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/01-index-pastors.htm
 
Series - Women Pastors in the New Testament
with Citations from Church History
Summary -
New Testament Teaching about
Women Pastors (Presbuteras/Presbutidas=Women Elders) Called
Widows
Revised May 21, 2005
Baptist Women in Ministry
c/o The McAfee School of Theology
3001 Mercer University Drive
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 547-6475
BWIM Web Site (http://www.bwim.org)
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Author
Carolyn Goodman Plampin
Coordinator of Lessons on Christian Women
1220 Vienna Dr., #504
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-2007
(408) 734-5141
Send e-mail to Carolyn Goodman
Plampin (cplampin@ix.netcom.com)
Master of Teaching, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, March 20,
1968
Master of Divinity, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, June 2,
1978
Missionary to Brazil of the International Mission Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention, 1957-1988
Academic dean (without title) and professor, Instituto Bíblico Batista,
A.B. Deter and
Faculdade Teológico Batista do Paraná, Curitiba, 1959-1979
Academic dean and professor, Seminário de Educação Cristã, Recife,
1980-1986
The Holy Bible, New American Standard (Nashville: Holman Bible
Publishers, 1985).
Project Wittenberg Greek Transliteration Table
by Rev. Robert E. Smith, 10 May 1996
(http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/greek-table.txt)
Greek Transliteration Table
Acts 6:1-6 -
The Officials of the Church Were Apostles and Widows,
Then Servants (Deacons) Were Elected
To Do Justice in the Daily Distribution to the Widows
Acts 9:36-42 -
Tabitha (Dorcas), Widow
I Corinthians 7:8-9,34-35,39-40 -
Widows Should Remain Unmarried,
Be Holy in Body and in Spirit,
and Dedicate Undistracted Devoction to the Lord
I Timothy 4:12,14; 5:1-22,24-25 -
Women Pastors (Presbuteras=Women Elders) Called Widows:
Discipline, Salary, Widows Who Have Family,
Duties, Qualifications, Younger Widows
Titus 1:5 and 2:2-5 -
Women Pastors (Presbutidas=Women Elders):
Classification, Qualifications, and Duties
2 John 1-13 -
The Chosen Lady
We have carefully studied the New Testament texts about women pastors (presbuteras/presbutidas=women elders) callled widows. We have read the citations documenting that they served for 500 years during church history until being demoted to deaconesses. Now we have a basis for summarizing the teachings of the New Testament without referring to church history.
Luke 2:36a - And there was a prophetess (prophehtis), Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
Luke 2:36b-37a - She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.
Luke 2:37b - And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
Luke 2:38 - And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him [Jesus] to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Acts 6:1a - The disciples were increasing in number.
Acts 6:1b - Justice was not being done between the widows of the Hellenistic Jews and the native Hebrews because the Hellenistic widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Widows received part of their support through the daily distribution.
Acts 6:2 - The apostles summoned the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables."
Acts 6:3 - The apostles suggested choosing seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, who could be put in charge of this task.
Acts 6:4 - The apostles would devote themselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:5 - "And the statement found approval with the whole congregation;"
Acts 6:6 - Seven men were chosen and brought before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The biblical task of deacons was to help the apostles by serving the tables of the widows.
Luke 1:4 - Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, wanted us to know the exact truth about the things we have been taught.
Tabitha, loved because of her ministry.
- Acts 9:36 - Tabitha (Dorcas), a disciple, had a social ministry for she was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
- Acts 9:37-38 - She sickened and died. The disciples were so concerned that they prepared her body, however they did not bury her, but put her in the upper room. Knowing that Peter was in a nearby city they sent two men to bring him to them.
- Acts 9:39 - Peter came immediately, was taken to the upper room where he was surrounded by widows, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
- Acts 9:40 - Peter prayed and God restored the life of Tabitha.
- Acts 9:41 - Peter called the saints and widows and presented Tabitha alive. In presenting her alive, Peter restores Tabitha to her ministry.
In the early church additional ministries of the widows were prayer, nursing the sick, and conforting the sorrowful.
Fabiola, fourth century widow of Rome who founded the first hospital.
This passage shows us how seriously the Apostle Paul felt about the ministry of unmarried women and widows.
1 Cor. 7:8 - Paul said it was good for the unmarried and the widows to remain as he was.
1 Cor. 7:9 - However, Paul said that if they could not control their sex drive it was better to marry than to have a burning sexual desire.
1 Cor. 7:34a - The woman who is unmarried and the virgin are concerned about the things of the Lord.
1 Cor. 7:34b - In very strong terms Paul said that the unmarried woman and the virgin may be holy both in body and spirit. This implies that the married woman is not holy both in body and spirit.
1 Cor. 7:34c - But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world and how she can please her husband.
1 Cor. 7:35a - Paul says that he says this for the benefit of the women and not to put a restraint on them, but to promote what is seemly.
1 Cor. 7:35b - In another very strong term he said it was to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
1 Cor. 7:39a - A wife is bound as long as her husband lives.
1 Cor 7:39b-40 - Although Paul says that a widow is free to marry a Christian husband, he thinks that she would be happier if she remains a widow.
Discipline
1 Tim. 5:1,3 - The bishop should not sharply rebuke ... but rather appeal to - women pastors (presbuteras=women elders) called widows as mothers.
1 Tim. 5:19 - An accusation against an elder (presbuterou) should not be received except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
- 1 Tim. 5:20 - those who continue in sin should be rebuked in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.
- 1 Tim. 5:21 - these principles should be maintained without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
- 1 Tim. 5:22 - hand should not be laid [Note CGP: in pardon] too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others.
- 1 Tim. 5:24 - the sins of some are quite evident, going before to judgment, for others, their sins follow after.
- 1 Tim. 5:25 - good deeds are also quite evident, and deeds that are otherwise cannot be concealed.
Salary
1 Tim. 5:3 - Honor (tima) widows who are widows indeed means they should be supported.
1 Tim. 5:17 - elders (presbuteroi) who rule (proestohtes from proistehmi) shall be considered worthy of double honor (timehs), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Tim. 5:18 - the Scripture says, YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES."
Widows who have family do not qualify to be put on the list.
1 Tim. 5:4 - If the widow has family, they should make some return to their parents.
1 Tim. 5:8 - The family member that does not provide for its own has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Tim. 5:16 - A woman who is a believer who has dependent widows should assist them so that the church will not be burdened and can support those who are widows indeed.
Duties
1 Tim. 5:5 - the widow indeed continues in prayers day and night
Qualifications to be put on the list. Ordination means to be placed in an order, in this case the Order of Widows that is parallel to the Order of Elders (Pastors).
1 Tim. 5:9-10 - the widow can be put on the list:
- 1 Tim. 5:9a - if she is not less than 60 years old,
- 1 Tim. 5:9b - if she has been the wife (gune) of one man (andros),
- 1 Tim. 5:10a - if she has a reputation for good works,
- 1 Tim. 5:10b - if she has brought up children,
- 1 Tim. 5:10c - ìf she has shown hospitality to strangers,
- 1 Tim. 5:10d - if she has washed the saint's feet,
- 1 Tim. 5:10e - if she has assisted those in distress,
- 1 Tim. 5:10f - if she has devoted herself to every good work.
Younger widows should not be put on the list
1 Tim. 5:11a - Refuse to put younger widows on this list
- 1 Tim. 5:11b - when they feel sensual desires in disregard to Christ they want to get married
- 1 Tim. 5:12 - thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge
- 1 Tim. 5:13a - they learn to be idle as they go around from house to house
- 1 Tim. 5:13b - (they learn to be) gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention
- 1 Tim. 5:14 - they should get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach
- 1 Tim. 5:15 - some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
Classification
Titus 2:3a - Older women (presbutidas) means women elders or pastors.
Qualifications
Titus 2:3b - should be as priestesses (hieroprepeis) in their behavior
Titus 2:3c - should not be malicious gossips
Titus 2:3d - should not be enslaved to much wine
Duties
Titus 2:3e - should teach (kalodidaskalous) that which is good:
- Titus 2:4 - to encourage the young women to love their husbands and children
- Titus 2:5a - to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind
- Titus 2:5b - to be subject to their own husbands
- Titus 2:5c - that the word of God may not be dishonored
Who is the chosen lady?
2 John vs. 1 - The chosen (eklekteh) lady (kuría) and her children signify a woman pastor and the members of her house church.
2 John vs. 13 - The children of your chosen (eklektehs) sister greet you tells us that the members of her sister's church send her greetings.
What is the attitude of the elder (presbuteros) John toward the chosen lady?
2 John vs. 1 - The elder (presbuteros) loves the chosen lady and her children in truth.
2 John vs. 2 - The elder (presbuteros) loves them for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever.
2 John vs. 4 - The elder (presbuteros) was very glad to find some of the elect lady's children walking in truth which means that they were well taught.
2 John vs. 8 - Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
2 John vs. 12 - Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
What is the theological teaching that the elder (presbúteros) gives the chosen lady?
2 John vs. 5 - And now I ask you, lady (kuria), not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2 John vs. 6 - And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
2 John vs. 7 - For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John vs. 9 - Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
2 John vs. 10 - If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
2 John vs. 11 - for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
Return to Index - Lessons on Christian Women
Return to 2 John - The Chosen Lady
Go to Bibliography about Women Pastors
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