Bible Question: Can women be bishops? |
Bible Answer: I'm afraid the answer is No, at least for those ladies who wish to obey and please the Lord. Also, it needs to be said that bishops, elders, shepards, overseers and pastors are all in reference to the same function or person in the first century when the church was established. And of course the qualifications are quite clear throughout the NT... 1 Tim 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (My emphasis with all caps above.) BUT don't let this dishearten you. This is just God's Order of things like the earth circling the sun and our putting the horse in front of the cart. We all have our assigned roles from God in this world. Elders are to be stewards of God's Word enforcing His Provisions and Patterns like that done in 1 Cor 5 with the incestuous relationship, corrected with repentance in II Cor 2. When we follow God's Perfect Pattern that it reduces our chances for making mistakes as we humans are inclined to do. Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, AS A STEWARD OF GOD, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. Also women do serve a great and important function in the Lord's church in training the young women as provided in... Tit 2:3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. So we all have our assigned duties and should rejoice in that we don't have nearly the burden like the Jews in the OT, with at least 633 rules and regulations from the Law of Moses. I hope this helps. Go with God IN all things. Bill |
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Questions and/or Subjects for NT general | Author | ||
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lovingmother07 | ||
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cagreen | ||
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jedymaky | ||
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Redenna Tate | ||
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Bill Richardson | ||
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7angels | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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Atterbury | ||
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John Ryals | ||
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Mike94 | ||
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Jlalli | ||
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pmitch | ||
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onthebrink247 |