Women in Ministry by Paul Burleson

A SUNDAY MORNING BUR-LESSON[excuse my play on words] ROAD MAP OF TEXTS TEEMING WITH TRUTH ABOUT WOMEN IN MINISTRY!

[What follows is my view of some of the scriptural texts relating to the issue of women in ministry. This is the current raging controversy in the SBC as you probably know. It may be outside the realm of interest to a lot of people who normally read what I write. I understand! If it DOES strike a cord in some, enjoy.]

In that ever controversial verse, 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul used a word translated “authority” [authenteo] in the KJV [and other versions] that is NOT found anywhere else in all of scripture. Not even in the Septuagint. [The Greek translation of the Old Testament.] The word has come to be traditionally translated with the idea that women are to “not usurp authority over the man” meaning, she has her place and that place is under the authority of men. [A Universal Principle.]

However, it is correctly translated according to Strong’s Word Studies, by the ASV, “But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.”  [Vincent Word Studies says, The KJV’s “usurp authority” is a mistake. It is to be rendered “to have or exercise dominion over.”] 

The unfortunate traditional view assumes that the very act of a woman teaching a man is, in their view of scripture, inherently a wrongful act that violates male headship. That’s NOT what Paul was saying at all. He is correcting FALSE teaching and a domineering attitude in a woman, which I will show in a moment. 

It would be wise to notice that Paul has already named two MEN [Hymenæus and Alexander] who were teaching incorrectly in Ephesus and had to be dealt with, and deal with them Paul did. [See 1 Timothy 1:20]  So, it is NOT surprising to see that a wife who is going astray in her teaching [as we shall see] in the church had to be dealt with, and deal with her Paul does.  

The fact that there is no command (imperative in the Greek) from Paul in 1 Timothy 2:12 at all makes a good case for questioning the previously mentioned traditional interpretation of making it a Universal Principle. Also, contrary to the traditional view, Jesus taught us that in His kingdom “authority” [who’s the boss] is to be a complete non-issue between believers. Servant-hood is our issue. (Matt.20:24-28; 23:11; Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46; 22:24)

The wording in the KJV, “I suffer not a [this] woman,” can certainly sound like a command, but it isn’t. Instead, it is in the simple present tense, “I am not now permitting a [this] woman…” [singular] This MEANS [IMO] that in Paul’s thinking at THAT moment about THAT situation, [the previously mentioned problem couple in the fellowship in Ephesus] was that Timothy, the pastor, should NOT allow that situation to continue.

Paul did address “women” [plural] in verses 9-10 as to modesty and decorum, but he switches to the singular in verses 12-15 to talk about a SPECIFIC woman! [And her husband.] He is saying in the Greek language, when properly translated, ”I do not in this one instance allow [suffer[ this woman [wife] to take charge over her man [husband] in an unseemly [my toned down word for domineering] manner." [Woman and man are both singular and when used together in scripture usually mean a husband and wife.] 

As I said before, "authenteo" [authority] is NOT found in the Greek language, but it has been found to be a street word in that culture with perhaps even some sexual overtones describing the use of sexuality as a tool for control. So Paul, writing under inspiration, is probably saying to this church's pastor, [Timothy] who had a church with some women members who were saved out of the very mystery religion that used such tactics, and had one specific problem couple in particular, as the wife sought, using that method, to badger her husband into a false belief,  “Enough is enough. Don’t let her do that,” Paul says!  [Whew!] 

[Old patterns often don’t die easily EVEN after you’ve become a believer and this one woman in that church at Ephesus that Timothy pastored seems to be doing exactly that to her husband and Paul is stopping it.]

Jon Zens, a friend of mine, has a masterful exegetical work on this passage in his book entitled "What's With Paul And Women," [you can get it on Amazon] in which he says this..."If there is [had been] a divine law that 'women-teaching-men' is sinful, then there can be no exceptions. But there is no concern in this regard expressed in Scripture, as there are clearly cases where women taught men. In Romans 12:6-7 where Paul is listing some gifts, he mentions both “prophesying” and “teaching” and there are no sexual restrictions given – both men and women can be involved is such activities.” 

There is nothing inherently evil or unscriptural in "women-teaching-men", but it is CERTAINLY a problem when women teach error, or teach with a view toward dominating men. Of course, the same concerns hold true if men teach error or teach with the view toward dominating women!

Finally, a brief word about the ever-present question concerning Genesis 2:20 where the woman is said to be man's "help meet". [KJV] The fact that Eve was created as Adam's "suitable helper" does not establish a woman as lesser at all, it seems to me! In English the word sometimes is used that way, but it certainly isn't in the original Hebrew. God said she is to be a man's "ezer" [Hebrew for help-mate] which is a word used for God Himself in relation to man, Israel, the nations, you name it. If it DID mean "less than" then God is in trouble since He is that to so many. No, the word means "One essential to" and is perfectly legitimate to be used for a woman's relating to a man. 

I do believe God's original intention for the male/female relationship was clearly established in Genesis 1 where “He said to “them” that "they" were to "have dominion" and for “them” to "multiply" and for “them” to "care for the garden." It looks to me to be at least a partnership going on from the very beginning. 

Of course, the “original fall of Adam and Eve” messed it up and the text shows both [male and female] THEN tried to “be in charge.” She tried to take over by “desiring her husband” [the meaning is not a Godly thing but one of taking charge] and he tried to take over by “ruling over her." [No Godliness there either, as it means to be a despot.] 

What God said in His address to them AFTER the fall seemed to me to be a DESCRIPTION of the RESULT of their sin and rebellion rather than a PRESCRIPTION for the behavior He expected. So both male and female are pretty well messed up by now in this “authority” thing. 

But hang on, God straightened all that up in Ephesians 5:21 [New Covenant remember] where BOTH male and female were told to submit/serve one another and to do so in the power of the Spirit, as they are walking in Him. [Ephesians chapter 5] 

The wife does this by CHOOSING to serve her husband. Hupo-tasso was used in the middle voice which means it came from “inside herself” and not because of an outside requirement. Hupo-akuio would have said that! And the husband does this by CHOOSING to love his wife as his own body serving her. 

A man “choosing to love” is not less submissive than a “woman choosing to serve.” It's just the New Covenant way of correcting the "who's the boss" failure and making it a non-issue. We all know the Lord Jesus is the BOSS. So all Christians are servants to Him and to one another. 

One final thought about this "woman being created second" question. I never had seen how man being created first and woman coming from man would set up an authority thing. No doubt he was and she did, but, if who’s created first is a principle for authority then the animals and birds should rule man. 

Of course that specific woman in the church at Ephesus [coming out of the mystery religions of Ephesus] HAD believed that women WERE created first by their gods and were far superior to any male. So when Paul addressed who was created first I believe he was correcting heresy of the mystery religions again. Also remember that since that original creation moment, every MAN has come from a woman. Not a lot of bragging room there! 

Now if we could just get believers to get it straight about men NOT being superior just because they were created first, wouldn't that be refreshing! Different? Yes! Superior? No! 

In New Covenant theology the Holy Spirit is the Gifter, Decider, Authority, Power, and Sender of all gifts and ministry to all believers regardless of race, gender, or age and what we do is for the edification of others.

As the title indicates, this is my sort of scriptural  "road map" to show how “authority” is a non-issue in male/female relationships in Kingdom living. For a few references that I've found to be an immeasurable help, let me recommend...

Jon Zens____What's With Paul And Women?

Gilbert Bilezikian___Beyond Sex Role

Cheryl Schatz DVD Series Women in Ministry: Silenced or Free.

[Check Cheryl's series out on YouTube]

My hope is that you'll personally study the texts mentioned and come to some conclusion for yourself on this major issue about Kingdom people. I have!

https://youtu.be/99uRAnkosPY