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NASB | Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 3:28 There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. [Rom 3:22; 1 Cor 12:13] |
Subject: God can use woman in the ministry? |
Bible Note: The office of an overseer-bishop-episkopos is different from that of a pastor-poimen or a teacher-didaskalos, and I did not state that Priscilla was an overseer. According to my research, to pastor (Greek poimen, usually translated shepherd) means to tend a flock. Pastors are responsible for the day-to-day care of a group of believers, their spiritual guidance, feeding and protection with tender care and vigilant superintendence. Teachers, Greek didaskalos, are responsible to training believers in the Word and bringing understanding to them. Many Bible scholars believe that the office of pastor-teacher is one office, because in leading a group of people, teaching and guidance are both needed. Acts 18:26 clearly states that "... But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him [Apollos], THEY took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately", indicating that Priscilla was involved in the teaching of Apollos, an early church leader (one of the big three - Peter, Paul and Apollos mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:12). As for sharing a shepherding role, in 1 Corinthians 16:19 Paul refers to "Aquila and Priscilla ... with the church that is in THEIR house." The early church did not meet in a church building as we have today, but met in the synagogue, or the temple (if they lived in Jerusalem), or from "house to house" (Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42). Now Paul, who did not waste words, but used them very precisely, could have said "Aquila … with the church in HIS house", but he made a point to include "AND Priscilla … with the church in THEIR house". I could be wrong, but I don't recall another church house mentioned as belonging to a couple. Peter's house is mentioned as a meeting place... but not as Peter and his wife's house (cf Acts 10). Philip the evangelist's house is mentioned in Acts as a meeting place, but his wife is not referenced (although his daughters were mentioned as prophets Acts 21:8-9). Paul also refers to another woman "Nympha and the church in her house" in Colossians 4:15 after mentioning the church brothers at Laodicea. Romans 16:3-5a Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house… In Romans 16:3, Paul calls both Priscilla and Aquila "my fellow workers in Christ Jesus". The Greek word for "fellow workers" or helpers is sunergos (soon-er-gos') and means a companion in work, a fellow worker, implying an equality of position. Paul also used this term to refer to: Urbanus (church leader) Romans 16:9; Timothy (a pastor) Romans 16:21 and 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Titus (a pastor) 2 Corinthians 8:23; Epaphroditus (an apostle) Philippians 2:25; Euodia, Syntyche, Clement (church leaders) Philippians 4:3; Justus (a Jewish church leader) Colossians 4:11; Timothy; Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke (3 pastors and a physician, Demas later became an apostate 2 Timothy 4:10) Philemon 1:24. So Paul used the term "fellow workers" in referring to the early church leadership. In Romans 16:3, Paul again references "the church that meets at THEIR house". The word for "church" here is ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah), according to Strong's Concordance "an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting, a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake, and those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body". If you look at all the verses that reference this couple, Priscilla, the wife, is usually mentioned first, which is very unusual - and some scholars believe that this is either because she was the most beloved and memorable, or perhaps held the primary position in this church. Because of the language Paul uses in referring to Priscilla, I think it is indeed proper to accord her the title of co-pastor along with Aquila in their teaching and guidance of the church that met in THEIR home. |