Church Leadership In the New Testament

church leadership
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
www.EdwardFudge.com

PART ONE: SLIDES 3-66
WHAT DO WE FIND, AND
WHAT SHOULD WE IMITATE?
__________________________________________________________________
PART TWO: SLIDES 68-107
WOMEN
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
(CHURCH)

OUR FOREFATHERS ASSUMED . . .
“The New Testament is as perfect a
constitution for the worship, discipline and
government of the New Testament church . . .
as the Old Testament was for the worship,
discipline and government of the Old
Testament church.”
Thomas Campbell,
Declaration and Address,
(1809)

JAMES W. THOMPSON
Professor of New Testament
Abilene Christian University
________________________________________________________________
BUT WHAT IF . . .
We come to the conclusion of this study
seeking answers that the New Testament, with
its variety of witnesses, did not seek to
answer. The New Testament offers no uniform
view of ministry to be used to deal with our
problems over roles and models of ministry.”
James W. Thompson, “Ministry in the
New Testament,” Restoration Quarterly,
27:3 (1984), p. 155.

OUR QUESTION CHANGES . . .
“We seek enlightenment afresh in the New
Testament, not for a legalistic reproduction
of its details, but to heed, in the light of the
gospel, the message that it contains."
Eduard Schweizer, Church Order in the New Testament: Studies in
Biblical Theology (London: SCM Press, 1961), p. 19.

the place to begin . . .
And Jesus called them to him and said
to them, "You know that those who are considered
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be
so among you. But whoever would be great among
you must be your servant, and whoever would be first
among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of
Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many.“ (Mark 10:42-45 ESV)

What happened at Jerusalem?
• First reported church decision
• First act of organization
• Jerusalem conference
• Other early glimpses
• Observations

First reported ‘church’ decision
Acts 1
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount
called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath
day's journey away. 13When they had entered the
city, they went up to the upper room where they
were staying; that is, [the Eleven Apostles]. 14These
all with one mind were continually devoting
themselves to prayer, along with the women, and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
(continued)

First reported ‘church’ decision (Acts 1:12-26)
15At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the
brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and
twenty persons was there together), and said,
16"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which
the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David
concerning Judas . . . . 24And they prayed and said,
"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show
which one of these two You have chosen . . . .

The Eleven (Apostles)
The Women
Mary, Jesus’ mother
Jesus’ brothers
The 120 disciples
_______________
DECISION-MAKING:
persons near to Jesus
grounded in Scripture
divinely led

First act of ‘organization’

First act of ‘organization’
Admin. team appointed to meet need (Acts 6)
1Now at this time while the disciples were
increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part
of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews,
because their widows were being overlooked in the
daily serving of food. 2So the twelve summoned the
congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not
desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order
to serve tables. (continued)

first act of ‘organization’
3"Therefore, brethren, select from among you
seven men (andres) of good reputation, full of the
Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of
this task. 4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."
5The statement found approval with the whole
congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of
faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte
from Antioch. 6And these they brought before the
apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on
them.

Jerusalem conference (Acts 15)
1Some men came down from Judea and began
teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised
according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be
saved." 2And when Paul and Barnabas had great
dissension and debate with them, the brethren
determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others
of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles
and elders concerning this issue. . . .
4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were
received by the church and the apostles and the
elders, and they reported all that God had done with
them . . . (continued)

6The apostles and the elders came together to look
into this matter.”
_____________________________________________
THE PROCESS
1. State present positions.
2. See what God is doing now.
3. Listen to Scripture afresh in that light.
4. Propose solution in keeping with gospel.
5. Obtain agreement.
6. Announce Spirit-led decision.
_____________________________________________

1. State present positions . . .
7 After there had been much debate,

2. See what God is doing now . . .
Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you
know that in the early days God made a choice
among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would
hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8"And God,
who knows the heart, testified to them giving them
the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and He
made no distinction between us and them, cleansing
their hearts by faith. . . .

2. See what God is doing now . . .
12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening
to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what
signs and wonders God had done through them
among the Gentiles.

3. Listen to Scripture afresh in that light . . .
13 After they had stopped speaking, James
answered, saying, "Brethren, listen to me.
14"Simeon has related how God first concerned
Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a
people for His name. 15"With this the words of the
Prophets agree, just as it is written [in Amos 9:11-
12],

3. Listen to Scripture afresh in that light . . .
16 'After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the
tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild
its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 so that the rest of
mankind may seek the LORD, and all the Gentiles who
are called by my name,’ 18 says the LORD, who makes
these things known from long ago.’

4. Propose solution in keeping with gospel . . .
19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble
those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20but that we write to them that they abstain from
things contaminated by idols and from fornication and
from what is strangled and from blood . . . .

5. Obtain agreement . . .
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders,
with the whole church, to choose men from among
them to send to Antioch. . . [with] this letter … :

6. Announce Spirit-led decision . . .
"The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the
brethren . . . from the Gentiles, greetings . . . 25 it
seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to
select men . . . who . . . will also report . . . by word of
mouth. 28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to
us to lay upon you no greater burden than these
essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to
idols and from blood and from things strangled and
from fornication . . . .”

Other early glimpses
ACTS 4
“32 And the congregation of those who believed
were of one heart and soul; and . . . . all things were
common property to them. 33And with great power
the apostles were giving testimony to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace
was upon them all. 34For there was not a needy
person among them, for all who were owners of land
or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of
the sales 35and lay them at the apostles' feet, and
they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

ACTS 9
“26When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he was trying to
associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid
of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But
Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the
apostles and described to them how he had seen the
Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and
how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the
name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, moving
about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the
name of the Lord.”

ACTS 11
29 So the disciples [in Antioch] determined,
everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the
brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending
it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

ACTS 12
17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent,
[Peter] described to them how the Lord had brought
him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things
to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed
and went to another place.

ACTS 21
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers
received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in
with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, he related one by one the
things that God had done among the Gentiles through
his ministry.

OBSERVATIONS FROM JERUSALEM
Apostles
James
Elders
Congregation
the Seven

APOSTLES
* primarily witnesses/teachers
* authority = moral, proximity to Jesus
* no succession or transfer of position

JAMES
* brother of Jesus (James 1) and of
Jude (Jude 1)
* apostle -- not of 12 (Gal. 1:19)
* authority = moral, proximity to Jesus
* no succession or transfer of position

ELDERS
* mysteriously appear in Acts 11:30
* no explanation of appointment, qualities, work
* disappear after Acts 15 (except in passing - 21:18)
* apparently continued from Judaism

CONGREGATION
* involvement taken for granted
* no mention of any majority vote

OTHER (THE SEVEN)
* ad hoc appointment, based on need
* no precedent or provision mentioned
* ‘qualifications’ spiritual and practical

VILLAGE/TRIBAL ELDERS (‘ALDERMEN’)

Village or tribal elders
So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up
all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household,
and all the elders of the land of Egypt (Gen. 50:7).
Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to
them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to
your clans, and kill the Passover lamb” (Ex. 12:21).
You are standing today all of you before the LORD your
God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your
officers, all the men of Israel . . . (Deut. 29:10).

First-century Judaism's elders
* Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from
Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the
tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands
when they eat” (Matt. 15:1-2).
* And [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of
Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the
elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed,
and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31).
* On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes
gathered together in Jerusalem (Acts 4:5).

NT communities – elders mentioned
(*known Jewish presence)
*Judea (Acts 11:30)
*Jerusalem (Acts 15; 21:18)
*unidentified Jewish community (James
5:14)
*Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 14:23)
*Ephesus (Acts 20:17; 1 Tim. 5:1-2, 17, 19)
*Crete (Titus 1:5; 2:2-6)
*Pontus , Galatia, *Cappadocia, *Asia, Bithynia
(1 Peter 5:1-5)
Unknown (2 John 1; 3 John 1)

NT communities - no elders mentioned
Samaria
Antioch
Hebrews (locale ?)
Corinth
Philippi
Thessalonica
Rome

A SPIRITUAL FAMILY . . .
are these generic terms or titles?
“Do not sharply rebuke an older man (presbuter-
os), but rather appeal to him as a father, to the
younger men as brothers, the older women
(presbuteras) as mothers, and the younger
women as sisters, in all purity.” (1 Tim. 5:1-2)

A SPIRITUAL FAMILY
(Titus 2:1-6)
But as for you, teach what accords with healthy
doctrine.
Older men (presbutas) are to be sober-minded, dignified,
self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Older women (presbutidas) likewise are to be reverent in
behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are
to teach what is good, and so train the young women.
[Younger women] love their husbands and children, to be
self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submis-
sive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not
be reviled.
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

functions of Christian elders
(whether aldermen or seniors)
general administrative oversight (Acts 11:30)
general spiritual oversight (Acts 15; 21:18)
oversee = watch, care for, help (Acts 20:28-35)
rule = lit. preside -> word, teaching (1 Tim. 5:17)
instruct, rebuke (Titus 1:9)
anoint & pray for healing (James 5:14)
shepherd, be example (1 Peter 5:1-5)

NT communities - no mention of elders
Samaria
Antioch
Hebrews (locale ?)
Corinth
Philippi
Thessalonica
Rome

IF NOT ‘ELDERS,’ THEN WHAT?
prophets & teachers (Acts 13:1ff)
leaders (Heb. 13:7, 17 - hegoumenos)
administrations (Rom. 12:28 - cuberneseis)
servants, ministers, deacons (Phil. 1:1 - diakonos)
overseers, bishops (Phil. 1:1 - episkopos)
co-worker (Rom. 16:3 - synergos)
those who have charge over you (1Thes. 5:12 -
prohistamenos)
-- one who leads (Rom. 12:8 - prohistamenos)
-- leader, patroness, helper (Rom. 16:2 - prostatis)

Functions performed
prophets = speak word from God (local & temporary)
teachers = explain & apply gospel and scripture
leaders (hegoumenos) = lead
administration (cuberneseis) = steer, govern,
administer
servants, ministers, deacons (diakonos) = serve
overseers, bishops (episkopos) = watch over, oversee
co-worker (synergos) = Pauline associates
those who have charge over (prohistamenos) = preside,
govern, provide for

Paul’s favorite metaphor for God’s people
is “the BODY of Christ.”

Always “member” of the BODY
Never “member” of the CHURCH
A LIVING ORGANISM --
NOT AN ORGANIZATION
SPIRIT-GIVEN

Summary:
church leadership
top three truths
1.Spiritual leadership involves lowly service,
not legal power.
2.Spiritual leaders exercise grace-gifts, not
worldly qualifications.
3.Bible identifies people to acknowledge, not
technical qualifications for office.

1. Spiritual leadership involves
lowly service, not legal power.
CAUTION: Do not confuse spiritual
leadership with political position.

1. Spiritual leadership involves lowly
service, not legal power.
JESUS STATES IT –
”And Jesus called them to him and said to them,
‘You know that those who are considered rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so
among you. But whoever would be great among you
must be your servant, and whoever would be first
among you must be slave of all. For even the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many.’” (Mk. 10:42-45)

PETER APPLIES IT –
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in
the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of
God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under
compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for
shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in
your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the
chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading
crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject
to the i Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward
one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to
the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:1-5)

PAUL DESCRIBES IT – when correcting
___________________
“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as
you would a father, younger men as brothers, older
women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all
purity.” (1 Tim. 5:1-2)

PAUL DESCRIBES IT – when controversy arises
___________________
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies;
you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's
servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone,
able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his
opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant
them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from
the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do
his will. (2 Tim. 2:23-26)

PAUL DESCRIBES IT – when dealing with
divisive person
___________________
“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies,
dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are
unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs
up division, after warning him once and then twice,
have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such
a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
(Titus 3:9-11)

2. Spiritual leaders exercise grace-
gifts, not worldly qualifications.
CAUTION: Do not focus on worldly
achievements when choosing leaders.

2. Spiritual leaders exercise grace-gifts,
not worldly qualifications.
SO UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN MINISTRY –
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among
you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to
the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one
body we have many members, and the members do not
all have the same function, so we, though many, are one
body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,
let us use them: . . . the one who teaches, in his teaching;
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who
leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with
cheerfulness” (Rom. 12:3-8)

SO VIEW OTHER BELIEVERS –
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating
(cyberneseis), and various kinds of tongues” (1 Cor.
12:27-28)

BE A FAITHFUL STEWARD FOR GOD’S GLORY –
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God;
whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength
that God supplies—in order that in everything God
may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter
4:10-11)

3. Bible identifies gifted people,
not legal qualifications.
CAUTION: Do not confuse technical
‘qualifications’ with spiritual character.

-- NO ONE PICTURE –
1 Timothy 3 Titus 1
Service title overseer, seniors,
(bishop) (elders)
Descriptives 15 comments 16 comments
only five descriptives exactly same
* One-woman man * self-controlled * hospitable
* not a drunkard * not violent

HALF OF DESCRIPTIONS ARE EXPRESSED
NEGATIVELY – MOST ARE RELATIVE TERMS
(1 Tim. 3:1-7)
above reproach not a drunkard
one-woman man not violent
sober-minded gentle
self-controlled not quarrelsome
respectable not a lover of money
hospitable manages household well
able to teach not a recent convert
well thought of by outsiders

church leadership:
top three truths
1.Spiritual leadership involves lowly service,
not legal power.
2.Spiritual leaders exercise grace-gifts, not
worldly qualifications.
3.Bible identifies people to acknowledge, not
technical qualifications for office.

WOMEN IN
THE NEW
TESTAMENT
(CHURCH)

Evangelical Christians disagree
• Complementarian
• Hierarchical view
• compleMENtarian
The Council on Biblical
Manhood & Womanhood
www.cbmw.org
John MacArthur, Lane Dennis,
Beverly LaHaye, F. LaGard
Smith, Hudson Armerding,
J.I. Packer
• Egalitarian
• Total gender equality
• eGALitarian
Christians for Biblical
Equality
www.cbeinternational.org
Tony Campolo, Richard Foster,
Ward Gasque, Gordon Fee,
Roger Nicole, Aida B. Spencer

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
_____________________________________
• Anna announced infant Jesus as Messiah
• Women companions/sponsors in ministry
• Mary of Bethany a rabbinic pupil
• Women first to witness the tomb empty
• Mary Magdalene first to see Risen Jesus
• Mary Magdalene first ‘apostle’ to apostle

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
• Anna announced infant Jesus as Messiah (Luke 2)
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in
years, having lived with her husband seven years from
when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she
was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And
coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to
God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the
redemption of Jerusalem.

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
• Women companions/sponsors in ministry (Luke 8)
1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages,
proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom
of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some
women who had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven
demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza,
Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many
others, who provided for them out of their means.

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
• Mary of Bethany a rabbinic pupil (Luke 10)
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a
village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into
her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat
at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But
Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went
up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister
has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are
anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one
thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion,
which will not be taken away from her.”

"She is ‘sitting at his feet’; a phrase which doesn’t mean
what it would mean today, the adoring student gazing up in
admiration and love at the wonderful teacher. As is clear
from the use of the phrase elsewhere in the NT (for
instance, Paul with Gamaliel), to sit at the teacher’s feet is a
way of saying you are being a student, picking up the
teacher’s wisdom and learning; and in that very practical
world you wouldn’t do this just for the sake of informing
your own mind and heart, but in order to be a teacher, a
rabbi, yourself. Like much in the gospels, this story is left
cryptic as far as we at least are concerned, but I doubt if
any first-century reader would have missed the point.“
-- N.T. Wright, "Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical
Basis,“ St John’s College, Durham, England (September 4, 2004).

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
• Mary Magdalene first to see Risen Jesus (John 20)
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she
wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw
two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had
lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to
her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them,
“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know
where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she
turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not
know that it was Jesus. (continued)

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
. . . first to see Risen Jesus
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the
gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him
away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take
him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and
said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means
Teacher).

JESUS AND WOMEN
(worth & work)
• Mary Magdalene first ‘apostle’ to the apostles (John 20)
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not
yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and
say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your
Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene
went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the
Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

CONSIDER CONTEMPORARY ATTITUDE
“Put not trust in a single witness, but let
there be three or at least two, whose evidence
shall be accredited by their past lives. From
women let no evidence be accepted because of
the triviality and rashness of their sex; neither let
a slave bear witness because of the baseness of
their soul, since whether from greed or fear it is
likely that they will not attest the truth.
-- Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 4.219.

PAULINE PRINCIPLE
Galatians 3
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Apostle (?)
Apostolic co-workers
and laborers
Spirit-filled prophets
Spirit-filled pray-ers
Leader, ruler, patron
Teacher
Deacon/minister
Mentors/trainers
Spiritual mother
SOME WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• Apostle (?) – Junia
Rom. 16:7 -- Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives
and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the
apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
________________
1. Junias (masc.) = ASV, NASB, RSV, HCSB, NIV
2. Junia (feminine) = KJV, NKJV, NRSV, ESV, TNIV

Apostle (?) – Junia
“Greet Andronicus and Junia . . . who are outstanding
among the apostles” (Romans 16:7): To be an apostle
is something great. But to be outstanding among the
apostles—just think what a wonderful song of praise
that is! They were outstanding on the basis of their
works and virtuous actions. Indeed, how great the
wisdom of this woman must have been that she was
even deemed worthy of the title of apostle.
- John Chrysostom (344/54-407)

• Apostolic fellow-worker & laborer
Rom. 16:3 – Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in
Christ Jesus . . .
Phil. 4:3 – Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these
women, who have labored side by side with me in the
gospel together with Clement and the *rest of my fellow
workers, whose names are in the book of life.
*Timothy (Rom. 16:21) *Mark (Phil. 4:10)
*Titus (2 Cor. 8:2-3) *Luke (Philemon 24)

• Apostolic fellow-worker & laborer
1 Cor. 16:15 – Now I urge you, brothers — you know that
the household of Stephanas were the first converts in
Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the
service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and
to every fellow-worker and laborer.

• Spirit-filled prophets
1 Cor. 11:5 -- but every woman who prays or prophesies
with her head uncovered dishonors her head . . .

• Spirit-filled pray-ers
1 Cor. 11:5 -- but every woman who prays or prophesies
with her head uncovered dishonors her head . . .

• Leader, ruler, patron
Rom. 16:1 -- I commend to you our sister Phoebe . . .
2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy
of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need
from you, for she has been a patron [prostatis] of many
and of myself as well.

PROSTATIS
Feminine form found only here in Bible.
Lit. = Presider, president, leader, patron, provider.
O.T. = This noun (masc. form) is used of “supervisors of
the king’s work” (1 Chron. 29:6) and of men “who
worked for Solomon as supervisors” (2 Chron. 8:10).
N.T. = Verb used for “those who have charge over”
(1Thes. 5:12 -proistamenos) and of “one who leads”
(Rom. 12:8 –proistamenos).

• Teacher
Acts 18:24 -- Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of
Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man,
competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed
in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he
spoke and taught accurately the things concerning
Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He
began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when
Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and
explained to him the way of God more accurately.

• Deacon/Minister – Phoebe
Rom. 16:1 -- I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a
servant [diakonos] of the church at Cenchreae . . .

• Mentors/trainers
Titus 2:3-5 -- Older women likewise are to be reverent in
behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They
are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young
women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-
controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive
to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be
reviled.

• Mothers
Rom. 16:13 -- Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his
mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

What about 1 Cor. 14:34-35?
CORINTH

1 Corinthians 14
Paul tells three unruly groups to zip the lip.
1. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there
be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let
someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret,
let each of them keep silent (sigao) in church and
speak to himself and to God.

1 Corinthians 14
2. 29 Let two or three prophets speak,
and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is
made to another sitting there, let the first be silent
(sigao) . . . . 33 For God is not a God of confusion but
of peace.

1 Corinthians 14
3. 34 the women should keep silent
(sigao) in the churches. For they are not
permitted to speak, but should be in
submission, as the Law also says. 35 If
there is anything they desire to learn,
let them ask their husbands at home.
For it is shameful for a woman to speak in
church.

1 Timothy 2 – Setting
Timothy at Ephesus to rebut false teaching (1 Tim. 1:3).
• Involved something “falsely called knowledge (gnosis)”
(1 Tim. 6:20).
• Speculations and myths concerning the Law of Moses
(1 Tim. 1:4-7).
• Targeted church women (2 Tim. 3:6-7), perhaps spread
by young widows (1 Tim. 5:11-13).
• Forbidding marriage (1 Tim. 4:3).
• Requiring abstinence from certain foods (1 Tim. 4:3).
• Resurrection spiritualized and said to be past (2 Tim.
2:17-18).

1 Timothy 2 – Vocabulary & Translation
8 I wish therefore to pray the men in every place the
men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or
quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn
themselves in respec-table apparel, with modesty and
self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or
costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who
profess godliness—with good works.”
__________
In this reading, as in 1 Corinthians 11, men and women
alike are praying. Paul corrects the men’s attitudes, and
the women’s clothing and demeanor, to commend and
enhance the gospel .

Throughout 1 Tim. 2:8-15, the words translated “man”
(aner) and “woman” (gyne) also mean “husband” and
“wife.”
_____________
At times, a generic reading (“man” and “woman”) seems
to fit better. However, the background of the particular
false teaching at Ephesus, plus Paul’s references to
Adam and Eve, suggest that the focus is on the
husband/wife relationship throughout this passage.

“11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
_______________
The underlined words both translate a Greek word
(hesychia) which means “quietness” rather than
“silence.” Paul uses the adjective form of the same word
(hesychios) in verse 2, “. . . that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life.” See also 2 Thess. 3:12, where Paul
commands believers “to do their work quietly (hesychia)
and to earn their own living.”

“12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
_______________
The verb Paul usually uses to express the idea of
having authority is exousiazein. Here, however, Paul
uses a verb that occurs nowhere else in the New
Testament. It is a very strong verb (authentein) that
means “to domineer,” “to overthrow, usurp authority,” “to
act as a tyrant,” “to willfully enforce for oneself.” The
noun in the same word family (authentes), meant in
classical Greek either a “murderer” or an “absolute ruler.”

“12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise
_______________
Dr. Carroll Osburn (Women in the Church, 246-252),
urges that the second verb underlined above explains
the verb before it. This has Paul saying: “I do not permit
a woman to teach domineeringly over a man.” Or
perhaps, “I do not permit a wife to teach domineeringly
over a husband.” This could reflect the situation at
Ephesus, where some women/ wives reject marriage
and declare themselves totally independent of men/
husbands, based on false “knowledge” or gnosis.

equal? timeless? universal?
1. I urge that . . . Prayers . . . be made . . . for kings
2. I desire . . . Men . . . pray, lifting holy hands
3. Women adorn selves . . . not with braided hair
4. and gold . . . or pearls . . . or costly attire
5. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness
6. I do not permit (here? now?) a woman to teach
7. or to exercise authority over a man
8. rather, she is to remain quiet
9. Yet she will be saved through childbearing

Church Leadership In the New Testament

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Church Leadership In the New Testament