May 2, 2010 May 2, 2010

““What the Church Couldn’t What the Church Couldn’t See”See”

Women Who TaughtWomen Who Taught

MEDITATION – EPH 1:3-14 (GWT) 3Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. 4Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence. 5Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this 6so that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.

MEDITATION – EPH 1:3-14 (GWT)

MEDITATION – EPH 1:3-14 (GWT)12He planned all of this so that we who had

already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory.

13You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised.

14This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

Questions to Resolve

1. Can women teach and have proper authority in the Church?

2. Can women serve in church offices, such as deacons and overseers/bishops?

1 Corinthians 14:26 (TNIV)

12 I give no permission for a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. A woman ought to be quiet,

1TIM. 2:11-12 (NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE)

1TIM. 2:12 (WORLDWIDE ENGLISH) 12I do not allow any woman to teach or

to rule over a man. She must remain quiet. 1TIM. 2:11-12 (CEV)

12 I give no permission for a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. A woman ought to be quiet,

11 A woman [a] should learn in quietness and full submission.

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; [b][c] she must be quiet.

Footnotes:A - 1 Timothy 2:11  Or wife; also in verse 12B - 1 Timothy 2:12 Or teach a man in a

domineering way; or teach or to exercise (or have) authority over a man

C - 1 Timothy 2:12 Or over her husband

1TIM. 2:11-12 (TNIV)

1TIM. 2:11 (TNIV)

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.

11  γυνὴ ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ μανθανέτω ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ 

1TIM. 2:12 (TNIV)

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

12  διδάσκειν δὲ γυναικὶ οὐκ ἐπιτρέπω οὐδὲ αὐθεντεῖν ἀνδρός ἀλλ’ εἶναι ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ 

αὐθεντεῖν/authenteinUsages in Literature:• Murder• Sponsor or perpetrate a murder• Suicide (self-murder)Common Usage in colloquial speech

(koine):• Have your way• Dominate/domineer

Neither/ Nor constructionNeither to teach,

nor to assume authority/dominateOrder of Words is VERY IMPORTANT!

Usual construction: General specificTeach dominate? (specific general)

Should be Dominate, namely to teach

What construction fits?Teach with the intent of dominating

Temple of Artemis One of the 7 Wonders of Ancient

World

Temple of Artemis As it is now

Cult of Artemis

Acts 1928 When they heard

this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar.

Order of Creation1 Tim 2:13

For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

Paul is correcting false teaching.

Artemis-followers believed women were created first

by the goddess.

He is NOT saying men are better or greater.

Or John the Baptist would be greater than Jesus!

Artemis/Diana, as we know her today:

Childbearing?1 Tim 2 (TNIV) 15 But women will

be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

1 Tim 2 (CEV) 15But women will be saved by having children, if they stay faithful, loving, holy, and modest. Footnotes: saved by having children: Or "brought safely through childbirth" or "saved by the birth of a child" (that is, by the birth of Jesus) or "saved by being good mothers.”

1 Tim 2 (GWT) 15However, she and all women will be saved through the birth of the child, if they lead respectable lives in faith, love, and holiness.

Footnotes: Taken to refer to Jesus. Or “will be saved by having children,” or “will be kept safe as they have children.”

How are Women saved??• Giving birth?– Sterile?– Single?– Cancer?

• JESUS! – Through ‘the childbearing… of Christ’ or

‘through the birth of the Child’

Childbearing?

1 Tim 3:1-12 (TNIV)

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full [a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.    

    8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.     11 In the same way, the women [b] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.     12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Footnotes:1 Timothy 3:4  Or him with proper1 Timothy 3:11  Probably women who are deacons, or possibly deacons' wives

1 Tim 3:1-12 (GWT) 1This is a statement that can be trusted: If anyone sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent. 2A bishop must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife, be sober, use good judgment, be respectable, be hospitable, and be able to teach. 3He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but he must be gentle. He must not be quarrelsome or love money. 4He must manage his own family well. His children should respectfully obey him. 5(If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned.

7People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him.

8Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. 9They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. 10First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon.  11Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way.  12A deacon must have only one wife. Deacons must manage their children and their families well.

Women or Wives?

• Likewise, or “In the same way” (as the men!)

• No guidelines for wives of overseers

Bottom Line

Can women teach and have proper authority in the Church?

YES!Can women serve in church offices,

such as deacons and overseers/bishops?

YES!