Most recently there have been some exchanges on threads and the Bible Discussion chat room concerning the woman's role in the church. Many things have been thrown around from women being silent in the church to accusations of hating woman. Many of the scriptures that have been tossed around have been given to justify the believers position whether by preference or by conviction. What I observed and became a part of was a division and lack of unity in the faith on this subject.
I want every believer that reads this post to know that there is no such thing as non-essentials concerning the faith as DeeperStill and others have mentioned because all things pertaining to righteousness and true holiness are essential. You can not line up with believers on essentials and be divided on non-essentials and call that oneness or unity in the faith. As the boy of Christ we are to have the mind of Christ and to think the same things and have the same judgments (Phil 1:27, 1Cor 1:10, 1Pt 4:1). I have great respect for DeeperStill (T) but she is not right about this. She gave some good and sound scriptures about the tongue and the kind of words we speak to one another. I hope she and others still abide by those words that edify and a stranger's voice will not be listened to, that comes in privately to slander and discredits others.
Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5). The entrance of every word of God brings light into the heart and mind of the believer (Ps 119:130). We are to live by every word of God and not just those things that we agree with and decide to submit to (Mt 4:4). Jesus said that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled (Mt 5:18). We will be judged by every word that has been spoken and written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Jn 12:48). The word of God has forever been settled in heaven, but among men on the earth this is not so (Ps 119:89). Before the presence of God there will be no excuses of ignorance, wrong interpretations or being subject to false teaching that we can use to justify our works and decisions we made in this life, because as a believer we were given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (Jn 16:13).
Concerning the reference made to Junia in (Romans 16:7) by Stephen63, she was a kinsman of Paul and was saved before Paul was, but Paul is referring to her as noted,marked and recognized for her extremely valuable service among the apostles not as an apostle. The preposition 'en' that is translated 'among' is locative and not instrumental, meaning she was in their midst having a valued service but not a partaker of their ministry as an apostle. She complemented them and made their ministry as apostles of greater value. She was to be saluted and respected for her service among the apostles.
There are those that read (1Tim 2:11-15) like Skyblue7, and remain silent as to what Paul was referring to in relationship to women. Paul refers to (Gen 2&3) that goes way back before the law, to explain his meaning and reason for his instruction to Timothy, as a young pastor. Jesus did the same with the Pharisees when they tempted Him concerning putting away a wife, in the institution of marriage, through a bill of divorcement in (Mt 19:1-8). Paul was very bold and clear in his meaning and instruction to Timothy in this matter, yet there are those on this site that would live contrary to his instructions and rationalize his meaning by wrestling other scriptures against it (2Pt 3:16), ignoring it in the context it should be considered and not applying it to their lives as believers because it is preferably a non-essential. If that is how inspired scriptures are to be treated by many on this site, then you will never find unity in the face and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:6, Eph 4:3,13).
