Yes, it is generally desired by God for men to preach and teach. But God will certainly use women also, especially if there are a lack of workers.
The passage in 1 Timothy 2 says this:
“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” (1 Timothy 2:9-15)
Let’s look closely at the apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy. First, Paul wanted women to be modest in dress (not flashy, showing off, or wearing see-through/too short/too tight clothing). Women need to adorn themselves with good works. Their legacy can live on through their children, whom they can also teach. (An example of this is a famous proverb, which a woman taught her son King Lemuel. It is Proverbs 31, which describes what a wonderful woman is like.)
Paul also wanted women to receive instruction. He did not allow women to teach a man. The wording used here is: “I do not allow a woman to teach…”
And Paul gave two reasons for this. The first reason is the order of creation. Adam was created before Eve. In our society, the first created or first born usually receives greater responsibility and privilege. So also does Adam (or man) receive more responsibility and privilege, because he was the first created.
A similar idea was present when Jacob wanted Esau’s birthright and blessing. Being firstborn is a coveted position. Parents usually gave more to the eldest in ancient Jewish society. This is still true in many societies today. So similarly, Adam being the first created held the first position.
The second reason Paul gave for women to be submissive is that Eve was deceived and fell into transgression first. When Eve gave the forbidden fruit to Adam, she led by bad example. So, because Eve took the lead and did not do well, as punishment, God gave the lead to Adam.
God said to the woman:
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)
Ever since then, in general, men have taken leadership instead of women. While the punishment of death came through sin, the punishment of being ruled by men (or one’s father, brother, or husband) also came. This came about because Eve, the first woman, did not lead well. So the leadership was given to men.
However, women can rise to the occasion when more workers are needed. There are many examples of such women in the Bible. For example, Deborah was a female judge of Israel, who was also a wise woman. (A judge at the time was a leader who made major decisions for the people.)
“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (Judges 4:4-5)
There were also women prophetesses like Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9).
Now a prophetess relays words from God. What she says is also teaching from God. Who can say that a prophetess does not teach? But words from God are teachings. So God used female prophetesses to teach too.
There was also Priscilla, a leader of a church. She and her husband Aquila had a church in their house (Acts 18:2-3, Romans 16:3-5).
“Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” (Acts 18:24-26)
In this passage, it is clear that Priscilla was involved in teaching Apollos along with Aquila.
And let's not forget the Samaritan woman at the well. She was an adulteress and had many husbands. Yet after speaking with Jesus, she ran through her town, telling people about Christ. "So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 'Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?' They went out of the city, and were coming to Him." (John 4:28-30)
Wasn't this woman one of the first evangelists?
It was certainly Paul’s personal opinion that he did not allow a woman to teach in church. While this is generally God’s preference also due to the two reasons mentioned above, when the occasion required, God certainly blessed and selected special, talented women who could teach and lead as well.
This rule of women not being teachers is not like God’s eternal commandments. Discipline lasts for a short time, but God’s blessings last forever. We always need to remember that God’s blessings last forever, even though currently many men rule over women because of original sin. But God’s original intent has always been that He is not partial to any and that all are equal before Him.
“For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)
“…The same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him…” (Romans 10:12)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Finally, God often likes to turn things around. Even though it is generally true that the eldest receive the greatest blessings, it was not the case with Jacob and Esau. Jacob was younger than Esau, but Jacob obtained an eternal blessing from God.
Similarly, in the kingdom of heaven, submission is not a bad thing. If a person submits to others willingly, it is highly noble and honorable in the kingdom of God. Women have a greater opportunity to learn submission than men. Instead of thinking of this as weakness (which is what the world thinks), women can learn to be strong and more Christ-like.
Just as Jesus submitted Himself in obedience and is highly exalted with a name above all names, so all women who learn to humble themselves in Christ will also be highly exalted.
Jesus said the following:
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
The rulers and leaders of this world exercise authority over people and rule over them. But in the kingdom of heaven, the opposite is true. Whoever wishes to be great should be a servant and slave to all. Whoever submits himself or herself to serve others will be highly exalted just as Christ submitted Himself.
The eternal command is this, which applies to all, male or female:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
It is courageous, noble, and honorable to do so.