BIBLICAL MINISTRIES FOR WOMEN Rev. Prof. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, Th.D.. Ph.D. 1.   The general ministry of all baptized believers Every truly Christian person was anointed and appointed and called to the general ministry or office of all believers at his or her baptism. Matt. 28:19 & Acts. 8:12 cf, Ex.19:3-8 & Num, 11:29 & Joel 2:16,28-29 & Acts 2:17,38-39 & I Cor. 12:13-20,26 & Gal. 3:27-28 & Eph, 4:4-5,12-13,16 & I Pet, 2:9, So also Martin Luther, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger Catechism.¹ By  virtue  of  this  general  ministry,  all  Christians  are  to  be  Christ's  prophets  and priests and kings at all times and in everything they do. Hence, all female Christians too are "heirs together" with all of their Christian brothers, and. are themselves to be Christ's prophetsses and priestesses  and queens — all the time.  I Pet. 3:7 cf. I  Cor. 10:51  &  Eccl.  3:1-13  &  5:18-20  &  9:7-10.  Cf.  also  F.N.  Lee's  1977  Principles  of Biblical  Church  Government,  and  especially  the  section  there  on  The  Office  of  All Believers.  Indeed,  every  human  being  should  be  involved  in  serving  God  as  a "minister" alias a "servant" of the Lord. Rom, 13:4 cf, I Tim, 1:12 & I Pet, 4:10-11. 2.   The general ministry of all "sisters in Christ" Godly   Christian   women   conscientiously   occupying   the   general   office   of   all believers,  do  wonderful  work  for  the  Lord  and  His  people.  One  need  only  think  of many of the very "elect ladies" mentioned in Holy Scripture (cf. II John 1,5,13). For Sarah was the very "mother" of all truly Christian women — even as regards her respectful obedience to her husband Abraham. Cf. I Pet. 3:6 & Heb, 11:11. The penitent Rahab risked her very life to further the extension of God's Kingdom. Josh. 2 cf, Heb, 11:51 & Jas, 2:25. Under the influence of her godly mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth  even  abandoned  her  own  nationality  —  in  order  to  become  an  ancestress  of Jesus. Matt. 1 & Ruth chs. 1 to 4. And Esther Queen of Persia risked dethronement — rather than not protest the persecution of the people of God. Est. 4:14-16. Moreover,  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus  gladly  accepted  the  slander  of  evil  men  in exchange for the great privilege of bearing the Saviour in her own body. Luke 2:34-38 & John 8:18-42. Mary Magdalene and Johanna and Susanna and many other women "ministered"  to  Jesus  with  their  possessions  and  through  their  services,  both  during His lifetime and after His death. Luke 8:2-3 & 23:56 to 24:10. Both  the  female  tentmaker  Priscilla  and  the  wealthy  businesswoman  Lydia  — placed their homes  at the disposal of Paul and other preachers. Acts 16:14,15,40  & 18:2-26.  And  Timothy's  mother  Eunice  and  grandmother  Lois  gave  that  dedicated                                                 ¹1968  Reformed  Ecumenical  Synod:  Report,  p.  152;  Belgic  Confession  art.  28  &  31;  Heidelberg Catechism Q. 32; Westminster Confession of Faith 28:1; Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 167.