Chapter 15

1Benotp we declare unto you that great is the condemnation of those that thus do these deeds.! We command you not to do this,? for this thing is a transgression of the law. For the head of the woman is the man, who is appointed unto the priesthood. We then ought not to transgress against the Creator, leave the head and follow the member. For the woman is the member of the man, and came forth from him; and from her children are born. Because He said unto her, ‘‘He is thy lord,” as we have already said, suffer not the women to admonish or teach, or execute the office of the priesthood, which is not commanded in the law. And he that doeth thus hath transgressed against God, and is as those that are without knowledge, even those that appoint women to be priestesses to graven images of women. Such women ® keep far away from the institution’ of Christ. Wherefore women ought never® to baptize anyone. If it were lawful for women to baptize, our Lord Jesus Christ would have been baptized by His mother, and would not have been baptized by John; and He would not have sent us (only) into the world to baptize, but would have sent women to baptize along with us. We too command you that they do no such thing. Even if they are very wise, and have faith, and know the Scriptures, we do not permit them? to baptize or preach the Gospel.