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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Women pastor | 1 Cor 14:34 | Ronaldo | 64875 | ||
Deaconesses? please comment! I am not able to find where women can be recoginized as deaconesses in an official capacity. In a general sense we are all to serve (diakonos), but the only passage dealing with "offices" is 1 Timothy 3. To my knowledge the word "deaconess" is not found in the Greek New Testament or in the Greek language. "Deaconess" is supplied by commentators and Bible dictionaries. The case for deaconesses is based on one verse, 1 Timothy 3:11, where the word is "yuvn" 1) a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow 2) a wife 2a) of a betrothed woman The word used for deacon in the New Testament is masculine gender which I understand does not refer to sex. The Greek genders are to do with the place and function of the nouns in sentences. Therefore, deacon would refer to the function of servant, which could be male or female. So if males and females can be included under the term "deacon" which appears in 1 Timothy 3, then it would not be necessary to have a separate category of "deaconesses" in 1 Timothy 3:11. In short, 1 Timothy 3 does not refer to an office called "deaconess" and this word is not found in the Bible. When 1 Timothy 3 does speak of "deacon" the context makes all the qualifications refer to men. Early church tradition is often cited in support of the office of "lady deacon" or "deaconess", but then tradition does not have the authority of Scripture. I think that maybe the women cited in 1 Timothy 3: 11 could be those who assist in ministering to young women and children as in Titus 2:3,4. Women should be used more in churches to study to be able to minister to other women and children. God bless |
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2 | Women pastor | 1 Cor 14:34 | Ronaldo | 65291 | ||
Hi Tim, For Romans 16:1 the versions never translate "deaconess". They either say "servant" (see NASB)or "deacon" The Greek word is "diakonon" which is the masculine form of the word. In Greek the masculine gender does not refer to sex but, as in Latin, it is just an indication of the function of the word in a sentence. This is why the translations render "servant". Phoebe was thus a servant. She was indeed a female servant. However, she may not have held and office of deacon. Are we not all servants? Paul was an apostle but he was also a servant (diakonos). Deacon or servant is used in a general way indicating a servant. The only passages that speaks about office of deacon is 1 Timothy 3, and where it speaks of deacon it always gives male qualification. For instance, "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife' As you can see, the word "deacon" can include male or female, but the context of 1 Timothy 3 implies only males. Look at 1 Tim. 3:10 where NASB renders "Let these men also first be tested" There is no Greek word, to my knowledge, for "lady deacon" or "deaconess". God bless |
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