|
Can a case be made that women can be called to any of the leadership positions of the church?
15
MAKING THE CASE
I’m sure in some court cases, evidence is such that there appears to be no doubt of someone’s guilt or innocence. And then the verdict is read, and no one can believe it. Some are elated, while others exhibit verbal expressions of anger and, in some instances, physical violence. I think this is one of those volatile cases.
For hundreds and thousands of years in most religious circles, it has been made clear that only men can occupy positions of leadership in the church. If this conclusion has direct evidence in Scripture, then so be it. I’m not of the opinion that societal norms and standards should influence and change a scripturally based perspective. However, I’m of the persuasion that if someone provides what they claim to be scriptural writings that are not contained in the completed canon of the sixty-six books of the Bible, it’s of the utmost importance that every word contained therein supports the original manuscripts. If there’s something mentioned that clearly contradicts Bible doctrine, then the entire writing should be discredited.
With that said, are we ready to try this case?
We’ll begin by providing both direct and circumstantial evidence that supports the view that only men are called to leadership positions in the New Testament church.
ONLY MEN ARE CALLED
Direct Evidence
● Each of the names of the leadership offices of the church is in the masculine gender. This indicates that the gender of those called to the spiritual positions of the New Testament church is males only.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Circumstantial Evidence
● Only males were allowed to occupy the various spiritual positions (Levites, priests, and high priest) of the priesthood and serve in the tabernacle or temple during the Age of Israel, which serves as a gender type for only males to occupy the spiritual leadership positions of the New Testament church.
Numbers 3:40, 45, 48 And the Lord said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
● Both Andronicus and Junia are in the male gender and were esteemed among the apostles; i.e., each of them was an apostle, which supports the argument that all apostles are male.
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
● Even though the female rendering (prophetess) of the male counterpart (prophet) is mentioned here, this woman clearly was not a prophetess. Scripture declares that she called herself such, without any confirmation by the Lord or the church, that this leadership position existed for women.
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
● The wives of pastors or deacons should reflect godly character.
1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
● Women were not allowed to teach in the early church because only men were called to these positions.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Timothy 2:11-12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
● The fact that Adam was formed first and Eve [was] formed from his rib intimates the subordinate nature of her rank. She was made to be his help meet (his servant; his "waiter, one who works under another."57).
Genesis 2:7, 22 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
● The husband is the head of the wife, meaning that he has authority over her. This also applies to the authority he has as to the office leadership gifts of the church as well.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
● As Christ is the ruler (has authority) over the man, the man is the ruler (has authority) over the woman; and God is the ruler (has authority) over Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
● Any man who leads inprayer or prophesying (proclaiming God’s message) should do so without wearing a covering (veil; turban) on his head because he is ministering to others in Christ’s stead. Any woman who leads inprayer or prophesying (proclaiming God’s message) in the church should do so wearing a covering (veil; turban) on her head because, just as in the home, this would indicate her subordinate role. And as such, she would only be allowed to lead others in church if she were given permission by one of the male leaders.
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
We’ll follow this up by providing circumstantial evidence that supports the view that women can also be called by God to the leadership positions in the New Testament church.
WOMEN ALSO ARE CALLED
Circumstantial Evidence
● It’s true that the gender of those called to the leadership positions of the New Testament church in the Book of Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 was males only, but this shouldn’t serve as the basis for concluding that only males are called to these spiritual leadership positions. Why not?
In the Book of 1 Timothy 3, we’re also told that a bishop (a pastor) has to be a male because the gender of the noun is masculine.
Conversely, in Acts 6, we’re told that seven men were assigned to care for the widows of the church; the designation of the name for that appointment, being that of deacon or deacons, was found in the Book of 1 Timothy 3. The word deacon or deacons are both in the masculine gender. Based on these findings, we could surmise that all deacons are male.
However, in the Book of Romans chapter 16, we’re told that a woman named Phebe was a servant of the church. This word servant is in the feminine gender and is derived from the same Greek word as the male designation for deacon or deacons. Even though the position of responsibility of a deaconess was only found once in the New Testament, this should make it clear by analogy that just because the names of the leadership offices in Ephesians 4:11 are masculine in gender, this doesn’t mean that there are no other words found elsewhere for these positions of leadership which are in the female gender.
Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
● While it’s true that only males were allowed to occupy the various spiritual positions (Levites, priests, and high priest) of the priesthood and serve in the tabernacle or temple during the Age of Israel, each dispensation, or time period, will unveil God’s gospel and doctrinal dissemination to be conveyed to the people living during that age. (Numbers 3:40; Numbers 3:45-48;
2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 10:19-20)
Acts 17:16, 19 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
● The following information is presented to show the infrequency of females being called to either a position of national or spiritual leadership during the Age of Israel.
1. Of the thirteen Judges of Israel, only one was a female whose name was Deborah. (Judges 4:1-24)
2. Of the thirty-nine kings from the Northern and Southern Kingdom of Israel, only one was a female, a queen named Athaliah. (2 Kings 11:1-16)
3. Of the one hundred plus prophets mentioned, at least 5 were female (i.e., a prophetess). Their names were Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14), Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:9), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), and an unknown name (Isaiah 8:3).
● The words must their wives from 1 Timothy 3:11 many believe refer to the wives of pastors or deacons could instead be talking about a second or third in a series, i.e., the series being of the office of bishop (pastor), the position of deacon, and the position/office of a deaconess/pastoress, which is based on the following information.
● The words Even so introduce a second or third in a series. The series here is of Church officials.58
● The words must their are not in the original manuscripts.
● The word wives could either mean women or wives.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
If we were to translate this verse according to what was unveiled, this could be rewritten as such.
1 Timothy 3:11 Even so the women “pastors or deacons” must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
● Both of the proper names, Andronicus and Junia, appear to be in the male gender. However, according to Roman names, Junia would not be a contraction (shortened form) for the male name Junianus. If this were the case, then many commentators believe they were husband and wife, who were esteemed among the apostles, thus implying that both of them were indeed apostles.
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
● Even though the female rendering prophetess of the male counterpart prophet is mentioned here, this woman clearly was not a prophetess of the Lord. However, the fact that she was not does, in fact, indicate that there were other women who were. Furthermore, there was no such mention that she couldn’t be a prophetess because there was no leadership position for females in the church.
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
● Women were not allowed to teach in the early church because when the assembly of saints met for fellowship, prayer, worship, praise, and hearing a message, it was at this time that some of them were continually interrupting the speaker of the message by asking questions, which brought about distractions and disruptions of church order. It was determined that if any didn’t understand something that was being taught or preached about, they should ask their husbands questions concerning such at home.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Furthermore, another reason why women were not allowed to teach at this time was because many of them were new converts in the church that had come directly out of paganism. And what they were attempting to do was incorporate their pagan customs and rituals into the Christian church. Therefore, what the apostle Paul was saying to Timothy at this time was, don’t allow any of these women to teach as there appears to be a group of them that have been telling others in the church that they could become godly not only in exchange for good works but also by accepting sexual license as Christian behavior.
1 Timothy 2:11-12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
● It’s true that Adam was formed first, and Eve was formed from his rib, but this has nothing to do with the exclusiveness of a male believer being called to a leadership position in the church. Eve was actually made as his help meet (a partner; a perfect resemblance of the man possessing neither inferiority nor superiority but being in all things like and equal to himself59). On the contrary, this would support the conjecture that a woman could be called to any of the leadership positions of the church.
Genesis 2:7, 22 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
● The husband is the head of the wife means that the husband is like Christ60; he is to be a Christ-like example to his wife.
Ephesians 5:23, 25-26 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
● The word head could be used metaphorically, of the authority or direction of God in relation to Christ, of Christ in relation to believing men, of the husband in relation to the wife.61 This implies not rank but voluntary submission.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
In other words, the direction of God the Father in terms of His plan being fulfilled for mankind is dependent on Christ’s voluntary response to His spiritual initiations. The direction of Christ to the Christian husband is based on his voluntary response to being filled with the Spirit. The direction of the Christian husband in terms of bringing about spiritual harmony in the marriage is dependent on him being filled with the Spirit and the wife’s voluntary response to his spiritual initiations. As Christ is the ruler of (gives spiritual guidance in relation to) the man (the husband), so the man is the ruler of (gives spiritual guidance in relation to) the woman, and God the Father is the ruler of (gives spiritual guidance in relation to) Christ.
● Any man who leads in prayer or prophesying should do so without wearing a covering (a turban) on his head because he is ministering to others in Christ’s stead. Any woman who leads in prayer or prophesying should do so while wearing a covering (a veil) on her head, because according to the customs of the culture at this time, a woman who did not wear a veil would, if married, be dishonoring her husband and the church assembly by giving the appearance to others that she had committed adultery or was involved in prostitution.
Remember, these declarations were based on the cultural customs of the time, which no longer apply to us today. However, keep in mind that even with these parameters in place, a woman was allowed to pray or prophesy.
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
The evidence has been presented. The prosecutor and defense attorneys are ready to give their closing arguments but wait! Before they do, an astonishing surprise has just happened. Do you know what this could be? This could change the outcome of the verdict. Direct evidence in support of a woman being called to a leadership position of the church arrived and is ready to be presented. If you are someone whose perspective supports the view that only males are called, you might say, this can’t be, there’s no such thing, it’s impossible, show me the evidence.
This evidence is ready to be shown to us in the next chapter.
Endnotes
57UBS.
58Weust.
59Adam Clarke’s Commentary.
60Weust.
61Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985).
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ITJ1wj
Website: http://bit.ly/1RQnYJ8
|
