PositionPaper_WomenInLeadership_AU_A5_HR

Phoebe is an example of this as we find her in Romans 16:1-2, defined in terms of leadership as she is commended by Paul:

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchreae; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.” She is referred to first as our sister, so we know this is a female. But Paul also refers to her as a “servant [diakonon—servant, minister, bearer of a specific office, deacon] of the church in Cenchreae.” This role of deacon is a leading role of significance. I Timothy 3:11 confirms this leadership office for women. I Timothy 3 The context of I Timothy chapter 3 is important here. First, if as some have said, verses 3:10-11 refers to deacons’ wives when it states, “But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.” Why is there no exhortation concerning elders’ wives in verses 1-7 as it is the highest office? In the midst of instruction to deacons, Paul states, “Women must likewise, be dignified,” an obvious reference to the office at hand. In verse 8, he uses the same terminology to introduce a break in the text from elder, to address the office of deacon. This indicates a similar break to introduce the office for women. Reconciling Problem Passages How then do we reconcile the role of women in leadership in the church with the two most confining texts declaring that women must remain silent in the church, those found in I Corinthians 14:35 and I Timothy 2:8? First, we will explore the wording in the passage found in I Corinthians 14:34-35 where instruction is given by Paul: “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. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”

There are a couple of key textual insights that come into play here. First is the word silent, or sigao; this word is used by Paul in this chapter two verses earlier

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