Thursday, March 20, 2008

A Biblical Primer on Women in Ministry (Part 3)

Part 1: History and Confessions

Part 2: Priesthood of the Believer

Spiritual Gifts

In Rom. 12:3-8 the central thought is that of “charismatic gifts” within the church as the body of Christ (v. 6). Just as in a physical body there are many members with their different functions, “thus the many of us are one body in Christ, individually members of one another” (v. 5). At this point Paul turns to charismatic gifts, with a play upon the Greek word for “grace” (charismata kata charin). Charis is the Greek word for grace, and charismata are simply gifts of God’s grace. Any gift of grace is “charismatic,” hence there are no noncharismatic true believers. Eternal life itself is charisma (6:23). In 12:6-8 charismata include prophecy (preaching, proclamation, or discernment), service, teaching, comforting or exhortation, contributing to the needs of the saints, presiding or leading, and acts of mercy. Paul’s point is that charismata are indeed gifts of grace. Moreover, they are responsibilities. These spiritual gifts are to be employed. If one has the gift of preaching or prophesying, than one is to preach or prophecy, if one has the gift of teaching, that one is to teach. These charismatic gifts are seen here not as being special favors but as carrying special obligations.

Although Rom. 12:3-8 says nothing explicitly about women in ministry, its ideas are inescapable: the possession of a gift from God’s grace carries with it the obligation that it be employed within the church, in the service of the church, and that the church allow the gifted person to exercise their gift. Romans 12:3-8 thus is as significant as is the explicit affirmation of Gal. 3:28: “There is not any Jew nor Greek, not any slave nor free, not any male and female; for you all are one in Christ Jesus.”
The New Testament teaches that the church assemblies are to be places where all Christians employ their charismatic gifts. As mentioned previously, there is no division into two classes of people: clergy and laity. Alexander Strauch, author of Biblical Eldership, correctly notes:

“There were prophets, teachers, apostles, pastors, evangelists, leaders, elders, and deacons within the early church, but these terms were not used as formal titles. For example, all Christians are saints, but there is no “Saint John.” All are priests, but there is no “Priest Philip.” Some are elders, but there is no “Elder Paul.” Some are pastors, but there is no “Pastor James.” Some are deacons, but there is no “Deacon Peter.” Some are apostles, but is no “Apostle Andrew.” Rather than gaining honor though titles and position, New Testament believers received honor primarily for their service and work (Acts 15:26; Romans 16:1, 2, 4, 12; 1 Corinthians 8:18; 2 Corinthians 8:18; Philippians 2:29, 30; Colossians 1:7; 4:12, 13; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:1). The early Christians referred to each other by personal names—Timothy, Paul, Titus, etc.—or referred to an individual’s spiritual character and work: “…Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 6:5); Barnabas, “…a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith…” (Acts 11:24); “…Philip the evangelist…” (Acts 21:8); “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3); “Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you” (Romans 16:6); etc. The array of ecclesiastical titles accompanying the names of Christian leaders today is completely missing from the New Testament, and would have appalled the apostles and early believers.”

Ministry

As has been mentioned previously, all members of the body of Christ are called to serve the church, within the church. This fact being the case, it can scarcely be argued that women should be denied a place within the church for ministry. Since almost all complementarians do not deny the place of women in certain kinds of ministry we shall only mention in passing the biblical record of certain New Testament women in the ministry and the degree to which they were involved.

In Matthew 28:10 Jesus proclaimed: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”

There is evidence here that Jesus was speaking to both men and women. While Matthew only mentions the 11 disciples were there to hear these words, in Luke 24:33, others are gathered with them that return to Jerusalem (24:52, Acts1:12). In Acts 1:13-14, we discover that some of these others were there (120 in the upper room) were certain women. These women included Mary and “certain women.” We cannot be certain who these certain women were, but, in all likelihood, they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna (Luke 24:10). If this be the case, we have circumstantial evidence that Jesus intended his proclamation for both men and women. In Acts 1:8, those whom he speaks to are told that they shall receive the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:14; 2:1, 4, 16-18 we have the Spirit given alike to the female as to the male disciples.

In the life and letters of Paul we are given numerous women ministers of the church. They assisted in composing letters (Rom. 16:22; 1 Thess 1:1), carried apostolic messages to local churches (1 Cor 4:17; 16:10-11), sought to encourage the believers on Paul’s behalf (1 Thess 3:2), reported to Paul the status on congregations under his care (1 Thess 3:6) and even occasionally hosted house churches (1 Cor 16:19).

Paul often speaks of women as his “co-workers” (synergos), his favorite term for those who aided him in ministry. This term, together with its equivalent, “hard worker” (kopion), appears to refer to a particular group of Christians. In Philippians 4:3 states: “And I entreat you also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement, and with other my fellow-worker.” This Precisely the same terms are applied to Timothy, whom Paul styles a “minister of God, and his fellow-worker in the Gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

Two women that Paul cited as his coworkers – Euodia and Syntyche (Phil 4:2-3) ministered in the church of Philippi, which traced it’s founding to Lydia’s conversion. Paul’s reference to these two women raises the question of what type of ministry they pursued together with Paul. To understand the role Euodia and Syntyche played, we must consider what Paul meant when he said “they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel” (Phil 4:3). According to W. Derek Thomas, the term struggled or contended (synethlesan) provides an important clue. This word “meant ‘to contend,’ as the athlete strained every muscle to achieve victory in the games. So, with equal dedication these women had contended with all zeal for the victory of the Gospel at Philippi.” Thomas then draws this conclusion:

“The Apostle would scarcely have used this strong word if they had merely ‘assisted him with material help’ and hospitality, while remaining in the background. The word synethlesan suggests a more active participation in the work of Paul, probably even a vocal declaration of the faith. How far this is true is admittedly a matter of conjecture; what can be said with certainty, however, is that they had contended with the Apostle in the cause of the Gospel and had gained a position of such influence as to make their present conflict a risk to the well-being of the church.”

Victor Pfitzner’s research supports this conclusion: “The verb would seem to imply a more active role than the mere acceptance of the Apostle into their homes on the part of these women.”

So far there is little that has been asserted that most complementarians would find adverse. Indeed, the “helper” position is one that complementarians cling to earnestly. In Romans 16 is recorded an excellent list of the fellow-workers associated with Paul and his ministry. Prominent on the list are Aquila and Priscilla, who with Urbanus are called “fellow workers” (synergous). Mary and Persis are two women who Paul says “worked very hard” (polla ekopiasen). He calls Tryphaena and Tryphosa “workers in the Lord” (kopiosas en kyrio). But in verse 7: “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles; who were also in Christ before me.” By the word “kinsmen “one would take Junia to have been a man; but Chrysostom and Theophylact, who were both Greeks, and consequently knew their own language better than today’s translators, say Junia was a woman. “Kinsmen” should therefore have been translated “kinsfolk.” Junia (a woman’s name) and Andronicus are described as apostles. Unfortunately most translations have made Junia into a male by adding the letter s to the name although there is no record in Greek or Latin literature of men being called her name. Almost all commentators on this text before the thirteenth century regarded Junia as female. The change has been justified on the grounds that since Paul calls this person an apostle, it could not have been a woman. This is one of the circular arguments that is often given in discussion of women in ministry. “Junia could not have been an apostle, because there were no women apostles.” “How do you know?” “Because nowhere in the Bible is a woman mentioned as an apostle.”

There are two important aspects to glean from the above designations. First, Paul readily affirms the ministry of women with the same words of approval and recommendation that he uses for men, indicating an active partnership of men and women in the ministry. Second, the terms Paul uses in context suggest the participation of women in all dimensions of the ministry. In fact, his language is reminiscent of his descriptions of his own hard work on behalf of others (compare 16:6 with Gal 4:11).

15 comments:

g."bear"allen said...

In some ways, I think that the point is missed. In the formative years or in the state of mentorship, a male is needed to train young men or new disciples. Women can instruct in accordance to their expertise quite well. But if there is a type of training needed to catch a visual application and or training a male is needed. Discipleship is both caught and taught. We have left too much of it in the oratative level.

Anonymous said...

Praise the Lord for His redemptive plan, His excellent creation, and for His wonderful gifts.

WatchingHISstory said...

If we say the gifts went away after the men were able to properly expose the text of Scripture correctly then we will throw the lady out with the bath water!

Charles

Anonymous said...

Wade,

In your last comment to me on this subject you said... "And, by the way, I happen to be a complementarian like you."

I was wondering... can you please point me to the 7 part complementarian blog post on grace and TRUTH?

Why do you constantly feel the need to play Devil's advocate, instead of just share your beliefs?This is, I think, what bothers so many about you (at least this is what bothers me). Why put up these long diatribes, of positions you don't personally believe in? The Lord calls us to stand for the truth, preach the word, and earnestly contend for the faith... not provide counter arguments and twisted logic.

Joe W.

wadeburleson.org said...

Joe W.

I play the Lord's advocate in an attempt to keep the Lord's people from being too smug about their ability to read His mind.

Blessings,

Wade

And, yes, I am a complementarian like you, but not mad at those who are not, and accept those who are not like I do my fellow complementarians.

Anonymous said...

Wade,

I never claimed to be able to read God's mind, but I am trying to read and follow God's Word. I wonder sometimes why He went through all that trouble in giving us His Word, when obviously no one can understand it. ;)

Again... where can I find the posts on your blog about what you actually do believe. Would be nice to hear your beliefs and understanding of scripture on this subject delineated.

PS... I'm not mad.
Joe W.

wadeburleson.org said...

Joe W.

You will get it when you can acknowledge that conservative, evangelicals who love the Bible as much as you can legitimately arrive at a different interpretation of Scripture on this issue - and you can fellowship with them without calling them 'liberal.'

Until then, I will take it as my calling to stretch my fellow complementarians past their comfort zones and continue to help them avoid theological smugness.

Blessings,

Wade

wadeburleson.org said...

And, Joe, thanks for acknowledging you are not mad. I believe it, and acknowledge your questions as very legitimate - and my answers the same.

Anonymous said...

Joe,

Just say they ain't liberal Joe! Then we can get it!!!!

Emily Hunter McGowin said...

I think you are doing some good work here, Wade. Thank you for your efforts. I am always pleased to find someone willing to be the "Lord's advocate."

Anonymous said...

Joe W.,

Could it be that it is hard to understand because we aren't God and He desires that we continue to turn to Him, rather than ourselves? I mean surely if we were meant to have all the answers He would have given us all the answers - there certainly could be more spelled out in the bible don't you agree?

Only By His Grace said...

Joe W.

"Liberal",

Would you please tell us what is a "Liberal" in your mind? You seem to have an inordinate affection in applying that label to those who disagree with your Biblical interpretation.

If you keep putting that label "Liberal" on people, we should know what you mean by it.

Personally, I have no idea what you mean when you use the word "Liberal". It seems to be your ultimate word of insult.

Phil.

Anonymous said...

Phil... you wrote...

"Liberal",

Would you please tell us what is a "Liberal" in your mind? You seem to have an inordinate affection in applying that label to those who disagree with your Biblical interpretation.

If you keep putting that label "Liberal" on people, we should know what you mean by it.

Personally, I have no idea what you mean when you use the word "Liberal". It seems to be your ultimate word of insult.

Phil... I stand to be corrected, but I don't recall calling or labeling anyone a "Liberal". Wade used that word, not me. In my post, I was just simply drawing attention to Wade's inconsistencies (ie... believing one thing, while printing another) which he somehow considers a calling from God (chapter and verse on that one).

But... since you asked nicely. :)

A "Liberal" Christian... if there is such a thing... is one who believes the Bible to be non-propositional. Liberals do not claim to discover truth propositions in the Bible, but rather create religious models and concepts that reflect the class, gender, social, and political context of their day. The Liberal Christian understands the Bible to be a collection of narratives that explain, epitomize, or symbolize the essence and significance of Christian understanding... but not absolute truth.

Thus... to the Liberal... the Biblical qualifications for a pastor are perceived to be mere recommendations... and should be weighed against more "contemporary", "modern", or "scientific" facts.

Joe W.

Anonymous said...

I have found that for myself (and I do NOT speak for others), my unwillingness to listen to another view point is usually a sign of fear. Fear that I might be wrong, fear that I cannot defend my belief, or fear that I don't really understand the issue. On matters where I know my position is strong, I do not hesitate to hear other's opinions/beliefs.
The truth will out.

Oh, and Joe W., I happen to believe that the Bible is "a collection of narratives that explain, epitomize, or symbolize the essence and significance of Christian understanding", and that it is absolute truth. God did not give us a "systematic theology" text in propositional form (see Calvin's "Institutes"), but rather a collection of poems, prophetic visions and stories. When we step away from the Torah, we do not see much propositional truth, but we see truth born out in narrative.

So my question would be how you would classify someone who refuses to add or remove from scripture by reducing narrative to proposition.

believer333 said...

Joe writes: “Thus... to the Liberal... the Biblical qualifications for a pastor are perceived to be mere recommendations... and should be weighed against more "contemporary", "modern", or "scientific" facts."


That would likely be correct if referring to a non-Christian. But a Christian will always take Scripture seriously and seek to allow it to transform there lives.
Disagreement on Scripture interpretation does not make a person a liberal.