Regarding Women Apostles, Elders and Shepherds/Teachers
Many people have been students of Scripture for longer than you have and they are still not saved and still believe falsely many things about Scripture. You're no exception, because the proofs of Scripture show you are wrong.
For women to be workers includes them being Apostles and Elders, teachers (shepherds). There is not any position in the 4-fold ministry (Eph. 4.11) a woman can't have the calling or gifting for. This is governmental authority over men just like we observe in the secular world, where women hold the highest seats of power. Scripture does not disallow this. You have just misread God's loving Word, discriminate and are abusive towards women. I am an Apostle and have told you the truth, but you don't listen.
Your hostility against the Apostles is another problem for you said privately that a person ought not to admit they are an Apostle if they are one, but Paul said, "as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2.7).
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1 Tim. 2.11-15).
To understand these verses, we must understand the situation in which Paul and Timothy worked. In first-century Jewish culture, women were not allowed to study. When Paul said that women should "learn quietly and submissively," he was offering them an amazing new opportunity. Paul did not want the Ephesian women to teach because they didn't have enough knowledge or experience. The Ephesian church had a particular problem with false teachers. Evidently the women were especially susceptible to the false teachings (2 Timothy 3.1-9) because they did not yet have enough Biblical knowledge to discern the truth.
Some interpret "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2.12) to mean that women should never teach in the assembled church; however, commentators point out that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching. Paul's commended co-worker, Priscilla, taught Apollos, the great preacher: "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18.24-26).
Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church: "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" (Rom 16.1). Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis were the Lord's workers: "Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us...Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord" (Rom. 16.6,12). So were Euodia and Syntyche: "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4.2). Paul was very likely prohibiting the Ephesian women, not all women, from teaching.
Were Ephesian women targets for false teachers? See 1 Tim. 2.9-15 and 2 Tim. 3.6-7. This is given to Timothy in Ephesus. I don't think it is a stretch that Paul had to address this matter to them because it was pertinent, so Paul brought it up.
In Paul's reference to women listening and learning quietly and submissively, he is speaking about an attitude of quietness and composure (not total silence). In addition, Paul himself acknowledges that women publicly prayed and prophesied (1 Cor.11.5): "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved." Apparently, however, the women in the Ephesian church were abusing their newly acquired Christian freedom. Because these women were new converts, they did not have the necessary experience, knowledge, or Christian maturity to teach those who already had extensive Scriptural education.
In 1 Tim. 2, Paul talks about the male and female roles in the church. Some scholars see these verses about Adam and Eve as illustrating of what was happening to the Ephesian church. Just as Eve had been deceived in the Garden of Eden, so the women in the church were being deceived by false teachers. And just as Adam was the first human created by God, so the men in the church of Ephesus should the first to speak and teach because they had more training. This view, then, stresses that Paul's teaching here is not universal but applies to the churches with similar problems. Other scholars, however, contend that the roles Paul points out are God's design for his created order-God established those roles to maintain harmony in both the family and the church.
Paul is not excusing Adam for his part in the Fall (Gen. 3.6,7,17-19). On the contrary, in his letter to the Romans Paul places the primary blame for humanity's sinful nature on Adam (Rom. 5.12-21).
"Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1 Tim. 2.15).
There are several ways to understand the phrase, being "saved through childbearing": (1) Man sinned and so men were condemned to painful labor. Women sinned and so women were condemned to pain in childbearing. Both men and women, however, can be saved through trusting Jesus Christ and obeying Him. (2) Women who fulfill their God-given roles are demonstrating true commitment and obedience to Christ. One of the most important roles for a wife and mother is to care for her family. (3) The childbearing mentioned here refers to the birth of Jesus Christ. Women (and men) are saved spiritually because of the most important birth, that of Christ himself. (4) From the lessons learned through the trials of childbearing, women can develop qualities that teach them about love, trust, submission, and service.
"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" (1 Cor. 14.34,35).
Does this mean that women should speak in church service today? It is clear from 1 Cor. 11, that women prayed and prophesied in public worship: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven" (v.5). Make note that it does not say what the woman should cover her head with. Humility is a very appropriate head covering! It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Now, even though an Apostle is not commissioned by God by gifts, nonetheless, God still does the commissioning and the giving of gifts. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship service.
In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public, but today obviously, things have changed. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that there Christian freedom gave them the right to question men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 14.34,35 was to promote unity, not to teach about women's roles in the church.
"But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thess. 5.12-13).
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching" (1 Tim. 5.17).
"Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth" (1 Cor. 16.15-16).
God sets in the church authorities such as "the elders who rule well" and "those who labor in preaching and teaching." They are the ones whom everyone should obey. The younger ones in age must also learn to be subject to the older ones. The apostle exhorted the Corinthian believers to honor especially men like Stephanas whose family was the first converts in Achaia and who was willing to serve the saints with great humility.
In the church the women ought to be subject to the men. "I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11.3). God has arranged to have the men represent Christ as authority and the women represent the church in subjection. Therefore, the women ought to have a veil (Greek: authority) on their heads because of the angels (1 Cor. 11.10), and they should be subject to their own husbands.
"As in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home" (1 Cor. 14.33-35). Some sisters ask, Supposing our husbands cannot answer our questions? Well, God tells you to ask, and so you ask. After awhile your husband will know, since being repeatedly asked he will be forced to seek for understanding. And so you help your husband as well as yourself. "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve" (1 Tim. 2.11-13).
"All of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another" (1 Peter 5.5). It is most shameful for anyone to consciously display his position and authority.
God has also instituted authorities in the spiritual world. "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord" (2 Peter 2.10-11). Here we are told of a most significant fact: that there are authorities and glorious ones in the spiritual world under whom angels are assigned. Although some of them have failed, the angels dare not revile them because once they were superiors. After their fall, though you may recount the fact of the fall, you may not add on your judgment, for fact plus judgment is reviling.
"But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 9). Why? Because at one time God had made Lucifer the chief of the archangels; and Michael, being one of the archangels, had been under his authority. Later Michael, in obedience to God, sought the body of Moses because one day Moses was to be raised from the dead (possibly at the Mount of Transfiguration). When Michael was hindered by Satan, he could, in a rebellious spirit, have dealt with that rebellious one, Satan, by opening his mouth and reviling him. But he dared not do so. All he said was, "The Lord rebuke thee." (With men it is a different story, since God has never placed men under the authority of Satan. Though once we fell into his rule, we were never under his authority.)
On the same principle, David at one period submitted himself to the delegated authority of Saul. Subsequently, he still dared not overthrow Saul’s fading authority. How dignified is delegated authority in the spiritual realm. It should not be despised; any reviling of it will result in the loss of spiritual power.
If you ever once in your life meet authority you will then be able to see God’s authority everywhere. Wherever you go, your first question will be: Whom should I obey, To whom should I hearken? A Christian ought to have two senses: the sense of sin and the sense of authority. Even when two brothers consult together, though each may voice his opinion, only one makes the final decision.
In Acts 15 there was a council. The young as well as the old could rise up and speak. Every brother could offer his opinion. Yet after Peter and Paul had finished their words, James got up to give the decision. Peter and Paul only related facts, but James made the judgment. Even among the elders or the apostles there was an order. "For I am the least of the apostles," says Paul (1 Cor. 15.9). Some apostles are greater, some are lesser. This order is not arranged by man; nonetheless, each needs to know where he stands.
What a lovely testimony and beautiful picture this is. It is what Satan is afraid of, for eventually it will cause the downfall of his kingdom. For after we are all on the course of obedience God will come to judge the world.
We are content with the work and position which our Lord has appointed to us or arranged for us. We should not "glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand" (2 Cor. 10.16). How we like to desert our own ground and tread on another’s field. The question is not whether we are able to work, but whether God has commanded us to work. Sisters, for example, need to keep their place (1 Cor. 14.34,35); they should not be teachers, that is to say, they should not be those deciding with authority the word of God (1 Tim. 2.12). In all our works we must let Christ have the preeminence. This doesn't prevent women from being Apostles, Elders, shepherds/teachers, but that women need to maintain humility. During the time when Paul was building the churches, women did not have authority for these things, even though there were women Apostles, but that was the exception not the rule.
Romans 16.7 speaks of two notable apostles, Andronicus and Junia, and good authorities agree that "Junia" is a woman's name. So here we have a sister as an apostle and a notable apostle at that. "Salute Andronicus and Junias [some manuscripts say "Julia"], my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me" (16.7). These apostles were doing the Work of the Ministry even before Paul started. Male-centered systems will try to teach these apostles are not apostles, rejecting God's commissioning and authority, because they prefer a male-centric and egotistical system which is abusive towards women. God's Word would never be so unclear as to confuse "note among the apostles" could be taken to mean they are merely respected by the apostles. No! They are "among the apostles" because they are apostles.
This same word for Junia is given in the NLT. The footnote reads, "some manuscripts read Julia." "Salute Philologus, and Julia" (v.15), "who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." We do not know if they were Apostles before Paul became one, but we know they were born-again before Paul was saved. Julia means "soft haired" and "youthful". The KJV Concordance refers to Junias ("Iounias" in Greek) as a "Christian woman," a "Christian woman at Rome, mentioned by Paul as one of his kinsfolk and fellow prisoners." Thayer's Lexicon refers to her as "a women's name...and the name occurs again in Rom. 16.15" - "Salute Philologus, and Julia" (v.15).
Today, women can do these things they couldn't do before. Just as the society they were in antiquity restricted their rights, so God restricted their authority until the time was right. Just this past century women can vote now. It is difficult to place a woman in authority long ago when women were not highly esteemed for such work. But today it is common place so women can have such responsibilities. All in God's good timing!
Women need to realize, though humbly, they are fallen in a different way than man. Eve ate of the fruit with a darkened mind (that is, doubting God), while man ate of the fruit for the affection of Eve, knowingly sinning. Both are sinning, but in comparing the fall of men and women, Paul says,
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor" (1 Tim. 2.12-14). This is a call to be humble in light of what has occurred in the fall. This does not disallow women from teaching, but is an expression of how careful women need to be when they teach and do the Work of the Ministry or as elders or deacons.
