Women in Ministry 21st Century Response

Women in Ministry
A look at Headship and Equality
Rev. William Hofer


I.  PALIN PREDICAMENT

        Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin could be “a heartbeat away” from the presidency.  If she were to succeed a President McCain she would be:
  • The commander in chief of the strongest military on earth
  • The chief executive of the strongest nation on earth
  • Able to appoint justices to the highest Court in the United States
  • Able to appoint Cabinet members
  • Able to establish foreign policy
  • Able to veto congressional legislation
But in many places in the Christian world she couldn’t do what I am doing right now, i.e. give a message from the Bible to an audience that includes adult males. Why?  Because we have been taught that women are:
  • Prohibited by Scripture from teaching men (although she can teach women and children)
  • Weaker vessels and not capable (Rabbinical teaching, “it is better to teach a dog than a woman.”)
  • In violation of the natural order of creation if they do so
II.   PAUL’S TEACHING IN I COR. 11:3-13

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God…”                   I Cor. 11:3

Kephalē – “head” as in the upper part of the physical body

  1. Head in this passage does not mean      “SOURCE”   
  2. Head in this passage does not mean      “AUTHORITY”
  3. Head in this passage does not mean      “COVERING”
Creation Order and Primogeniture

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and many others are examples of the younger being used by God to teach/lead older siblings and others.

        Hebrew – ezer or ‘azar                      “a helper” 

Eve was created as a “helper” for Adam.  The word does not mean inferior or “someone of lesser rank.”  This word is used of God (Ps. 10:14; 37:40; Isa. 41:10).
Deborah, Jael, the Samaritan woman, Mary, Priscilla, Phoebe, and many others are examples of women being used by God to teach/lead men and others.

III.   PAUL’S TEACHING IN I TIM. 2:11-14

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have [exercise – KJV] authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”                      I Tim. 2:11-14

This seems very straight forward, but is it?  I have some questions regarding this passage.  For instance….

  1. Why is the plural “women” used in verses 9, 10 and again in 15 (3 times) but singular “woman” used in verses 11-14 (3 times)?
  1. What does it mean to “exercise authority over?”
  1. Why does Paul talk about the transgression of Eve but not the sin of Adam since Adam’s sin was much more serious (see Rom. 5:12)?
  1. Does “quietly” (or “in silence”) mean wordless?  Or soundless?  Or something else?
Some Definitions:

Greek – gune
                                102 times in the NT as “woman” or “women”
                                  96 times in the NT as “wife” or “wives”

Greek – aner    
“A man, or adult male, in various relationships, including ‘husband’ (“…and to Jacob was born Joseph, the husband, ‘aner’ of Mary…” Mt. 1:16) 

#1.  The reason Paul switches from the plural “women” in verses 9, 10 to the singular is to communicate that he is no longer talking about women in general but wives in particular.  His focus here is not to prohibit women from speaking in church, including teaching, but that wives are to be quiet and submissive to their husbands.  The plural women in v. 15 is actually supplied by the translators so it makes sense regarding childbirth.  Paul acknowledges in I Cor. 11:5 that women are allowed to pray and prophesy out loud in the church (and “sing” and “testify”?)  so obviously he is not arguing here for absolute silence.

#2.    The phrase “exercise authority over” comes from the single Greek word, authenteo.  What does it mean?  No one knows!  It is the only use of this word in the entire NT so we have nothing to compare it to.  Lots of people think they know what it means.  They are convinced that it means a woman can not teach a man spiritual things.  But that conviction does not come from the definition of authenteo.  The fact is, no Greek scholars, no Bible commentaries, no theologians can be sure what it means.  One of the rules of hermeneutics is, “Do not use a difficult passage to explain a clear one.”  I Timothy 2:9-15 is very difficult.  No one I know argues that a woman can not wear jewelry or braided hair today but that is what verse 9 says.  No one I know argues that a woman is saved by childbirth but that is what verse 15 says.  I prefer to use clear passages to explain difficult ones.  For instance, the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19, 20) is to the entire church when it says, “…go and make disciples, baptizing them…and teaching them all that I have commanded you.”  Nowhere is it hinted this commission is for males only.  In Heb. 5 and 6 we are told that “you should have been teachers by now….”  Nowhere is it hinted this is only for males.  In Ephesians 4, I Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12, and I Peter 4:10, 11 we are told of spiritual gifts but nowhere are we told that they are gender specific.  It is not violating any Scripture to suggest that some women may have the gift of teaching, or evangelism, or pastor.  It is not violating any Scripture to suggest that she is free to exercise those gifts to build up the body of Christ, even when males are present. 

#3.  It is precisely this link of Adam and Eve that lends credence to the interpretation that this should be “wife” (gune) and “husband” (aner) rather than “women” and “men” because Eve’s transgression was judged by God to result in a constant struggle for the wife to attempt to wield control over the husband.  There is no warrant for saying all women should submit to all men just because the order of creation.  That would mean my wife must submit to other women’s husbands.  That would mean all women must submit to all men…a preposterous and offensive idea.

#4.  “Quietly” (or “silence” in some translations) does not mean wordless or soundless.  It is the translation of the Greek word hesuchia which means “peaceable” or “tranquil.”  As mentioned earlier women were an important part of worship services which included praying and prophesying.  What Paul is teaching here is that wives are to be peaceable and discuss controversy or misunderstandings respectfully with their own husbands. 

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”     I Cor. 12:7, 11
(No hint of this command being limited to males.)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [anthropos – “mankind whether male or female”] of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”                                             II Tim. 3:16-4:2

(No hint that females are exempt from this duty.)

  • I offer this teaching in an attempt to be accurate
  • To empower women in the Church to fulfill their calling.  
  • And to reject the feminism that tries to empower woman against men.
  • While women are excluded from holding the office of Elder, they are often given the gift of pastor-teacher and are not prohibited from using it in the Church no matter the make up of the audience. 
First Published August 17, 2008

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