Comments on: Women in Church Leadership: A Brief Defense of the Evangelical Egalitarian Position http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:49:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Thainamu http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-231 Thainamu Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:02:25 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-231 Yesterday in our SS class we were going over the list of heroes of the faith in Chapter 11 of Hebrews. Our group noticed Barak's name was there, but Deborah's was missing. Hmmm...out of that long chapter the only woman mentioned is Rahab the prostitute. (Maybe there is something to the idea that Paul--assuming Paul was the author of Hebrews--was a misogynist! j/k) I don't really know if the verses you cite are examples of culturally defined rules, but it does seem possible. I know there are other passages in Scripture that we interpret that way, esp. the minutia of the OT law. I certainly have utmost respect for women in ministry both today in in decades past for times when it seemed like they stepped up to the plate when men were not available (foreign missions come to mind). And, as I said before, I myself have been blessed by the women leaders in the church. There are so many things in Scripture that are all-encompassing and that appear to be important general truths for all time--things like God so loved the world that he gave his son. Other things do seem culturally-based and open to some variation (though I think it is important to look for the reason <i>why</i> certain commands were given, looking for a generally-applicable principle). Paul himself seems to be just offering his opinion, not a strong rule, when he talks about married and unmarried people in I Cor 7:6 and again in 7:12 (contrast with 7:10 when he is giving a strong rule). Yesterday in our SS class we were going over the list of heroes of the faith in Chapter 11 of Hebrews. Our group noticed Barak’s name was there, but Deborah’s was missing. Hmmm…out of that long chapter the only woman mentioned is Rahab the prostitute. (Maybe there is something to the idea that Paul–assuming Paul was the author of Hebrews–was a misogynist! j/k)

I don’t really know if the verses you cite are examples of culturally defined rules, but it does seem possible. I know there are other passages in Scripture that we interpret that way, esp. the minutia of the OT law.

I certainly have utmost respect for women in ministry both today in in decades past for times when it seemed like they stepped up to the plate when men were not available (foreign missions come to mind). And, as I said before, I myself have been blessed by the women leaders in the church.

There are so many things in Scripture that are all-encompassing and that appear to be important general truths for all time–things like God so loved the world that he gave his son. Other things do seem culturally-based and open to some variation (though I think it is important to look for the reason why certain commands were given, looking for a generally-applicable principle). Paul himself seems to be just offering his opinion, not a strong rule, when he talks about married and unmarried people in I Cor 7:6 and again in 7:12 (contrast with 7:10 when he is giving a strong rule).

]]> By: Jasen Tracy http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-233 Jasen Tracy Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:47:16 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-233 I don't realize Barak was in Hebrews 11, he doesn't really seem worthy of inclusion. I don’t realize Barak was in Hebrews 11, he doesn’t really seem worthy of inclusion.

]]> By: Jasen Tracy http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-234 Jasen Tracy Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:54:37 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/women-in-church-leadership-a-brief-defense-of-the-evangelical-egalitarian-position/#comment-234 Also, Sarah is mentioned in Hebrews 11. Although I'm not sure if it's for her faith or Abraham's. Also, Sarah is mentioned in Hebrews 11. Although I’m not sure if it’s for her faith or Abraham’s.

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