Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

Woman as Deacons

July 7, 2009 on 4:50 pm | In Women in Ministry | No Comments

Let’s consider the impact these words “minister to Him” and “contributing their support” spoken of the women who followed Jesus as His disciples has upon women and their service in the church today.

Matt 27:55says of these women “had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.” Mark 15:41 says ” When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him” Luke 8: 3 says ” who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

The Greek word translated here as “ministering” in Matt 27:55, Mark 15:41, and as “contributing support” in Luke 8:3 is “diakoneo”.

The Complete Word Study says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is “those in the early church who fulfilled the duties of the office of a deacon, bringing advantage to others, to help and when diakonéo is used, then helping someone directly is involved.”

New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “serve as deacons.”

Strong’s Greek Dictionary says one of “diakoneo” meanings is “technically to act as a Christian deacon: minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.”

Thayer’s Greek Definitions says one of “diakoneo” many meanings is ” who administer the office of a deacon” and “in Christian churches to serve as deacons.”

When these women minister to Jesus the office of deacon did not yet exist. The type of ministry these women preformed became known in the early church as the service rendered by deacons.

Jesus’ actions demonstrated He placed no gender boundaries for those who ministered to Him in this type of service. I find these women’s acceptable service to be compelling evidence of no gender boundaries for those who serve in the position of deacon.

Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!

Let’s examine the New Testament Scriptures which have been used to restrict women from serving in the position of deacon.

1Ti 3:8-13 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 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.

Vs 8 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text – it is simply the Greek word for “acting with dignity or being honorable in action” – it is NOT a gender specific word. Thus the Greek reads as, “Deacons likewise dignity…”

Vs 10 the gender word of “men” is NOT in the original text. The Greek reads as, “These also …” No gender specific word is used for those who serve in the position of deacon.

Vs 11 The NASB correctly translates “gune” as women.

The word “likewise” was first used by Paul to tie the qualifications of Bishop to those who serve in the position of Deacon in Vs 8. Paul in Vs 11 now ties women by his use of the word “likewise” to the above qualifications of deacon. Paul is giving specific instructions to women who serve as deacons in the church.

Women who served as deacons were expected to “likewise” possess all the above qualities and to be dignified, not malicious gossips, temperate, and faithful in all things.

In Vs 12 Paul turns from giving specific instructions to the women who serve as deacons to give a specific instruction to the men who serve as deacons – husband of one wife.

Vs 13 Paul turns from speaking gender specific instructions. We see this as he uses a gender neutral word to speak of “those” who serve well as deacons.

Women were not excluded from serving as deacons. Paul specifically speaks qualifications for women who serve in this position.

Jesus did not exclude women from ministering to Him in this of service – neither should the New Testament church !!!

This brings us to Phoebe – a woman the Bible specifically names as serving as a “minister” to the church of Cenchrea in Romans 16:1.

Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

It is important to note that Paul wrote “I commend to you our sister Phoebe.”

The Greek word translated as commend means “to approve, to introduce favorably, to stand near.” Paul by his use of the word commend gave his approval of Phoebe and her ministry to the church of Cenchrea as he made introduced her to the Corinthian church.

The Greek word Paul uses to describe Phoebe and translated as “servant” is the same word translated as deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

Knowing that woman were included in the qualification given by Paul for the position of deacon Paul could be referring to Phoebe as a deacon in the church at Cenchrea.

I believe either gender bias or an incorrect doctrinal understanding which restricts the position of deacon to men alone caused the translators to translate this word as servant instead of deacon when used to describe Phoebe.

It is important for us to note that the chosen translation of this word by the translators is most likely NOT Paul’s true usage. When this word is used by Paul elsewhere it is translated as “deacon” and “minister” (1 Tim 3:8-13, Eph 3:7, Col 1:23).

When this term was used of Tychicus (Eph 6:21) – a male – the translators chose to translated it as minister.

It was only translated as “servant” when used of Phoebe. The translators chose to not translate this word according to how they translated Paul’s other usages of this word because of its association with a woman. Because of this word’s usage in association with a women they chose to use a word which held a lower connotation of her service and position in the church.

Paul uses this word to describe himself as a minister of the church.

Col 1:24-25 (KJV) … for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Paul used this same term to refer to Phoebe and her service in the church of Cenchrea.

What type of ministry did she perform in the church of Cenchrea? She ministered in the church with authority.

Romans 16:2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.

The Greek word translated as helper or succourer as used in the KJV is “protatis”, which is a feminine form of “proistemi.” “Proistemi” means “to stand before in rank, to preside, to be over, to rule, one who acts with authority.”

Paul described Phoebe as a minister who stands before others in rank, presides over, rules, and acts with authority. Phoebe acted with authority over the of Cenchrea.

Paul told the church at Corinth to give Phoebe aid in whatever matter she had need. Phoebe held a position of authority that caused others to be instructed to help her in whatsoever she asked.

At the very least Phoebe exercised authority in the church as deacon.

Personally, I agree with the Bible scholars who believe this word “minister” describes Phoebe as being more than a deacon and most likely a pastor because of the authority Paul associates with her position in the church of Cenchrea.

We find a precedent set by Jesus and the women He allowed to minister to Him – women freely fulfilling the duties of deacons in the church.