To put it bluntly, when some say that the Bible (and especially St Paul) forbid women to have authority or headship over men, what does that really mean?
In this context, what do we mean by "authority"? What does it consist of? Is it just about teaching or is it about controlling or directing? In what areas is it applicable? Should such authority apply solely to church matters or across the whole spectrum of life? If there are limits on where it is to be applied, what are they and why are they?
I will freely confess that this is something where I have strong views. My personal opinion is that the passages such as 1 Tim 2 need to be understood within the context of when they were written and that there is no "biblical directive" in force today that restricts women in leadership in the church in anyway. But, given that there are many who would argue that women should NOT have authority, I am trying to understand their position and why they take certain standpoints but not others.
I know that some will say that there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer and say, in effect," it's a matter of Christian liberty. Depends who. Depends where. Depends why. Depends what. Depends how."
But I find that unsatisfactorily vague. I'm not looking for detailed specifics to every conceivable situation - just to have some sense of what broad principles are supposedly at work here.
Would it be OK for a woman to be President of the USA but not to be a Bishop? Would it be OK for a woman to have authority over male teenagers as a youth group leader or youth worker, but not over the same people as a pastor/minister? If my wife tells me to throw out a pair of favourite trousers because they are old and tatty and she refuses to be seen with me in public if I am wearing them - is that "having authority" and should I resist her on biblical grounds? And if not, why not?
Yours in Christ
Matt
In this context, what do we mean by "authority"? What does it consist of? Is it just about teaching or is it about controlling or directing? In what areas is it applicable? Should such authority apply solely to church matters or across the whole spectrum of life? If there are limits on where it is to be applied, what are they and why are they?
I will freely confess that this is something where I have strong views. My personal opinion is that the passages such as 1 Tim 2 need to be understood within the context of when they were written and that there is no "biblical directive" in force today that restricts women in leadership in the church in anyway. But, given that there are many who would argue that women should NOT have authority, I am trying to understand their position and why they take certain standpoints but not others.
I know that some will say that there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer and say, in effect," it's a matter of Christian liberty. Depends who. Depends where. Depends why. Depends what. Depends how."
But I find that unsatisfactorily vague. I'm not looking for detailed specifics to every conceivable situation - just to have some sense of what broad principles are supposedly at work here.
Would it be OK for a woman to be President of the USA but not to be a Bishop? Would it be OK for a woman to have authority over male teenagers as a youth group leader or youth worker, but not over the same people as a pastor/minister? If my wife tells me to throw out a pair of favourite trousers because they are old and tatty and she refuses to be seen with me in public if I am wearing them - is that "having authority" and should I resist her on biblical grounds? And if not, why not?
Yours in Christ
Matt
