"Keepers At Home, etc"

[Surfer Joe]

I'm not sure what you're asking. Are these things Biblical? Yes. Are they cultural? Yes. But this, in and of itself, does not put them at odds with one another. In fact, Paul is writing Titus to, "set things in order what had been lacking" (1:5). I believe as Christians, we can continue to accept what the world has to offer in terms of culture, and continue to be disapointed over and over, or we can do what Titus is doing here - building a godly culture within the church, encouaging and implementing wise and prudent practices which foster a lifestyle pleasing to God. Oh that the culture of the church today was closer to that Paul longed for!

Basically, I'm wondering if Paul was writing a binding declaration upon the entire church or if he was advising Timothy in a specific situation at a specific time at a specific place. Corinthians deals with order in the church but I don't remember if it deals with this issue. One would think it would, especially when it's written by the same man.

I am wondering why and how the church culture today differs from what Paul longed for.

 

[Pastor David]

Basically, I'm wondering if Paul was writing a binding declaration upon the entire church or if he was advising Timothy in a specific situation at a specific time at a specific place. Corinthians deals with order in the church but I don't remember if it deals with this issue. One would think it would, especially when it's written by the same man.

I am wondering why and how the church culture today differs from what Paul longed for.

What we have through the various circumstances, at various times, and in various places, in the issues that Paul had to address throughout his ministry is the collective wisdom of divine inspiration which sets forth a New Testament ethic for believers. For example, when Paul tells a young man at Corinth it is sinful for him to sleep with his new mother-in-law, we can take that principle as normative for all Christians at all times - meaning it is still sinful for young men to sleep with their new mother-in-law. Whereas most of the churches Paul dealt with would have had limited exposure to other issues in other places, we have the benefit of knowing the bulk of his ministry all together, and therefore carry the greater burden of keeping this New Testament ethic in it's entirety.

 

[Jerome]

"Of the second sort are . . . the prohibition of Paul, that women should not teach in the Church, and the like; . . . . these things . . . ought to be applied to the edification of the Church, with a variety suitable to the manners of each age and nation, therefore, as the benefit of the Church shall require, it will be right to change and abolish former regulations, and to institute new ones." ---John Calvin, Institutes, vol. 4, ch. 10, sec. 29-30

 

[Surfer Joe]

What we have through the various circumstances, at various times, and in various places, in the issues that Paul had to address throughout his ministry is the collective wisdom of divine inspiration which sets forth a New Testament ethic for believers. For example, when Paul tells a young man at Corinth it is sinful for him to sleep with his new mother-in-law, we can take that principle as normative for all Christians at all times - meaning it is still sinful for young men to sleep with their new mother-in-law. Whereas most of the churches Paul dealt with would have had limited exposure to other issues in other places, we have the benefit of knowing the bulk of his ministry all together, and therefore carry the greater burden of keeping this New Testament ethic in it's entirety.

Thank you. Yes, I agree. It is still wrong for a man to sleep with his mother-in-law. But there are many Christians and some churches who believe it is ok for women to preach. I will look into this as to why they believe that. Thanks again.