Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

1Timothy 3:1-13

July 31, 2008 on 9:43 am | In Women in Ministry | 1 Comment

Overseers/Elders

Many use this exact portion of scripture – 1Timothy 3 – to argue against women holding positions of authority and leadership in the church.

Two offices are spoken of in this section of scripture. One is referred to as ‘overseer’ and the other is referred to as ‘deacon’.

1Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

According to the Strong’s Dictionary of the Greek the words translated as “any man” in the Greek is the word “tis” which is a non gender specific word meaning: “anyone, any man, any woman, whoever.”

The gender specific pronoun “he” in Verse 1 was added by the translators – it does not exist in the original text.

Paul is saying in 1Timothy 3:1 “if ANYONE aspires to the office of an overseer, it is a find work desires to do.”

Paul did not use gender specific words as he begins to speak the requirements for an overseer/elder in the church.

If Paul had wanted to limit being an overseers/elder to the male gender he would have used gender specific words — Paul did not use gender specific words because he was not limiting these offices to be held by males alone.

In this portion of scripture Paul uses non gender specific words which include ALL – male and female – who seek to serve in this office — Paul is NOT limiting this office to men alone.

Only one qualification for overseer/elder is addressed specifically to men and has definite gender word usage – the requirement of being “the husband of one wife”.

1Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,…

Some have interpreted this scripture to say overseers/elders must be a male because they see this statement as being addressed to husbands – which are obviously males.

Is this Paul’s intent? I do not believe it is because Paul used a non gender specific word when speaking of those who seek the office of overseer/elder in 1Timothy 3:1.

If we compare Titus 1:5-6 we find that Paul again used non gender specific words when speaking of the office of overseer/elder.

Titus 1:5-6 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

In Verse 6 the Greek Word translated as “man” is again the Greek Word “tis” which is a non gender specific word meaning: “anyone, any man, any woman, whoever.”

Paul says if anyone – non gender specific – is above reproach.

Paul in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6 then continues on with the requirements for the office of overseer/elder – listing each requirement one after the other or in a series. An overseer/elder must be above reproach. An overseer/elder must be the husband of one wife. An overseer/elder must have believing children. An overseer/elder must not be accused of dissipation or rebellion.

“Husband of one wife” is just one of the listed requirements among a series of requirements. This requirement does not make this office to be limited to males alone.

When Paul gave the “husband of one wife” requirement he was giving a specific requirement for men who serve in the office of overseer/ elder.

When Paul gave the “husband of one wife” requirement he was giving a specific requirement which prohibited men who serve in the office of overseer/elder from having more than one wife at a time.

Paul is giving a specific requirement of men who serve in the office of overseer/ elder.

Men, historically and culturally, predominantly have been the gender married to more than one spouse at a time.

Women, historically and culturally, have not been the gender married to more than one spouse at a time.

If women had culturally practiced marrying more than one spouse Paul would have written this requirement also for wives to have only one husband.

It is incorrect to use this specific requirement written to men to disqualify women from leadership positions in the church.

Paul wrote a specific requirement for the men who were ordained as an overseer/ elder. The requirement “husband of one wife” DOES NOT limit women from being ordained as an overseer/elder in the church.

1Timothy 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

The gender specific pronouns of “he” and “his” have been added by the translators – they do not exist in the original text.

It should read “one who manages own household well, keeping children under control with all dignity.”

1Timothy 3:5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

The Greek Word translated as “man” is again the word “tis” which is a non gender specific word meaning: “anyone, any man, any woman, whoever.”

The gender specific pronouns of “he” and “his” have been added by the translators – they do not exist in the original text.

It should read “(but if anyone does not know how to manage own household, how will take care of the church of God?)”

1Timothy 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

The gender specific pronoun of “he” was added by the translators – it does not exist in the original text.

It should read “and not a new convert, so that will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil.”

1Timothy 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The gender specific pronoun of “he” was added by the translators – it does not exist in the original text.

It should read “and must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Deacons

1Ti 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

The Greek word translated as “men of dignity” is “semnos” and denotes no gender but means: “venerable, honorable.”

The word “men” was added by the translators.

No gender specific word was used by Paul when he begins giving the requirements for the office of deacon.

It should read “Deacons likewise of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,”

1Timothy 3:10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

The Greek word translated as “men must also” is “kai” and denotes no gender but means: “and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.”

The gender of “men” was added by the translators. The Greek word translated as “these” is a non gender specific word denoting “these, they, this man, this woman, which, who”

It should read “These must also be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are above reproach.

1Ti 3:11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

The Greek Word translated as “women” is “gunē” which DOES denote the gender of a woman and means: “wife, woman”

Paul now writes a specific instruction to women who serve in the office of deacon.

Women who serve as deacons are to likewise be dignified (venerable, honorable), not malicious gossips, but temperate, and faithful in all things.

1Timothy 3:12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

Paul, as in 1Timothy 3:2, now writes a specific requirement to men who serve in the office of deacon.

1Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Greek Word translated as “those” is “ho hē to” and is a non gender specific word which means: “the, this, that, one, he, she, it”

Paul in his last statement (after making gender specific statements to both the female and male gender) returns to using non gender specific words and says “those – male and female” who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing ….

Paul DOES NOT limit the offices of overseer/elder and deacon to those who are of the male gender alone. These offices are open to those of both genders – male and female.

Titus

Titus 1:5-6 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

In Verse 6 the Greek Word translated as “man” is the Greek Word “tis” which is a non gender specific word meaning: “anyone, any man, any woman, whoever.”

Paul directed to Timothy to appoint as elder anyone– non gender specific – who is above reproach.

Paul beings the requirements for overseer/elder with the words if “anyone”, “whoever”, “any man”, or “any woman” is above reproach.

Paul does NOT begin his specific and clearly written instructions with gender specifications.

As in 1Timothy 3:2 the requirement “husband of one wife” is a specific requirement written to men who serve in the office of overseer/elder.

The requirement of “husband of one wife” does not exclude women from the office of overseer/elder. This is a specific requirement for the men who Titus would ordain as elders in the church.

Men, historically and culturally, predominantly have been the gender married to more than one spouse at a time.

Women, historically and culturally, have not been the gender married to more than one spouse at a time.

Paul wrote a specific requirement for the men who were ordained as an overseer/ elder. The requirement “husband of one wife” DOES NOT limit women from being ordained as an overseer/elder in the church.

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

The gender specific pronoun of “he” was added by the translators – it does not exist in the original text.

It should read “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that will be able to both exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

Paul was very specific to Titus and to Timothy when he chose to use non gender specific Greek words. Titus and Timothy were not confused by Paul’s written instructions – they understood that male and female could be appointed to this position.

If Paul had meant for this position to be for the male sex only he most certainly would have used gender specific words – he did not – he used non gender specific words in both letters where he listed the requirements for this position.

When we remove the added by the translators gender specific words we find no limitation given to those of the female gender from holding these offices in the church.

Gender bias and interpretation of Scripture in gender bias has brought this confusion into the church and not the writings of Paul.