Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Corinthians 14:34 ¶ The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 14:34 ¶ the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says. |
Bible Question: Is it approproiate for a women to pastor a church? |
Bible Answer: 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 |