I stand corrected.
No biggie. I know some of the longer posts are kinda tedious to wade through sometimes, and it's very easy to overlook the details.
We all do it, at times. No worries. = )
I stand corrected.
The thing here is you will find different views and meanings and have to find put now what is right. I mean bible says clear, if you read it.I have only recently converted, and I’m unsure on what my role as a woman is. I really want to be a good Christian, and as I am now 18, I think I want to take a more active part in my faith. As a woman, am I allowed to teach and spread the faith? It appears that in 1 Timothy 2:12 this is condemned - “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet”. If I am not permitted to teach, what should I do to ensure I am an obedient believer of God? Is marriage and having a family the best option? Any replies would be greatly appreciated- I’m new to this![]()
And I want add: for to Serve the Lord you must not preach and teach man.The thing here is you will find different views and meanings and have to find put now what is right. I mean bible says clear, if you read it.
Peoples commentarys are peoples commentarys. Pray and ask for right understanding. Is my adwise.
My personal View and this of my wife? What Paul teaches is word of God I believe.
No biggie. I know some of the longer posts are kinda tedious to wade through sometimes, and it's very easy to overlook the details.
We all do it, at times. No worries. = )
I have only recently converted, and I’m unsure on what my role as a woman is. I really want to be a good Christian, and as I am now 18, I think I want to take a more active part in my faith. As a woman, am I allowed to teach and spread the faith? It appears that in 1 Timothy 2:12 this is condemned - “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet”. If I am not permitted to teach, what should I do to ensure I am an obedient believer of God? Is marriage and having a family the best option? Any replies would be greatly appreciated- I’m new to this![]()
I don't know what to think about women's role in general in the Bible, but one thing I do see frequently taken out of context:
Paul's use of the word diakonos to refer to Phoebe--or "deaconess". People point to that and say that yes, women ordination has Biblical support. The problem is, word the translates "servant", or "servant of Christ". Yes--of course women can prophesy, and serve Christ. But the word "deacon" has since taken on different meaning in the Church, where today we view a deacon as more of a leader than a servant. Yes, there is that whole bit about Christian servants should be leaders, leaders should be servants.... But there is a false equivocation of the word "deacon" there.
Personally, I think we should be really careful not to quench the Holy Spirit. If the gifting is there and the willingness is there, we should not turn them away just because they are female. I find it unlikely that a woman would be gifted for something which not was God's design.
Pragmatically, take China: we are very short-staffed of men to preach. They have to work. It's the women who have the free time to serve in church capacities. If China is to be reached, then we need the women.
And I want add: for to Serve the Lord you must not preach and teach man.
Since they are only 4 minutes apart, you could have deleted the first one within the 5 minute edit windowSorry double post ignore the last.
There is no scriptural basis for this. 1) There is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus. 2) Those who quote Paul forget that he was instructing people that lived in an entirely different culture than we live in. 3) Would you think logically that a woman is less capable than a man to convey God's word?
If you have a desire to preach and/or teach go ahead and do so. Don't let legalists prevent you from doing God's will.
You touch a very important point. In such a discussion temperatures tend to rise because our every day life is bomarded with the world's philosophy, and Christians want to reconcile it with the Bible because it seems to make sense. But if we examine the world's philosophy closely, it doesn't make sense. The shout of the world is "equality in all things", but they don't follow it themselves. The whole thrust of men who would impose their philosophy on everyone, are by their own claim, elitist. One of the most prevailing worldly organizations, a "club" that nearly all men in high positions belong, is the Freemasons. One of their greatest Grand Masters was Albert Pike (1809-1891). Of the common people he writes in his very first sentences of "Morals and Dogma ... ", quote;
"FORCE, unregulated or ill-regulated, is not only wasted in the void, like that of gunpowder burned in the open air, and steam unconfined by science; but, striking in the dark, and its blows meeting only the air, they recoil and bruise itself. It is destruction and ruin. It is the volcano, the earthquake, the cyclone;--not growth and progress. It is Polyphemus blinded, striking at random, and falling headlong among the sharp rocks by the impetus of his own blows.
The blind Force of the people is a Force that must be economized, and also managed, as the blind Force of steam, lifting the ponderous iron arms and turning the large wheels, is made to bore and rifle the cannon and to weave the most delicate lace. It must be regulated by Intellect. Intellect is to the people and the people's Force, what the slender needle of the compass is to the ship--its soul, always counselling the huge mass of wood and iron, and always pointing to the north. To attack the citadels built up on all sides against the human race by superstitions, despotisms, and prejudices,"
Now, I am aware that not all Masons think this, but this comes from the highest level, and is mandatory reading for 30th degree upwards.
Be that as it may, we have to ask ourselves; "Does the Bible teach equality?" The answer again, as I pointed out in my posting # 15, is; In matters of grace and justice we are all treated equally by God. He has no favorites. But in SERVICE God makes DIFFERENCES! In 1st Corinthians 12:4-11 God clearly gives gifts as He likes. One is the Apostle of renown, and another is the sweeper of the meeting hall. In Matthew 25:15 it reads; "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; ... ." One gets FIVE while another gets TWO talents. And because the number of Talents are "according to personal ability", it means that by BIRTH some men have more ability than others. The human body, a picture of Christ's Body - the Church, has dozens of differing organs. Can the massive thigh muscle gloat over the kidney? Well ... in strength, yes. But the body can live without both thighs but not without the kidneys. So much for the boasting of the thigh muscle!
And these same men who conceitedly teach "equality", but who secretly despise the common man as inferior, don't follow their own philosophy when they make an automobile. They build it with an engine, a gearbox and a differential so that it FUNCTIONS. Is an engine the same as a gearbox? Does the differential demand to be put in front of the engine? NO! For the smooth functioning and service to man, each keeps its place. And so it is in life, and so it is in the Church. God has a DESIGN, and in this design there is no equality. It is designed to FUNCTION. So, to one is given the gift of Apostle, to another interpretation of tongues. One has the power to set forth doctrine for all, and the other is to stay silent if the total of THREE utterances has been reached in that meeting (1st Cor.14:27). One is a male and God needs an Elder who exercises authority to keep the order of the meeting. Another is a female and God needs a prophetess (Act.21:9). Where is the "equality" of the world in God's sovereignty? Why, it doesn't exist.
And if God has ordained, per His wonderful design, that a male functions this way and a female functions that way, would he give Talents NOT according to ability? Will we put petrol in a gearbox to make it "equal" to an engine? Will the designer of a Ferrari drill holes into its differential and insert spark plugs because the world cries "equality"? And so, will God give a divine Talent to a Christian who He has not DESIGNED to keep order in His Church?
Each one of us must settle this in their own mind BECAUSE it was THIS THING that caused Satan to fall. "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be LIKE the most High" (Isaiah 14:14).
This applies to women preaching and teaching or assuming authority within church meetings.I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet”.
What I frequently hate in these kind of discussions is when men self-deprecate. I'm just not sold on the idea that the evil men have been oppressing the innocent women for thousands of years. The Bible says what it says. The Old Testament has the books of Ruth and Esther--not the books of Boaz and Mordecai. And Boaz and Mordecai were good men. Deborah was a judge.
An oversimplification I think people frequently make is that people think linearly. That is to say, 1 equals 1, 2 equals 2. And if 1 does not equal 2, then that means one number must be greater than the other. When really we ought to think in terms of an apple does not equal an orange. A birch tree does not equal an elm tree. A duck does not equal a flamingo. Does that mean an apple is greater than an orange? No--the idea of being "greater" is completely out of context of the discussion. Somehow, we've got this idea that if an apple and an orange are unequal, then we must be regarding one as higher in importance. They are neither equal nor unequal in importance. Importance is not even part of the discussion.
Also, God's gifting and calling is on an individual basis. There is a two-edged sword there: on the one hand, we are not seeing clearly if we have to look through the lens of gender every time. But on the other, just because giftings are on an individual basis does not mean that, once we look at the entire body and their giftings as a whole, that the giftings will not break down by gender in the end.
This applies to women preaching and teaching or assuming authority within church meetings.c.
I am curious. Did you notice that you are inserting the phrase within church meetings and that it is not in the text that Paul wrote? Nor is it in the context of the verses surrounding it?
That is definitely within the context of church meetings. Where else do you think it would apply? And just to settle the matter, lets go to 1 Corinthians 14 -- WHICH IS IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MEETINGS -- and examine verses 34 and 35, which have the words "church" and "churches".I am curious. Did you notice that you are inserting the phrase within church meetings and that it is not in the text that Paul wrote? Nor is it in the context of the verses surrounding it?
And yet in that context he was specifically talking about asking questions. He said that those who speak in tongues should be silent, he said that those who prophesy should be silent, then he said that the women should be silent.I Timothy doesn't, but I Corinthians 14, NLT:
34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.
That is definitely within the context of church meetings. Where else do you think it would apply? And just to settle the matter, lets go to 1 Corinthians 14 -- WHICH IS IN THE CONTEXT OF CHURCH MEETINGS -- and examine verses 34 and 35, which have the words "church" and "churches".
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.
This ties in with 1 Timothy 2:11-15:
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
It should be noted in this context that elders (pastors) and deacons were required to be qualified men only. And it was the responsibility of elders (plural, not just one pastor) to preach, teach, and rule (or oversee) the affairs of New Testament churches.
In case anyone mistakenly thinks that Paul was expressing his personal opinion, he said "as also saith the Law" meaning the Old Testament, which is the Word of God.
I feel like that morning that I go to work. Doing my hunting and gathering for my family. Yes, it is satisfying when I get home from another successful day in the workplace. It's a jungle out there, that's for sure.You know, we're all still hunter gatherers down deep inside. That's what satisfies.
Did women prophesy in the assembly?