I suffer not a woman to teach (over a man) or have authority over a man, but to be...

[GreenNnice]

I suffer not a woman to teach or have authority over a man but to be silent -- 1 Timothy 2:12

What does this mean?

I think it means: woman are not to teach over (the choice) of a man who is equally qualified.
I think it means: women are not to have authority (of a church congregation) over a man.

Women are to be silent, let the leader who is USUALLY a man OVER a woman, speak.

Keep in mind that Paul goes on in verse 13 to say that Adam (man) was formed first, then Eve (woman). This speaks of order. It does NOT tell me that a woman can NEVER be over a whole congregation of women AND MEN. Nope, does not tell me that. Why would it? It doesn't.
What is the ending of this all? First, verse 14 says that Eve transgressed. Now, this does NOT say that Adam did not transgress, oh, NO! Adam did transgress, but Adam's transgression was SIN !!!!

Green, what was Eve's transgression? Eve was guilty of DECEPTION !!! Imagine that

Now, who do you want in charge of your church congregation, a sinner or a deceiver Either/or is the right answer, eh, Christ peeps.

I'm sooo glad you are understanding this verse better now, the Lord leads, doesn't He

Again, Paul is very gentle with his words of women, he then tells them they will be saved in 'child-bearing.' This is to let them know, that though he believes that Christ is head of church, then, man over woman, as Gal. 3:28 speaks, the woman is going to be saved by her womanly way of child-bearing.
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The argument of this being Paul's opinion that women are not to be chosen over a man for a preaching position I have a MUCH harder time agreeing, for Paul's words were inspired to the page of his epistles by God Himself. And, although I am not a legalist (no, you won't go to hell, guys, if you have long hair, or, the lake of fire, or ?? Will you ? ) so won't go there but, yes, it is truth that God's words in ALL of Scripture, by ALL His chosen authors, are just that, God's words.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I'm confused by the layout of your post.. are you arguing for or against?

 

[kenisyes]

Of course, in Greek, a female teacher would no longer be called a woman. The Greek word implies sexual companionship, moreso than in English. She would be a teacheress.

 

[Therapon]

Like a woman's head-covering, this is one of those doctrines that forces us to decide whose true servants we are going to be, servents of God or of a Church's "political correctness." As Watch Nee once wrote, "to be found pleasing in God's sight, find ways to obey."

 

[nathan3]

GreenNnice ; I wounder why you would start this Thread when there is already a Thread about this in use ....


You mentioned Adam and Eve. But you left out the verse ; That God said: The man and women shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24 KJV). How in the world if two are actually one, are you going to have half of the person be silent?

I can't help but notice all the scripture that is neglected; that would be in favor of women teachers today. And I notice some twisting of Paul's teachings because no one bothered to look up this in the Greek. Or No one takes into account the circumstances surrounding that time Paul wrote these things. They should be considered also.

 

[MaggieMye]

I find it SO interesting to see that most people who start threads on this topic are MEN and not married; nor do they remember that in scripture there were female prophets.
IMO, these men have issues concerning women. If a woman is called by God to teach or preach and a man has a problem with that then he can go elsewhere. But here is the key: IF a woman is called to teach/preach/minister by God...do you REALLY THINK that He would choose to put someone in that position that would 'lord it over' ANYONE???
Character is KEY.
Maggie

 

[hopesprings]

I find it SO interesting to see that most people who start threads on this topic are MEN and not married; nor do they remember that in scripture there were female prophets.
IMO, these men have issues concerning women. If a woman is called by God to teach or preach and a man has a problem with that then he can go elsewhere. But here is the key: IF a woman is called to teach/preach/minister by God...do you REALLY THINK that He would choose to put someone in that position that would 'lord it over' ANYONE???
Character is KEY.
Maggie

I'm sure that there are some women that feel called to preach, and do fall into the trap of 'lording it over' others. I'm sure that there are men who do this too. Women have the ability to connect in a different way then men (sometimes), so there are benefits to having a woman preacher. But, I think that there are reasons why God instructed that women are not to teach men. It is telling that many female preachers feel a need to justify the fact that they are preachers in the first place. I honestly don't know where I stand on this issue....it brings to mind 'anything you can do, i can do better'....lol

Your right tho...it is interesting that most of these threads are started by men...hmmm...i wonder why??

 

[CDavid]

God is bias. He does discriminate. He is not the creator of ERA, and does not recognize the authority of the NOW. God does not choose divorcees, polygamist, women or single men for the office of bishop or deacon. As Paul says, these offices holders must be the husband of one wife. This does not mean they cannot be ministers. All Christians are ordained ministers. I'm sure the PC crowd will now be offended. Sorry, if truth hurts. But, it is very seldom that the truth is politically correct. And political correctness is seldom true.

 

[danschance]

People who post topics like would never of accepted Deborah as a judge over Israel.

 

[FORHISGLORY]

This isn't much of a debate. The Bible is clear that God appoints men to lead and teach His word to congregations. Paul is very consistant ! God doesn't allow a woman to teach a man or a congregation. Women can teach other women and children(Titus). God isn't the author of confusion. A women delivering a message(a prophetess) isn't the same as a woman having aurthority over a man or a congragation. You seem to be causing confusion concerning Timothy chapter two verses 11 through 15. This passage goes back to the garden and God lays down some consequences. Women aren't to have authority over men. This isn't God's design !

 

[Therapon]

With all due respect, you err not knowing the Scipture.God's commands about women teaching men have absolutly nothing to do with a persons sex, everything to do with men being types of Chtist and women being types of the Church. But that is not the issue. The real question is this: are you willing to obey God's word regardless of what it says or will you rebel rebel against Him?

 

[GreenNnice]

Women are not the first choice, hopesprung, that is what is being said in 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

Man is first choice, then woman. Why? Because Eve was formed second, after Adam. That is the order.

Eve was deceived by Satan, not Adam. Why? I don't know why, that's Scripture, but I do know that Adam SINNED, not Eve, she just WAS deceived.

* Correction to my opening post: Eve was NOT the deceiver, she was 'the deceived.' Satan did ALL the work, she just believed Satan's lie, after she KNEW better, 'God said we can eat out of every tree and herb of the field but one, this one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when we do we will surely die.'

I don't know why this is so but this PROVES the order, and, man is to preach, teach, have authority choice OVER A WOMAN chosen. Man first choice, woman is second, among TWO equally gendered bishops, a MAN, according to Paul, who, yes!, is breathing every word from His mouth that God prescribed, I believe, even though the men should not have long hair is a one for some guys to scoff at, but, yeah, the Lord leads, and, the Spirit DOES sometimes appoint a dynamic woman to LEAD a ministry. Joyce Meyers is a good example, and, I could care less about her doctrine beliefs of YOU believing it, there are ALWAYS going to be some saying she speaks from the devil or is going to hell for not believing in freewill instead of total depravity or blah, blah, blah, makes NO difference to me, the point is, she is APPOINTED by God to preach over women and , yes!, men, too

Order. Order. Order. We are all the SAME, Galations 3:28 tells us, too, but it also says the ORDER, Christ-->man-->woman.

That's one example, there are many women today leading churches, a few, anyway, not many, actually, because men are FIRST in the order but God will do things for His good will and pleasure and a church of a bunch of abused women mostly in it just maybe NEEDS a woman to pastor them, and, the few men in it too, I don't know, I am just saying, God rules and His way is law and His order is true and that is what Paul is speaking of here. Order Man is first choice OVER a congregation and woman is second, because Adam was made first and because Eve was deceived, which is a weakness of things saying about women over men because men, LOL, just sin, like Adam, but are strong-willed, and, more unable to be deceived than women, THIS is why men are FIRST. Miladies, I am NOt bashing you, just speaking Scripture .

Sorry, if I say something offending

I love you, all, and, men, you too, I love ya, man

 

[GreenNnice]

I'm confused by the layout of your post.. are you arguing for or against?

jimdig, women are not to speak OVER a man, what is said in the OP is that man is the first choice, a woman to pastor a congregation is not to be first choice , or, 'over a man' as choice.

Verses 13,14,15 all solidify this idea of order, man first, then woman, and, woman deceived, NOT man. 'Course, man sinned, NOT woman

Both imperfect, but the more imperfect nature and more DANGEROUS nature is of woman who is INCLINED to be deceived and carrying out the position of pastor by a man, as FIRST CHOICE, for this reason, should be understood.
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Here too for anyone that wants to listen and to change all you qUCIK voters of 'no,' LOL, the thread was done and within 5 hours there were five NO's. Well, let's git ya to 'yes,' OK, don't worry, yuck, yuck, yuck (*green, you are sooo silly), you can still change yer mind


But, here is the verse: I suffer not a woman to teach (over a man) . NOw, let's stop there. This COULD be speaking of this indirect ORDER too, instead of the direct 'pyramid' speaking order of a pastor or teacher, for that matter, or ANY position of authority in the church going to a man FIRST, a woman second....


'Over a man' could be saying this, now listen carefully, voters : I suffer not a woman to teach over a man.

Now, when you are in a college class and when someone SPEAKS OVER YOU , what does this do , this reduces/mitigates the authority of the one speaking, right?


So, Paul is saying here, perhaps, give me yer feedback, Christ peeps, won't ya, that a woman is not to speak OVER a man who is TEACHING them or others, and, the same goes for having authority spoken over a man's authority, the man, again, is FIRST and women are not to be trying to dominate the conversation when a man is speaking to them. They are to be what? Silent

 

[kenisyes]

People who post topics like would never of accepted Deborah as a judge over Israel.

And to add to what you say, Barak didn't like it either. Read Judges 4 if you don't remember how that one worked out. One must wonder if God will do the same to men today who do not accept the women he sends in His name.

 

[hopesprings]

Women are not the first choice, hopesprung, that is what is being said in 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

Man is first choice, then woman. Why? Because Eve was formed second, after Adam. That is the order.

Eve was deceived by Satan, not Adam. Why? I don't know why, that's Scripture, but I do know that Adam SINNED, not Eve, she just WAS deceived.

* Correction to my opening post: Eve was NOT the deceiver, she was 'the deceived.' Satan did ALL the work, she just believed Satan's lie, after she KNEW better, 'God said we can eat out of every tree and herb of the field but one, this one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when we do we will surely die.'

I don't know why this is so but this PROVES the order, and, man is to preach, teach, have authority choice OVER A WOMAN chosen. Man first choice, woman is second, among TWO equally gendered bishops, a MAN, according to Paul, who, yes!, is breathing every word from His mouth that God prescribed, I believe, even though the men should not have long hair is a one for some guys to scoff at, but, yeah, the Lord leads, and, the Spirit DOES sometimes appoint a dynamic woman to LEAD a ministry. Joyce Meyers is a good example, and, I could care less about her doctrine beliefs of YOU believing it, there are ALWAYS going to be some saying she speaks from the devil or is going to hell for not believing in freewill instead of total depravity or blah, blah, blah, makes NO difference to me, the point is, she is APPOINTED by God to preach over women and , yes!, men, too

Order. Order. Order. We are all the SAME, Galations 3:28 tells us, too, but it also says the ORDER, Christ-->man-->woman.

That's one example, there are many women today leading churches, a few, anyway, not many, actually, because men are FIRST in the order but God will do things for His good will and pleasure and a church of a bunch of abused women mostly in it just maybe NEEDS a woman to pastor them, and, the few men in it too, I don't know, I am just saying, God rules and His way is law and His order is true and that is what Paul is speaking of here. Order Man is first choice OVER a congregation and woman is second, because Adam was made first and because Eve was deceived, which is a weakness of things saying about women over men because men, LOL, just sin, like Adam, but are strong-willed, and, more unable to be deceived than women, THIS is why men are FIRST. Miladies, I am NOt bashing you, just speaking Scripture .

Sorry, if I say something offending

I love you, all, and, men, you too, I love ya, man

I am never offended by anything that you say, Green! Your post makes complete sense to me. I have a problem when women in a congregation demand a female pastor over a male pastor (some women in my church did this). Women preachers can be amazing to listen to, and even though I'm not personally a fan of Joyce Meyers, she is a good example of a woman called to lead.

Women can be very strong willed too, so I don't know that I necessarily agree with your point there. I think about it more in the sense of Eve being deceived. Women tend to base their perceptions off of emotion, where men tend to be more logical and analytical (speaking in general, of course )...I think that is why women can be more easily deceived, like in the case of Eve...because we are more prone to follow our emotions - or as some say, our heart. That is how we relate to the world. That is how God made us. That is what gives us the ability to be good mothers and wives...we see the emotional need and want to fill it.

But, I don't think that knowing Jesus is entirely an emotional experience, and that is why men should be (as you said) first choice for leadership. Women who become preachers, also have to be careful that they do not end up in a power struggle for leadership.


hopesprings

 

[GreenNnice]

I am never offended by anything that you say, Green! Your post makes complete sense to me. I have a problem when women in a congregation demand a female pastor over a male pastor (some women in my church did this). Women preachers can be amazing to listen to, and even though I'm not personally a fan of Joyce Meyers, she is a good example of a woman called to lead.

Women can be very strong willed too, so I don't know that I necessarily agree with your point there. I think about it more in the sense of Eve being deceived. Women tend to base their perceptions off of emotion, where men tend to be more logical and analytical (speaking in general, of course )...I think that is why women can be more easily deceived, like in the case of Eve...because we are more prone to follow our emotions - or as some say, our heart. That is how we relate to the world. That is how God made us. That is what gives us the ability to be good mothers and wives...we see the emotional need and want to fill it.

But, I don't think that knowing Jesus is entirely an emotional experience, and that is why men should be (as you said) first choice for leadership. Women who become preachers, also have to be careful that they do not end up in a power struggle for leadership.


hopesprings

Women pastors will give men wisdom but only IF the Lord leads them to that appointment, so to speak. 'Course, this is true of men,too. Called, <--this is the operative word. The Spirit calls man to do His work.


You can read Scripture all day long, until you are blue in the face, but IF you are not hearkening to His leading then it's going to be a bleu, blue, cheesy kind of relationship with Him, YOU need to be led by His Spirit, and, ALL truth, not just scripture, but ALL TRUTH of our lives is revealed by Him, which is how we walk, how we talk, how we move, what we should be doing is PRAYING, delving into His words of Scripture and understanding how He LITERALLY moves our lives as we move and do things for His glory.


Very simple, eh, hopesprung, very simple, indeed, and, yes, we are to ACCEPT whatever His leading us to is; this is why I get SCARED to DEATH for those who think that the Word will tell them ALL they need to know, for they do not know Him then, because the Word needs flesh to it and OUR LIVES movement, if you will, is HOW we understand the 100% truth of the Word of God

Yes, be VERY wary of a church that is pushing their agenda of a woman pastor; I can say quite confidently that it would be a pretty extraordinary situation for a woman to be VOTED in by the board and congregation to pastor OVER a man, but, if no one is the one for moving that church like the Lord wants it moved then THAT woman is who is needed.
Bottom line: We want God's choice, don't we. Israel had God Himself leading them and what did they do? Complain. "We want our own king over us, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada...' And, so, God gave them Saul ! Wow ! What a great leader Saul was, ended up dying on his own sword and did all kinds of great leadership things (*rolling my eyes) like call on spirits to show him 'his best life now.' Want what and who God wants for you?

How will I know, green? He will show you. God's divine sovereignty will show you the best path, sometimes, seemingly, the wrong path looking, to take
_____________
This is a little off base from my thread, but after my pastor of 40 years, hopesprung, retired, a new pastor was seeked, and, the board went off and got this crackerjack pastor from back east (my church is in Washington state) and he was the cat and the caboodle too, he was a renaissance pastor, knew everything to say, dressed to the nines, spoke in a thick southern accent, and, was a pastor of a great big church, just like my church in WA.

He was the pick, or, the other pick was my church's assistant pastor, a young buc of a dude, who grew up in the church , pastored the middle school kids Wednesday night shindig a few years, pastored the young adults singles group I was in (this dude same age as me too, btw) and then was suddenly the only OTHER candidate to take over our pastor's 40 years of dynamic ministry and, yes, our church was on tv, TBN, on Sunday mornings. So, dynamic we had and this guy back east was DYNAMIC. The dude my age was just homegrown and hadn't done more than a few sermons for us in times regular pastor on vacation or giving himself a break for a week, etc.


But, guess what happened, hopesprung!!

The vote happened by the board, and, they chose.......the guy back east. IT was just a bout a signed sealed and delivered deal. Right?


Well, guess what the congregation STILL had to vote, and, wow, I started praying because I knew our assistant pastor seemed right to me, the other guy was like a white knight swooping in to me, plenty dynamic, good message, but the spirit was not leading me to believe he was the right choice. And, guess what! For the vote, the back east pastor MISSED being voted in by less than HALF a percent, as I recall, I know it was real close, but that right there showed me God had a plan for the new appointment of our DYNAMIC tele-evangelist church and it was a ruddy little boy with a sling, OH WAIT!, that's David, sorry , it was our young buc dude assistant pastor who has NOW been pastor of my church for 10 years now!! And, the church is vibrant, growing, and , has 4 service a week (3 sunday, one saturday!) and classes during week.

God appoints, people, I hope you liked, loved, rather, this story

 

[Powemm]

Answer: There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors/preachers. As a result, it is very important to not see this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and there are men who believe women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation.

The Word of God proclaims, &#8220;A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent&#8221; (1 Timothy 2:11-12). In the church, God assigns different roles to men and women. This is a result of the way mankind was created and the way in which sin entered the world (1 Timothy 2:13-14). God, through the apostle Paul, restricts women from serving in roles of teaching and/or having spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors over men, which definitely includes preaching to, teaching, and having spiritual authority.

There are many &#8220;objections&#8221; to this view of women in ministry. A common one is that Paul restricts women from teaching because in the first century, women were typically uneducated. However, 1 Timothy 2:11-14 nowhere mentions educational status. If education were a qualification for ministry, the majority of Jesus' disciples would not have been qualified. A second common objection is that Paul only restricted the women of Ephesus from teaching (1 Timothy was written to Timothy, who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus). The city of Ephesus was known for its temple to Artemis, a false Greek/Roman goddess. Women were the authority in the worship of Artemis. However, the book of 1 Timothy nowhere mentions Artemis, nor does Paul mention Artemis worship as a reason for the restrictions in 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

A third common objection is that Paul is only referring to husbands and wives, not men and women in general. The Greek words in the passage could refer to husbands and wives; however, the basic meaning of the words refers to men and women. Further, the same Greek words are used in verses 8-10. Are only husbands to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing (verse 8)? Are only wives to dress modestly, have good deeds, and worship God (verses 9-10)? Of course not. Verses 8-10 clearly refer to all men and women, not only husbands and wives. There is nothing in the context that would indicate a switch to husbands and wives in verses 11-14.

Yet another frequent objection to this interpretation of women in ministry is in relation to women who held positions of leadership in the Bible, specifically Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah in the Old Testament. This objection fails to note some significant factors. First, Deborah was the only female judge among 13 male judges. Huldah was the only female prophet among dozens of male prophets mentioned in the Bible. Miriam's only connection to leadership was being the sister of Moses and Aaron. The two most prominent women in the times of the Kings were Athaliah and Jezebel&#8212;hardly examples of godly female leadership. Most significantly, though, the authority of women in the Old Testament is not relevant to the issue. The book of 1 Timothy and the other Pastoral Epistles present a new paradigm for the church&#8212;the body of Christ&#8212;and that paradigm involves the authority structure for the church, not for the nation of Israel or any other Old Testament entity.

Similar arguments are made using Priscilla and Phoebe in the New Testament. In Acts 18, Priscilla and Aquila are presented as faithful ministers for Christ. Priscilla's name is mentioned first, perhaps indicating that she was more &#8220;prominent&#8221; in ministry than her husband. However, Priscilla is nowhere described as participating in a ministry activity that is in contradiction to 1 Timothy 2:11-14. Priscilla and Aquila brought Apollos into their home and they both discipled him, explaining the Word of God to him more accurately (Acts 18:26).

In Romans 16:1, even if Phoebe is considered a &#8220;deaconess&#8221; instead of a &#8220;servant,&#8221; that does not indicate that Phoebe was a teacher in the church. &#8220;Able to teach&#8221; is given as a qualification for elders, but not deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). Elders/bishops/deacons are described as the &#8220;husband of one wife,&#8221; &#8220;a man whose children believe,&#8221; and &#8220;men worthy of respect.&#8221; Clearly the indication is that these qualifications refer to men. In addition, in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, masculine pronouns are used exclusively to refer to elders/bishops/deacons.

The structure of 1 Timothy 2:11-14 makes the &#8220;reason&#8221; perfectly clear. Verse 13 begins with &#8220;for&#8221; and gives the &#8220;cause&#8221; of Paul&#8217;s statement in verses 11-12. Why should women not teach or have authority over men? Because &#8220;Adam was created first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived.&#8221; God created Adam first and then created Eve to be a &#8220;helper&#8221; for Adam. This order of creation has universal application in the family (Ephesians 5:22-33) and the church. The fact that Eve was deceived is also given as a reason for women not serving as pastors or having spiritual authority over men. This leads some to believe that women should not teach because they are more easily deceived. That concept is debatable, but if women are more easily deceived, why should they be allowed to teach children (who are easily deceived) and other women (who are supposedly more easily deceived)? That is not what the text says. Women are not to teach men or have spiritual authority over men because Eve was deceived. As a result, God has given men the primary teaching authority in the church.

Many women excel in gifts of hospitality, mercy, teaching, evangelism, and helps. Much of the ministry of the local church depends on women. Women in the church are not restricted from public praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), only from having spiritual teaching authority over men. The Bible nowhere restricts women from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Women, just as much as men, are called to minister to others, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and to proclaim the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. This is not because men are necessarily better teachers, or because women are inferior or less intelligent (which is not the case). It is simply the way God designed the church to function. Men are to set the example in spiritual leadership&#8212;in their lives and through their words. Women are to take a less authoritative role. Women are encouraged to teach other women (Titus 2:3-5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching or having spiritual authority over men. This logically would preclude women from serving as pastors to men. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with God&#8217;s plan and His gifting of them.

 

[Ariel82]

I find it SO interesting to see that most people who start threads on this topic are MEN and not married; nor do they remember that in scripture there were female prophets.
IMO, these men have issues concerning women. If a woman is called by God to teach or preach and a man has a problem with that then he can go elsewhere. But here is the key: IF a woman is called to teach/preach/minister by God...do you REALLY THINK that He would choose to put someone in that position that would 'lord it over' ANYONE???
Character is KEY.
Maggie

you do realize that the OP is FOR women preachers, right?

 

[Malcyboy]

Let me ask a question then... my church in Scotland, when it was started, had a MALE and FEMALE pastor, a married couple, the Husband played the main role, he was the most prominent pastor, and at times, he would even ask his wife to step down even if she had been planned to speak and take the service himself... So i see the Timothy example of, she understood he was head of the ministry and she would gladly step down if his authority said so...

However around 3/4 years ago, her husband went to be with the Lord and of course she has not remarried, she is still the sole pastor of the church, according to the timothy example is she wrong for not seeking another male pastor? or is this found acceptable as when the ministry was founded she followed God's order and allowed and submitted to her husband's God-ordaind authority?

 

[Jullianna]

Answer: There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors/preachers. As a result, it is very important to not see this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and there are men who believe women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation.

The Word of God proclaims,