Women Deacons in the Early Church

In studying Paul's concluding remarks in Romans 16 one can see in his closing greetings the great prominence of women in the 1st Century Church. The most prominent person in Chapter 16 is Phoebe who not only was the bearer of Paul's letter but Paul himself calls a Deaconness of the Church of Cenchrea. I've heard this explained away that she really wasn't that but the fact is the Greek is clear she was a Deaconness of that Church.

Now I believe the Bible is clear women are not allowed to serve as Pastors in that would be upsurping the authority of man but I believe the modern day Baptist view of Deacons is as scriptural as the Roman Catholic view of having a Pope. I would not be in favor of a woman serving on a Deacon board in most Baptist churches since Deacons in most churches are nothing more than a Church Senate that helps lead the Church or keep the Pastor in line. Until Baptists start having Deacons that serve and not be in a leadership role as a holy Senate, reforming ourselves back to the Biblical pattern is not possible.

The fact is a Deacon is just a Servant of the Church. A board of Deacons that recommends things to the Church or that the Pastor talks to before having business meeting is no more Biblical than infant baptism.

The role of Deacons is to visit the sick, elderly shutins and not to be a legislative body of leadership within the Church. If we would regain the Biblical view of Deacon then we would not have a hard time accepting women Deacons.

[ May 24, 2002, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Kiffin ]

 

The Greek word "diaknous" is where we get the word Deacon from which means Servant. She was a deacon of the church at Cenchreae.

Interesting that 1 Timothy 3 is brought up. I Timothy 3:11 as found in the KJV and NKJV reads

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (KJV)

11 Likewise [their] wives [must be] reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. (NKJV)

However, their is in italics meaning it is not apart of the original text and was inserted. Wives also is not the literal translation but should be translated women

A more literal translation would read

Women,likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.

One would wonder why there would be a command on Deacons wives, that interrupts the flow of the verses, when there is no command of the same for elder's wives. The meaning is that the Women addressed is referring to women who would serve as Deacons. The KJV translators probably avoided the literal translation because it would have conflicted with the theology of the Church of England.

Noted Bible commentator David Brown commented,

That in the earliest churches there were deaconesses, to attend to the wants of the female members, there is no good reason to doubt. So early at least as the reign of Trajan, we learn from PLINY'S celebrated letter to that emperor--A.D. 110, or 111--that they existed in the Eastern churches.

Adam Clark also correctly points out,
Phoebe is here termed a servant, diakonon, a deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea. There were deaconesses in the primitive Church, whose business it was to attend the female converts at baptism; to instruct the catechumens, or persons who were candidates for baptism; to visit the sick, and those who were in prison, and, in short, perform those religious offices for the female part of the Church which could not with propriety be performed by men.

The reason Baptists adviod this is because most Baptist churches have the Holy Senate view of Deacons and not the Biblical view that Deacons are merely servants of the local church and not an advisory council to the Church or Pastor. We must get back to the Biblical idea of the Deacon as a Church Servant and not a Church Senator.

 

Preach the Word said,

I appreciate the concern but my views are totaly differant than my CBF friends who have no problems with women pastoring or teaching men. My point is that Baptists by in large don't have a scriptural view of Deacons. Interesting I believe that Capitol Hills Baptist Church in DC and a Reformed Baptist Church affiliated with the SBC has Deaconesses and is very clearly a very conservative Church.

 

PreachtheWord,

I never said I was CBF because I am not and have nothing to do with them. I merely acknowledged my differances with their liberal agenda regarding women deacons because they believe women should hold leadership positions over men which I do not believe. You implied I am holding a liberal position when my theology is Calvinist and Conservative and not all Conservatives hold that women are barred from being a Deacon.

[ May 24, 2002, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: Kiffin ]

 

exactly