The Role of Women in the Church (part 4): Women Eldership and Conclusion

Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in
ministry.


1 Timothy 3:1-7


Titus 1:6-9


Can women be elders?


Nearly all English versions use the masculine pronoun (he) and
the possessive (his) in 1 Tim 3:1-7. For example, the NIV above
uses “he” seven times and “his” four times. But in the Greek text
all the verbs are generically expressed, capable of being either
gender, and there are no masculine pronouns or possessives.


One Woman Man


the purpose of this phrase is not the gender but the sexual ethic
and faithfulness. Against polygamy and homosexuality.


Paul also writes about the gift of singleness in 1 Cor 7 and that
it does have spiritual advantages for men and women. Does being
unmarried exclude one from eldership? If it does then Paul and
Jesus couldn’t be elders at our church. This furthermore points
to the meaning of “one-woman man” being about sexual ethic rather
than gender or marriage requirements.


• The list of behaviors in Timothy and Titus that are
criteria for eldership that Paul says are capable of
women:


o  Eldership is good work (3:1), Paul expects women to do
good work (5:10​)


o  Elder must be above reproach (3:2), Paul expects women to
be irreproachable (5:7)


o  Elders must be temperate (3:2), Paul expects women to be
temperate (3:11​)


o  Elders must be self-controlled (3:2), Paul expects women
to be self-controlled (2:9,15)


o  Elders must be respectable (3:2), Paul expects women to
be respectable (2:9)


o  Elders must be hospitable (3:2), Paul expects women to be
hospitable (5:10​)


o  Elders must be able to teach (3:2), Paul expects women to
be teachers of what is good (Titus 2:3)


o  Elders must not be drunkards (3:3), Paul expects women
not to be drunkards (Titus 2:3)


o  Elders must not be lovers of money (3:3), Paul expects
women to avoid being adorned with gold, pearls, and expensive
clothing (2:9)


o  Elders must be good managers of their household (3:4),
Paul expects women to rule their households (5:14​)


o  Elder must show dignity in the they keep children under
control (3:4), Paul expects women to show dignity (3:11​)


o  Elders must not be new converts, falling into
condemnation on account of pride (3:6), Paul expects women to be
humble and not under condemnation (5:10​,12)


o  Elders must have a good testimony from outsiders (3:7),
Paul expects women to have a good testimony from others (5:7,10)


Every item on Paul’s list of qualifications for eldership are
things he expects of both women and men in 1 Timothy and Titus.
Every item listed here we see Paul encouraging the women to
become elsewhere in these same letters.


Paul specifically uses gender neutral terms to show that women
and men should both aspire to this office and these behaviors.
The masculine pronouns and possessives are not in the Greek text.


“One-Woman Man” is an idiomatic phrase that is about sexual
faithfulness between one man and one woman in marriage.


Scripture does not ban women from being elder but rather
encourages men and women to mutually work together leading and
guarding the flock.