'Alrighty Bro...I'll start with scripture and then give you my personal opinion...........
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all
men;
anthro?posanth'-ro-pos
From G435 and
? o?ps (the countenance; from G3700); manfaced, that is, a human being: - certain, man.
8 I will therefore that
men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
ane?ran'-ayr
A primary word (compare G444); a man (properly as an individual male): - fellow, husband, man, sir.
9 In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
gune?goo-nay'
Probably from the base of G1096; a woman; specifically a wife: - wife, woman.
"Now, here is part of the very next chapter of the same book. Note who is to be a deacon or bishop."1 Tim 3:1
This is a true saying, If a
man desire the office of a
bishop, he desireth a good work.
ei tisi tis
From G1487 and G5100; if any: - he that, if a (-ny) man (?s thing, from any, ought), whether any,
whosoever. (underline mine)
G5100 - tis
tis
An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object: - a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, -thing, -what), (+ that no-) thing, what (-soever), X wherewith, whom [-soever], whose ([-soever]).
episkope?ep-is-kop-ay'
From G1980; inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian ?episcopate?: - the office of a ?bishop?, bishoprick, visitation.
G1980 - episkeptomai ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee;
Middle voice from G1909 and the base of G4649; to inspect, that is, (by implication) to select; by extension to go to see, relieve: - look out, visit.
5 (For if a
man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
tistis
An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object: - a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, -thing, -what), (+ that no-) thing, what (-soever), X wherewith, whom [-soever], whose ([-soever]).
7 Moreover
he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
autosow-tos'
From the particle a??? au (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare G848.
8 Likewise must the
deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
diakonosdee-ak'-on-os
Probably from d?a??? diako? (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or
deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant. (my emphasis on deaconess)
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head
covered, dishonoureth his head.
katakat-ah'
A primary particle; (preposition) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive, dative or accusative] with which it is joined): - about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to, touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, [charita-] bly, concerning, + covered, [dai-] ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from . . . to, godly, in (-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), . . . by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-) on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through (-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-) to (-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where (-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution or intensity.
MSG translation: 4 Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head
uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
akatakaluptosak-at-ak-al'-oop-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of a compound of G2596 and G2572; unveiled: - uncovered.
G1 - A
al'-fah
Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet: figuratively only (from its use as a numeral) the first. Often used (usually ?an?, before a vowel) also in composition (as a contraction from G427) in the sense of privation; so in many words beginning with this letter;
occasionally in the sense of union (as a contraction of G260): - Alpha. (underline mine)
G2596 - kata
kat-ah'
A primary particle; (preposition) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive, dative or accusative] with which it is joined): - about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to, touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, [charita-] bly, concerning, + covered, [dai-] ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from . . . to, godly, in (-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), . . . by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-) on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through (-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-) to (-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where (-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution or intensity.
G2572 - kalupto?
kal-oop'-to
Akin to G2813 and G2928; to cover up (literally or figuratively): - cover, hide.
MSG translation - 5 In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband.
Okie dokie..........now for my personal opinion:
I have never studied this subject quite this closely, to tell you the truth. I was taught by my mother that my daddy was the head of our house/family. My mom always did and still does submit to my dad. But...my dad sees my mom as an intelligent human being and pretty much lets her do as she wishes because he trusts her heart and her mind being ruled by the same Christ that he serves. In my own marriage, I submit myself to my husband, who is honest and knowledgeable enough to know he is not a Christian and Christ is NOT his head. I serve my husband as I believe God wants me to serve a husband...saved or not. In the past 20 years I can only presently recall a couple of decisions my husband was about to make which I felt went against God's law. At which time I lovingly pointed out his error. One of those times, he submitted to my "opinion", which was based on scripture, with no anger or resentment. The other time he wasn't so sure about it but did not carry out his plan of action, since he knew deep down his plan was wrong. My husband also pretty much leaves me to my own decision making because, as he has told me, he trusts that I serve God to the best of my ability. I know my husband is the head of this home. He knows that I know he's the head of our home. Not a problem.
As far as women preaching is concerned, I take female preachers the same way I do male preachers. I listen to the message to see if it lines up with The Word of God. I must be totally honest here, though, and admit to an initial distrust of women preachers. In fact, there are very few female preachers or high profile teachers that I get a good feeling about. I
think that might just be a personal and female thing, though. I KNOW how women can be. As I posted in the "Do Men Really Face More Temptation" thread, women can be vicious. We just do it quietly and behind the back, under the table. We have a couple who often comes to our church to fill in for Pastor or just to preach to us. Bro."J" is a most awesome and talented teacher/preacher/evangelist and I have learned so very much from him. Occasionally, his wife, Sis "P", will get up to share something, too. I love this woman and over the past 5 or so years I have come to trust her totally, that what she says is prompted and inspired and taught to her by The Holy Spirit. She is quiet, unassuming and totally supportive of her husband.
The conclusion I find myself coming to through this brief study of the scriptures this morning is that through our union with our husbands and our own personal salvation, Christ is also a woman's head. I do not think that it is wrong for women to preach, teach, or have a position that
seems to be over the men in the congregation. As long as Christ is her head and she is doing the work and will of The Father, as opposed to be only set on "ruling" over men, then I see no reason a woman cannot preach. In the Greek definitions of the words highlighted above, I surmise that anyone can aspire to the office of "bishop" (whosoever will). I do think it is highly important to make sure this is a God-calling and not of a person's own lust for power. But that would hold for men as well as women.
One little side note to all this: In 1 Tim. 3:4 it states that the bishop should make sure he can rule his own household. If Mr. Van Natten is going to go by the "letter of the law" then I think a long hard look should be taken at some of the "PK's" (Preacher's Kids) in the church. I hate generalizations, but every PK I've ever known was pretty rough, wild, spoiled, bratty or just plain weird. You don't even want to know the things I was taught by a preacher's daughter when I was very young.
So, Mr. Van Natten, if you're going to throw a stone at women preachers you might want to pocket a few extra for those preachers with them wild kids.
How'd I do, Brother?
smiley
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