Does 1 Timothy 3:4a (“managing his own household well”) show that men, and not women, are to rule or manage their households? What was the role of the first church overseers and bishops?
In this article I look at the NT verse that mentions women elders (1 Timothy 5:2) and compare it with other verses. I also look at elders, men and women, in early Judaism.
Three times this past week I’ve been in online conversations where a person has stated that women were not leaders or elders in early churches. Was this really the case?
In 1 Timothy 3:2 and in 2 Timothy 2:24 is a rare Greek word, didaktikos. This word is usually translated as “able to teach” but it may mean “teachable.”
In Part 5, I look at 1 Timothy 3:8-13, concerning male and female deacons in the Ephesian church, and at Phoebe as a prostatis (patron). And I briefly compare her ministry with that of Olympias and also Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15-18).
Ignoring or highlighting an ordinary word, in this case “likewise”, can make a BIG difference in how we interpret certain New Testament passages that affect women.
The New Living Translation (NLT) seems to be supportive of Christian women because it has frequently translated adelphoi into “brothers and sisters.” But it also promotes male authority through carefully chosen words, some of which are inaccurate and misleading.
Do the qualifications for church leaders (i.e. overseers) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 apply only to men? Do these verses exclude women from church leadership?
Would you like to support my ministry of encouraging mutuality and equality between men and women in the church and in marriage?
© 2021 Marg Mowczko