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Female Deacons? Yes or No
- Thread starter Mikey
- Start date
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Not in my church... Its simple really, show me a woman who is the husband of one wife?... Brother Glen
It depends on your definition of deacon.
Deacons are responsible for some of the lowest-level and menial work in a church. They were never intended to be a Board or an "Amen Corner" or a political body keeping the preacher's nose to the grindstone or decision makers/enforcers.
But that's how a lot of church members see them. An exalted body of a select few men who run the church. Someone who rules and governs.
That's not how it works at my church. We have a handful of deacons at my church and they do an awful lot of grunt work with great joy and enthusiasm. We have a lot of women who do a lot of grunt work with joy and enthusiasm.
There won't ever be a female ordained as a deacon in my church, and I'm good with that. It doesn't stop us from doing the deacon work anyway. We just don't care about the title.
Deacons are responsible for some of the lowest-level and menial work in a church. They were never intended to be a Board or an "Amen Corner" or a political body keeping the preacher's nose to the grindstone or decision makers/enforcers.
But that's how a lot of church members see them. An exalted body of a select few men who run the church. Someone who rules and governs.
That's not how it works at my church. We have a handful of deacons at my church and they do an awful lot of grunt work with great joy and enthusiasm. We have a lot of women who do a lot of grunt work with joy and enthusiasm.
There won't ever be a female ordained as a deacon in my church, and I'm good with that. It doesn't stop us from doing the deacon work anyway. We just don't care about the title.
Not too hard to do these days.... Its simple really, show me a woman who is the husband of one wife?... Brother Glen
Jon I know what some churches do and some even have women pastors but scripture disagrees and so do I... Brother Glen
I mean a woman being a husband married to one wife.Jon I know what some churches do and some even have women pastors but scripture disagrees and so do I... Brother Glen
... Brother Glen
Dave G
Well-Known Member
There is no Scriptural precedent for the office of deacon to be sought by or awarded to a woman by the Holy Spirit.
See my above.
Scripture declares that deacons are to be the husband of one wife.
When it comes to the assembled body of believers having someone who can minister to widows and others, and is designated to do such, God's word is the rule of practice.
Anyone can help when it comes time to do so, but the "office" is for men.
Mikey
Active Member
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Not in my church... Its simple really, show me a woman who is the husband of one wife?... Brother Glen
would you consider deaconess to differ from deacon, in terms of responsibility?
Mikey
Active Member
What about Deaconess?
Dave G
Well-Known Member
I see women being the servants of the church in Romans 16:1-2, , but not holding the spiritual office with its accompanying gifts, of deacon...which is / are the local body's chief helper(s) in carnal, temporal needs.
The Greek word transliterated
G1249 - diakonos appears about 31 times in the NT. It is translated leader, servant, deacon, and minister and often appears to be referring to those who serve, wait table, run errands and so forth.
The real issue is whether to understand husband of one wife as indicating an office open only to men, or to simply refer to a spouse that helps manage their household well. If there is no difference in Christ between male and female, and in light of this culture has changed such that the goal is to treat male and female equally within the body, we might be on the wrong track. Food for thought
A number of people think 1 Timothy 3:11 refers to female deacons.
G1249 - diakonos appears about 31 times in the NT. It is translated leader, servant, deacon, and minister and often appears to be referring to those who serve, wait table, run errands and so forth.
The real issue is whether to understand husband of one wife as indicating an office open only to men, or to simply refer to a spouse that helps manage their household well. If there is no difference in Christ between male and female, and in light of this culture has changed such that the goal is to treat male and female equally within the body, we might be on the wrong track. Food for thought
A number of people think 1 Timothy 3:11 refers to female deacons.
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Actually brethren I know what my church does and I won't dictate to what you do in yours, a deacon to my understanding is male... They free up the preacher to study and preach the word of God and care to the business of the church... Instead of me explaining it, lets hear from the Apostles... I rest my case... Brother Glen
Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
No.
1Ti 3:11 - In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
(women is footnoted indicating women may refers to deacons wives or to women deacons.}
Rom 16:1 - I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.
This translation choice is not shared by many other translations.
(women is footnoted indicating women may refers to deacons wives or to women deacons.}
Rom 16:1 - I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.
This translation choice is not shared by many other translations.
Reaching into the lesbian community now
Or they're reaching into mainstream culture and nominal Christianity.
Umm, the SCOTUS has made this possible brother (June 26, 2015).1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Not in my church... Its simple really, show me a woman who is the husband of one wife?... Brother Glen
I believe that the day is coming when we will be guilty of "hate crimes" when we insist on "obeying God rather than men".
Looking back at the landmark SCOTUS same-sex marriage ruling: Throwback Thursday
Luke 17
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
This post will one day become a "hate crime" and is probably technically so today.
The door is yet open for ALL to rethink the gospel:
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
But one day the door of redemption will close, which door only Christ is allowed to actually close:
Revelation 3:8 ... behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are
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Dave G
Well-Known Member
Hank,
With respect, how are you getting the above out of this passage?
" And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." ( Revelation 3:7-10 )
Reading what I have posted, who is it that has had the open door set before them?
All men, or the church in Philadelphia?