Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

1 John 1

February 16, 2009 on 3:07 pm | In Women in Ministry | No Comments

The Apostle John begins the epistle 1John with gender neutral words when speaking of those who went forth and proclaimed and announced the good news of the gospel of Christ.

1John 1:1-5 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life– 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us– 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

I will break this section of scripture down by removing the added words of the translators.

Verse 1 What was from the beginning, what heard, what seen our eyes, what looked at and touched our hands concerning the Word of Life

Was it only those of the male gender who were with Jesus from the beginning, who heard and saw with their eyes, who beheld Him and touched Him?

No, it was not. Women as well as men traveled with Jesus from the very beginning. Women as well as men heard and saw with their eyes. Women as well as men beheld and touched Him.

Acts 13:31-32 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32 “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
Women as well as men had come up with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem.

Matthew 27:55-56 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56) Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:40-41 there were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Luke 23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Both men and women came up to Jerusalem from Galilee with Jesus – thus Paul testifies these women who did so now go forth and preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

Verse 2 and the life manifested and seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and manifested to us

Jesus – the life – was manifested and seen by both men and women. These men and women went forth testifying and proclaiming the eternal life with God had made manifest to them.

Verse 3 what seen and heard proclaim to you, that you also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

The men and women who were with Jesus went forth proclaiming what they had seen and heard. They did so that ALL would be in fellowship with one another, with God, and with Jesus.

Verse 4 These things write to you, that our joy be complete.

Verse 5 This is the message heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

Women, as well as men, were going forth and proclaiming the message that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.

John is this epistle DOES NOT limit the proclaiming of the gospel / the preaching of the good news of Christ / the carrying of the message of Christ to men alone.

John used gender neutral words when speaking of those who freely went forth proclaiming and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He did so because women were not limited from full participation in the work of the kingdom. He did so because women were not limited from proclaiming and announcing the good news of Jesus Christ. He did so because women were not limited from preaching the message the had received from Jesus.