Christmas eve at our church service guess who came in and sat down right in front of me? Al Mohler and family. And the funniest thing is one of our WOMEN deacons served communion. Love it. The reason I love it is because so many seminary students come there inquiring about interning but when they find out we have women deacons and women teach at ALL…even other women, they tell our pastor it isn’t biblical. Wonder what they would think of their idol taking communion from a woman! Oh, and we allowed women to read scripture to the congregation that night, too. Not allowed in some Reformed churches.
paulspassingthoughts said, on December 25, 2011 at 9:36 PM
Lydia,
‘Deaconess” is an office in the church. “Likewise their wives” is the feminine form of “deacon” ( if I remember correctly, too tired to look it up right now). But anyway, that passage doesn’t refer to the wives of deacons–it refers to the fact that women deacons should be held to the same qualifications as men deacons. So, kudos to your church.
paulspassingthoughts said, on December 26, 2011 at 12:44 AM
“The Greek word rendered ‘wives’ can only be translated ‘women.’ Paul likely here refers not to deacons’ wives, but to women who serve as deacons. The use of the word ‘likewise’ as an introduction (cf. v. 8) suggests a third group in addition to elders and deacons” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).
1″ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” Romans 16
Some translations use ‘servant’ but deacon in this passage is masculine form. As to prostatis (benefactor), The noun derives from the verb προΐστημι (proïstēmi) meaning “to preside over,” so in its most literal sense, a προστάτις is a woman set over others. In Koine usage and in Romans 16:2, a προστάτις was a female patron or benefactor. However, a number of English translations have obscured the force of this word, translating it as “helper” (NIV 1984, ASV, NASB, NKJV, RSV, NLT) or “succourer” (KJV). Some of these translators may have sincerely been in error, but others were probably acting out of a bias against influential women in the church.
In recent years, a few translations have sought to remedy this problem, correctly translating προστάτις as “benefactor” or “patron” (NIV 2010, ESV, TNIV, NRSV, HCSB), but most translations persist in describing Phoebe as a mere “helper.”
Phoebe was using her wealth to build the church. This is not about being “over” others or putting any gender above another.. It is about rightly dividing the Word of God.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
The real line up for the New Reformed movement.
Christmas eve at our church service guess who came in and sat down right in front of me? Al Mohler and family. And the funniest thing is one of our WOMEN deacons served communion. Love it. The reason I love it is because so many seminary students come there inquiring about interning but when they find out we have women deacons and women teach at ALL…even other women, they tell our pastor it isn’t biblical. Wonder what they would think of their idol taking communion from a woman! Oh, and we allowed women to read scripture to the congregation that night, too. Not allowed in some Reformed churches.
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Lydia,
‘Deaconess” is an office in the church. “Likewise
their wives” is the feminine form of “deacon” ( if I remember correctly, too tired to look it up right now). But anyway, that passage doesn’t refer to the wives of deacons–it refers to the fact that women deacons should be held to the same qualifications as men deacons. So, kudos to your church.LikeLike
“The Greek word rendered ‘wives’ can only be translated ‘women.’ Paul likely here refers not to deacons’ wives, but to women who serve as deacons. The use of the word ‘likewise’ as an introduction (cf. v. 8) suggests a third group in addition to elders and deacons” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).
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Phoebe was a deacon, too.
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I forgot about that one. What’s the reference?
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1″ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” Romans 16
Some translations use ‘servant’ but deacon in this passage is masculine form. As to prostatis (benefactor), The noun derives from the verb προΐστημι (proïstēmi) meaning “to preside over,” so in its most literal sense, a προστάτις is a woman set over others. In Koine usage and in Romans 16:2, a προστάτις was a female patron or benefactor. However, a number of English translations have obscured the force of this word, translating it as “helper” (NIV 1984, ASV, NASB, NKJV, RSV, NLT) or “succourer” (KJV). Some of these translators may have sincerely been in error, but others were probably acting out of a bias against influential women in the church.
In recent years, a few translations have sought to remedy this problem, correctly translating προστάτις as “benefactor” or “patron” (NIV 2010, ESV, TNIV, NRSV, HCSB), but most translations persist in describing Phoebe as a mere “helper.”
Phoebe was using her wealth to build the church. This is not about being “over” others or putting any gender above another.. It is about rightly dividing the Word of God.
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Lydia,
Thanks, pretty straight forward.
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Reblogged this on Paul's Passing Thoughts.
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