This question concerning the role of women in the church is one of the most divisive within the body of Christ. Some denominations have split and others founded based sorely on the role of women in the church.
When approaching a doctrinal issue like this I like to employ two main principles.
- The Whole Counsel of the word – This means that we don’t build a doctrine on a single verse. We must first go over the whole bible from Genesis to Revelation and consider everything that God says and does, and all the examples that God gives us in relation to that doctrine.
- Preserve the harmony of the scripture – The bible does not contradict itself so we never interpret one scripture in a way that contradicts other scriptures. We must maintain the harmony of the scriptures.