Ordination of Women and the Old Testament

Were women excluded from the Israelite priesthood because of their frequent ritual impurity caused by menstrual flow?

This idea is widely held, but it lacks Biblical support. No Bible text gives any indication that their monthly seven-day ritual impurity (Leviticus 15:19-24) was the basis for women's exclusion.

Is Gen. 1, where man and woman are presented as equals, more trustworthy than Gen. 2, where the woman is subordinate?

Jacques Doukhan, a professor of Old Testament at the SDA Theological Seminary, Andrews University, has shown in his doctoral dissertation that Genesis 1 and 2 are not contradictory but complementary.

Are “equality in being” and “subordination in function” contradictory terms?

The subordination of woman to man in the Bible is a subordination not of inferiority, but of unity. An equal accepts a subordinate role for the purpose of greater unity.

Wasn't Eve's subordination to Adam in Genesis 3:16 a part of the curse, which Christ came to take away?

In the Bible, neither blessings nor curses are arbitrary, but are directly determined by one's relationship to God's law.

What evidence is there for a “structure” in the relationship of the man and woman before the Fall?

The warnings about the tree of knowledge are given to the man before the creation of the woman. Evidently he was responsible to convey to her the knowledge of God's will in this matter.

Did Adam “rule over” Eve before the Fall?

Not in the same way as after. God appointed him head, but before sin there was no disharmony that would have caused conflict.

Does Mrs. White say that Eve was Adam's equal before the Fall and that only after the Fall was Adam to be her ruler?

Ellen White says both that Eve was Adam's equal before sin entered and that woman is man's equal today.

What are the implications of this for the issue of ordination of women to the headship positions in the church?

In our current situation, we must see what it means to follow the eternal principle of harmony with God-ordained authority.

Can Joel 2:28 settle the issue for us of men and women filling the same spiritual roles?

The New Testament, like the Old, provided for women to serve as prophets and to have visions and dreams.