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“I have recently decided to sing on our Praise Team, which involves me being up on the stage. For a lifelong Church of Christ girl, this is a big leap! After much prayer and study, I feel that it is OK for me to do this, but I can't articulate this to my dad (who is an elder in the church I grew up in). He goes back to the passages in Timothy and Corinthians about women's roles, and I have a hard time explaining my new-found freedom in Christ that I have. What is your view?!”
“I am in my late 40's, happily married for 26 years, and a lifelong member of Churches of Christ. I have come to the sincere conclusion that it is time for us to begin hearing the voices of women in our assemblies: praying, reading Scripture, teaching; indeed, doing whatever God has gifted them to do. Do you believe I'm wrong for moving in that direction in my thinking?”
IArguments To Amplify The Role Of Women • Women of NT prophesied: Ac.2:18; 21:9; 1 Co.11:5 • These passages do not show (authorize) women prophesying in the assembly • These passages do not permit a woman to usurp authority over a man
Ac.18:26 • A woman may teach a man • Theytook him aside • If this were public correction, Priscilla could not have participated • They explained • Mary, Lk.24:1-9 • Private instruction • She did not exercise authority over them
Col.3:16 • A woman may teach a man in the assembly (by singing) • 1 Co.14:34-35, a woman may not speak in the assembly
1 Tim.2:12, a summary • A woman may not (1) teach or (2) usurp authority over a man • Ac.4:18 • Some make this verse contradict Tit.2:3 . . . (women mustteach) • The NT gives two restrictions: 1. not to speak in the assembly 2. not to usurp authority over a man
Phoebe, Ro.16:1-2 1. A church official (deaconess) • But the word means servant (Mt.23:11; Jn.2:5) • Only context can determine when the word bears an “official” meaning – Ph.1:1; 1 Tim.3:8 • What are the qualifications for a deaconess? • Select man to preach meeting; does this make him an officer?
2. If the church assisted her, she had authority over the church – But see 2 Tim.4:17 3.If she was a helper of many, she must have exercised authority, discipline, and oversight • But the word (benefactor) does not imply oversight • She helped Paul • Ac.16:15
Junia, Ro.16:7, a woman and apostle 1. Gender: Can be either masc. or fem. • Hendriksen: both names are masc. • “Probably for Junias = Junianus a man’s name, though not a common one” (Parry) • “This is Junias, a man, not Junia (Julia), a woman, wife or sister of Andronicus” (Le) • ESV: Junia (fem.); Junias (masc.) in ftnt • NASB: Junias (masc.) • It really doesn’t matter
2. Grammar • She was mentioned w. honor in circle of apostles “…can mean simply that they were famous in the circle of the apostles in the technical sense”(ATR) • “They are well known to the apostles”(ESV)
3. Apostle: • The twelve apostles are not in the picture here (H) • The word often means messenger (not one of the 12, but one sent by a church) • Ac.14:14, Barnabas, sent by Antioch, (13:2-4) • 2 Co.8:23; Ph.2:25
Paul compared role of NT women to OT women, 1 Co.14:34 • “Since the law allowed women prophets, women today may preach” • The facts: • Miriam, Ex.15:20: women • Deborah, Jg.4:5; 5:7 • Huldah, 2 K.22:14-20 • Anna, Lk.2:36-38
The Temple • Josephus described the temple: • “There was a partition built for the women that separated them from the men; this was the proper place wherein they were to worship” (Wars 5.5.2) • Where is the proof that she prophesied publicly, before mixed audiences?
Euodia and Syntyche, Ph.4:2-3 • “These women ‘labored’ w. Paul as his ‘fellow workers’; this means they were in a position of authority like the apostle” • What proves too much, proves nothing: • 1 Co.3:9, we are God’sfellow-workers • Lk.8:1-3, these women helped Jesus
Ga.3:28, if no distinction between M & F, women may do what men do • Paul is speaking of their spiritual status, not their function • May the slave rule the master? • 1 Co.12:19, not “all one” in every way! 20-21, 28-30, different in functions • If no difference between male and female, are homosexual marriages scriptural?? • May men have babies?
Paul’s writings reflect Graeco-Roman culture • This assertion: • discards the entire NT • rejects Paul’s claims that his views of women are based on the Lord’s revelation (1 Co. 14:37) • ignores Paul’s appeal to creation principles. Gn.9
Creation Principles • 1 Co.11:2-3, 7-9 • 1 Co.14:34-38 • No wonder the law said it; it was a timeless truth • MDR, Mal.2:16; Mt.19 • 1 Tim.2:11-15
IIA Summary of 1 Co.14 • Tongues speakers, 27-28 and prophets, 29-33 – partial restrictions • Not so, the women, 33b-35: • 34, prohibition: let [your] women keep silent; no “if,” 28, 30) • 34, state: they are to be submissive • 34, basis: as the law also says. V. 21. Gn.3:16? • 35, extent: let them ask their own husbands at home • 35, reason: it is shameful for women to speak in church