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?
This is a somewhat technical look at the word presbyteroi (“elders”) in New Testament letters, including the presbyterai (“women elders”) 1 Timothy 5:2.
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?
Some Christians have a faulty notion of gender roles that is based on an equally faulty notion of leadership. In this tiny post, I share two quotes on the nature of leadership.
In this post, I express my concern about John Piper’s lack of propriety and wisdom in comments where he references Tozer’s widow. This quotation is posted several times on The Gospel Coalition’s website.
In part 4 I look at the deacons in the Philippian church and at the development of church offices in the apostolic and post-apostolic churches.
Here I look at Paul’s introduction of Phoebe to the church at Rome. I also look at the ministry of certain women in the Gospels, and Tabitha’s ministry in Acts, and compare them with Phoebe’s ministry.
It is helpful to have some insight into the values and customs of the first Christians. In this article I provide a brief overview of church life in the first century and I highlight the ministry contributions of women.
One subject that I keep mulling over is what it means to be a leader and have authority in the church. Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be leaders? What was their job description?
In this article I look at the people who were apostles in the New Testament church, and at their qualifications. I also look at what they did as apostles.
Jesus’ teaching on leadership and community in Matthew’s gospel shows that Jesus promoted the social values of humility and equality. In Jesus’ kingdom, the humble are exalted, the lowly are the greatest, and the last are first.
Matt Chandler states unequivocally, “I teach to men . . . I go after the men.” Matt focuses his ministry on men because, he says, this is how he understands the scriptures. So what happens to the lost sheep who are female? And how does Matt’s focus affect the thousands of women in his flock?
This short article looks at how the Greek word kyria (“lady”) is used in a few ancient letters and texts, and how this usage helps us to understand who the “chosen lady” is in John’s second letter.
There are many Bible verses that show women teaching and leading. Here are 15 of them, 15 reasons why I support women in church leadership.
In this post I link to a video where Wade Burleson explains that there is no Greek word for “over” in the verses about church leaders in Hebrews chapter 13.
Here are links to several articles that look at arguments related to the idea of a male-only priesthood, arguments that keep women out of church leadership.
Many Christians are concerned with who has authority in the church. In particular they are concerned about whether a woman can have authority over a man. Who has authority in the church?
In 1 Thess. 2, Paul describes his apostolic ministry in both maternal and paternal terms. It seems God does not want his people led in a purely paternal or masculine manner.
This article looks at several shortcomings to the argument “Jesus’ twelve apostles were all male, so women cannot be church leaders.”
Here are links to over a dozen of my articles on women church leaders mentioned in the New Testament, women such as Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla, Lydia, Philip’s daughters, and more.
It seems many Christians use a dichotomous key to determine who can be a pastor. For many, the first question is, “Is the candidate a man?” A “no” answer brings instant disqualification.
Some Christians believe that because Jesus is a man, only men can represent Jesus in their congregations. Does the fact that Jesus is male mean that women cannot be church leaders?
Who were Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3)? Were they leaders of the Philippian church? Early Church Father John Chrysostom seemed to think so.
Can you name a woman who is called a pastor in the New Testament? Can you name a man who is called a pastor in the New Testament?
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