Male and female were both created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (1 Cor 10:31; 24-Ps.73.26" class="scriptRef">Ps 73:24-26; Jn 17:22, 24) Westminster Shorter Catechism).
The way of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus alone, is equally available to men and women as to rich and poor, slave and free (Gal 3:28). Equality in salvation, however, does not mean there are no longer physical, emotional, or functional differences in between men and women in the home, society, or the church. God has given women three distinct and glorious roles to fulfill in life as a mate, a mother, and a minister.

I. A Mate. Adam was created first and then Eve from Adam’s rib, both equal in God’s image (Gen 1:27; 2:15-20). Eve was like Adam but different. She was not created from the dirt like him, but from his rib, near his heart, so he would love her. If God had meant women to rule over man, He would have taken her out of Adam’s head. Had He designed her to be his slave, from his feet. But God took woman out of man’s side, for He made her to be a helpmate and an equal to him (Augustine).
God created woman because Adam was alone, not lonely (Gen 2:18). He needed a companion to help him fulfill his God-given task in creation (Gen 2:18-25). So man is incomplete without woman, just as everyone is incomplete without God. Woman was created for man (1 Cor 11:7-16) and she is incomplete without man.
But Satan tempted Eve to rebel against her God-given role and want to be like God (Gen 3:5, 16). Sin created an un-godly desire to reverse God’s assigned roles so women would seek control and men strive to dominate (Gen 3:16).
Marriage requires mutual love and service, with the wife submitting to the headship of her husband as the Church submits to Jesus (Gen 2:18, 20; 1 Cor 11:3; Eph 5:21-23; Col 3:18; Tit 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1). Headship doesn’t determine value or worth, but defines one’s role in God’s creation.

II. A Mother. In marriage, man and woman become one physically in their children; one plus one equaling one (Gen 2:24). Motherhood is where a woman has her greatest impact and ministry, for how she raises her children shapes and defines the next generation (2 Tim 1:5; 3:14-17)! Family is her priority and home her primary sphere of ministry (1 Tim 2:13-15; Tit 2:5). The sins of materialism, illegitimate births, and divorce have upset a woman’s ability to fulfill her God-given role.

III. A Minister. In the OT, there were no female priests (Num 4:1-3; 8:23-26), on-going prophetesses, civil authorities, or writers of Biblical texts. There were women civil leaders, but they were given by God as a sign of His judgment (as were children oppressing adults) (1 Kings 16-21; 2 Chron 22-24; Is 3:12).
Unlike the Jewish rabbis, Jesus included women in His audience (Mt 13:33; Lk 15:8-10; Jn 4:4:1-27). Women supported and followed Him (55-Matt.27.56" class="scriptRef">Mt 27:55-56; Lk 8:1-3; 23:49, 55). They were the last to leave the cross and first to see Him resurrected (Lk 23:55; 24:1; Jn 20:11-18). Yet women never ministered with Him or for Him, nor did He commission them to preach, teach, or lead the church.
Following Jesus’ example, women have always had important roles in the ministry to the Church (Acts 1:12-14; 9:36-42; 16:13-15; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 1:5; 4:19), however, they are not to lead. All the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers in the New Testament were men. The only Biblical example of a female prophetess in the church was a false one (Rev 2:20). Philip’s virgin daughters prophesied, but were never given the title of prophet nor are we told they prophesied in the assembly (Acts 21:9). Writing the Bible was by men, and only men qualify as pastors/elders in the church (1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9).
Women absolutely worked with Paul (Acts 19:26; Rom 16:1-2; Phil 4:3), but none were church leaders: pastors, elders, or overseers (1 Cor 14:33-36). In fact, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul forbid women to lead or teach men in the church based partly on God’s intent in Creation and the Mosaic Law (1 Cor 14:34-36; 1 Tim 2:9-14).
In the local assembly, deacons are commissioned to minister to the material needs of believers, and a deacon’s wife has a special role with her husband in his work (Acts 6:1-8; 1 Tim 3:11). This role would be especially important in ministering to other women.
So are women forbidden ministry in the local assembly? Not at all! Besides their vital ministry of raising godly children, older women are responsible to teach practical godliness to younger women (1 Tim 5:14; Tit 2:4-5). Single women and widows have the ministry of serving the church in practical matters (1 Tim 5:10; Acts 9:36; 39). And women are called upon to sing and pray in church and be living witnesses to Jesus inside and outside the church meeting. These are all important forms of ministry.