2:12 is not infringed when Christian men sing songs written by women (which teach) or books and articles written by sisters in Christ. A man does not subject himself to the dominion of a woman (who usually is not even present) when he sings songs or reads literature written by women.
Yet, clearly the New Testament makes no provision for female preachers, teachers, elders, deacons, song leaders, leading prayer, Scripture reading or any other religious activity in which men are subject to a woman. (Women, of course, may preach, teach, lead singing, etc. in the presence of women exclusively, e.g., Ladies' Days, Ladies' Bible Classes.) Hence, the distinction Priscilla's Page and this clarification appear in Gospel Gazette Online.
~ Louis Rushmore, Editor
Priscilla's Page