GOING AGAINST PAULINE TEACHINGS: A STUDY OF THE ROLES OF PASTORS' WIVES IN NIGERIAN PENTECOSTALISM

The question of women's roles in Christian ministry has long been a subject of theological and practical debate, particularly in light of Pauline injunctions which appear to restrict women's participation in leadership. In the Nigerian Pentecostal context, pastors' wives have increasingly assumed visible roles in church administration, preaching, counselling, and spiritual leadership functions that seem to challenge or reinterpret Paul's teachings. This study explores how pastors' wives in Nigerian Pentecostalism navigate these roles and the implications for biblical interpretation and church leadership. The problem motivating this research lies in the growing phenomenon of pastors' wives occupying pastoral and leadership positions, especially in cases where they succeed their late husbands. This trend raises questions about the tension between Pauline teachings that emphasize female submission and silence in the church and the lived practices of Nigerian Pentecostal communities. The main aim of the study is to examine the roles of pastors' wives in Nigerian Pentecostalism and to evaluate how these roles align with or contradict Pauline instructions on women in ministry. The objectives include identifying the functions of pastors' wives, exploring interpretations of Pauline texts, assessing their impact on church growth, and contributing to wider theological discussions on gender and leadership within African Christianity. A socio-historical and qualitative research method was employed. Exegetical analysis was used to study Pauline epistles, while sociological tools such as interviews. observations, and documentary analysis were applied to Nigerian Pentecostal settings. Secondary sources, including books, journals, and online resources, were also consulted. Findings reveal that pastors' wives function not merely as supportive partners but as co-pastors, administrators, and spiritual leaders whose influence is crucial to church growth and stability. Their roles often reinterpret Pauline texts in light of cultural realities, thereby creating space for women's leadership in Pentecostalism. The study recommends a balanced theological approach that acknowledges Pauline concerns for order while recognizing the contemporary relevance of women's contributions to ministry. Nigerian Pentecostal churches are encouraged to develop inclusive leadership structures that value women's gifts without dismissing scriptural authority. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the evolving roles of pastors' wives highlight a dynamic interplay between scripture, culture, and practice. These roles, though sometimes seen as going against Pauline teachings, reveal the adaptability of Pentecostalism in negotiating gender, leadership, and theology within its Nigerian context