PERSONAL OPINION in an exercise such as this is unimportant. We either accept what the Bible says as Christians or we stray from the straight and narrow. Paul tells us to test everything (1 Thess 5:21) and 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God because there are many false prophets. This should be done whether it is popular to do it or not!

EQUALLY IMPORTANT but different roles are obvious. I heard some time ago the role of a husband described as a tent and the wife as a tent pole. This illustrates very well that each has different but equally important roles. One without the other would be ineffective.

BACK TO BASICS - the beginning. 1 Cor 11;8-12 says, "...Man did not come from woman but woman from man, neither was man created for woman but woman for man... In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman." Paul is explaining the order of creation of man and woman by God, that is man first and then woman from man. When read in conjunction with Genesis 2 we can see that woman - created to help man - is equally the image of God but the purpose of her creation was to help man and follow her husband's leadership. We can see here that a man does not submit to his wife but men could find themselves submitting to another man's wife if women had authority over men!

1 Cor 11:3 tells us that the Father is the head of the Son - Jesus is the head of the man and the man is the head of the woman. This is God's order according to the Bible. Paul is showing the man how he should relate to his wife; that is the same way as Jesus relates to him, for example a man should not lord it over his wife.

LOVE: Husband and wife love each other in three ways: Physically, which reverses the process of God separating woman from man: Soulishly; (mind, will and emotions) which expects favours in return such as submission or obedience and is subject to moods: Spiritually, "agape" love. The husband should be willing to die for his wife and the wife to show reverence for her husband. This love gives without thought of favours from the other.

THE ROLE OF ADAM AND EVE: When the fall happened it was because their roles were reversed. Adam definitely chose to follow Eve: "Because you have listened to your wife... cursed is the ground.." It was the woman who was deceived and the man followed her. What happened was the result of the woman exercising authority and taking the position of leader. Satan knew of the dire consequences of such role reversal and he exploited it. He is doing just the same today!

God created Adam then told him his plan. After this he named all the animals. Only after this did God create Eve! Adam was in charge and responsible to God. He failed and allowed Eve to make the decision. Eve did not sin - she was deceived. Adam, on the other hand knew exactly what he was doing. He saw Eve in her fallen state, without the light of God and he ate the fruit.

THE BIBLE IS NOT ANTI WOMAN: We have seen that Adam deliberately sinned - Eve did not! The sin of fallen man is inherited through man - not woman. Man caused the problem but the woman provides the answer in Mary and the birth of Jesus without the aid of mortal man. However, because woman was deceived she has less authority.This is a different role but not inferior.

WOMEN IN THE GOSPELS were very important and many followed Jesus. They ministered to him and the first person to see the resurrected Jesus was a woman. There were women in the upper room and the Holy Spirit was poured out on men and women equally.
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FEMINIST ARGUMENTS:
These are arguments often put forward in support of having women leading men. At first sight they may seem to support that stand point but let us see:

Priscilla and Aquila both taught Apollos and the woman is listed first. They were man and wife and I can think of one or two couples where the woman's name is referred to first. I have frequently signed a note in joint names with my wife with her name first. The King James bible has them the opposite way around. The NIV in Chapter 18:2 refers to Aquilla first but it has no relevance to the argument.

Feminists claim they both taught Apollos; Acts 18:26 says, "...They invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately." This was obviously a friendly chat at home where they could explain certain things to him as more experienced believers. It happens all the time and is to be recommended.  To explain is to make known in detail, to make intelligible step by step.  This is easily done without establishing authority over a person whereas training involves an attitude of discipline through submission by the student.

Women of high standing (Acts 13:50). The Greek word here can also be translated; "right", "prominent" and "presentable". Many women in the New Testament would fit any of these descriptions as in any local church, but it does not mean they had authority over men.  Feminists often do not go on to quote the reference to the men; "... And leading men of the city." Surely the women would have been referred to as "leading" if they had had authority over men.

Philip's daughters prophesied (Acts 21:8-9), so what? One does not have to be a leader to do that. The same reply for another objection, Romans 16:1-16. It does not mean the women were leaders. Hard working women can be hard working without been leaders!

Junias was a women and an apostle it is claimed. (Romans 16:7). Well, any evidence is somewhat tenuous. My Greek interlinear translates the name as "Junius" whereas the NIV and NRSV as "Junias" and the King James as "Junia". Scholars tell us that although the name could be either "Junias" (male) or "Junia" (female) it is normally presumed male and in scripture it is mostly so presumed. My NIV concordance goes further and says "Junia" is a variant never used. The NIV tells us that Junias was Paul's relative, literally in Greek; "fellow countryman". Both my Greek interlinear and the King James Bible tells us he is Paul's "kinsman". It is incorrect to say that Junias was a woman on the available evidence. The evidence at best is inconclusive but errs on the side of him being a man. Furthermore we do not know whether the expression of note amongst the apostles means that they were respected by the apostles or that they themselves were outstanding apostles!

Status of women. We do not know whether Galations 3:26 refers to the role of women or their status, i.e., all sons of God. Equality of status does not mean inter changeability of status. This scripture refers to our relationship with God, not to our roles here on earth. It refers to our heavenly position, not to our earthly condition. We are all equal as children of God, whether Jew, Gentile, bond free, male or female. The true context of this scripture is that a Jewish man thanked God each morning that God had not made him a Gentile, slave or a woman. Verse 8 should not be pressed into saying something it does not say. God does recognise the distinction between male and female as far as a woman's role in the church and the Christian family is concerned.

We are all priests. 1 Peter 2:9 does say we are all priests. No one is subject to the authority of priests any more. That was Mosaic law. No believer needs a priest to pray for them. We are a priesthood of believers. Therefore, it is true, women believers are priests as much as men because they are believers. The established church has turned priests into local managers of an organisation but this is not what the Bible means by priests. It means each believer has free access to the Throne of Grace! Therefore, the question, "Should we have women priests?" is a none issue. If she is a believer, she is a priest anyway. The correct question to be asked is, "Should men be subject to the authority of a woman?"

Women can pray and prophecy. 1 Cor 11:5 says women can preach and prophecy. This is put forward as an argument for women leaders but no one is arguing that they can't. This does not mean they have authority over men.

Their wives are really deaconesses. (1 Tim 3:11). I beg to differ. NIV says in a foot note that "Deaconess" more likely means the wife of a Deacon as a reflected title. According to NIV, King James and Greek Interlinear the word is "wife". The NRSV says "women". This Greek word is never translated "Deaconess" anywhere in the new testament. It appears 215 times and of these it is translated mostly; woman 90, wife 58, women 30 and wives 12. The rest are odd variants on the same theme but never "Deaconess" which is really only tradition. We must never confuse scripture and tradition.

In Acts 18:2 Aquilla and his wife Priscilla is the same Greek word for "wife". However, there may have been women engaged in works of charity that only women could properly do such as work with other women. This in no way indicates these women had authority over men.

Eldress? It has been said that the references in 1 Tim 5:1, Titus 2:2-3 and 1 Peter 5:5 to older men and older women can be expressed "Elder" and Eldress". However, in context these are clearly references to social rather than rank. It is true that "Elder" is a reference to spiritually mature believers and is a Biblical function whereas the position of "Bishop" is a tradition of men and an excellent example of how man takes over what God seeks to establish. To interpret "older women" as "Eldress" is somewhat tenuous! It is also hard to imagine how an "Eldress" can be the husband of one wife. We have many spiritually mature women in the church but that does not imply authority over men.

Submission: Eph 5:21-33 is about submission. Marriage is a partnership of equals. These equals have different roles and the husband's function is to lead the family - you cannot have two leaders. .

Regarding "headship", whatever the meaning of "head", Paul makes it clear in 1 Cor 11:3, just as Jesus is man's head, so the man is head of the women - Jesus is our measure.  How Jesus relates to man, so man should relate to his wife. We must be careful not to read modern social controversy back into scripture. Woman was made from man, not dust. Woman was made for man - not the reverse (v 8-9). Woman was made after man, the firstborn carries authority for, and over, later arrivals.

Be silent? (1 Cor 14:33-35). It is said that "silent" means hold their peace. Greek scholars tell us that it is continuous tense - stop speaking and become quiet. This has been interpreted as women can speak in church with testimonies, prophecies and related things but not put man under their authority. This accounts for the apparent contradiction when Paul says women can pray and prophecy (Ch 11).

Jesus is not inferior to the Father, he just has a different role (1 Cor 11:3-12). Likewise woman is not inferior to man, she just has a different role. Women will be saved through child bearing. This does not mean that if a woman does not give birth to a child that she will end up in the lake of fire. It means two things: Firstly, through Mary bearing Jesus and secondly, woman is saved through her role as wife and mother rather than in a man's role.

A LOVE STORY FROM JESUS:
It is no accident that Jesus tells us He is the Bridegroom and the church is His bride. Ephesians 5: 22 - 32 tells us a great deal about this relationship, that is the spiritual relationship between Jesus and His bride and the physical relationship between a husband and wife.  Jesus died for His bride.  A husband must be willing to die for his wife.  The wife follows the leading of her husband as he works to bestow favours upon her.  We believers follow Jesus and He blesses us.  Both relationships are sealed by blood, Jesus on the cross and the husband lying with his virgin wife.  Both relationships require continuous and unconditional submission.  Just as no other person should interfere with the relationship between husband and wife, so no one must interfere with the relationship between Jesus and His bride.

You have drunk the cup (communion) signifying you have accepted Jesus as your Bridegroom (Hebrew betrothal in Jesus' time).  Full of love for you, your beloved awaits you, his chaste (spiritual) virgin.  Our Bridegroom is coming for us very, very soon.  To some He will come as a complete surprise but to His bride He is now even at the door.  The picture of Jesus and His bride, illustrated throughout the NT, is a picture of the relationship between the man and his wife.  Would you, as the bride of Jesus, want authority over Jesus, your Bridegroom?  How is it then scriptural for an earthly bride to want authority over her (and her neighbour's) husband?  Have you an ear to hear scriptural truth?

JESUS, HIS BRIDE AND A HUSBAND AND WIFE:  The Bible certainly teaches that men should not submit to the authority of a woman. On the other hand we are all equal and submit to each other out of reverence for the Saviour, no one has ‘spiritual oversight’ over another. A man is no more special to the Lord than a woman. However, to say we are all priests, therefore all leaders, is misusing scripture. Yes, we are a priesthood of believers because we no longer need a priest to pray for us - we can each approach the throne of God ourselves. However, the way Jesus relates to us, His bride, is a picture of how husband and wife should relate to each other.

Should we have women pastors? 'Pastor' is a spiritual gift, not a manager. An elder, in my view, is a person who is a mature Christian who lives his life like an open book as an example to the body of Christ. The body recognise this and are respected as such. In other words it is function not position.  Elders do not lord it over others. We have a friend who is a wonderful man and a fine example of an elder. About 15 years ago at a convention we had arranged, I was asked to go man the back door and I was reluctant because I would miss all the action at the front! He just said quietly, "I’ll go", and he went. I’ve never forgotten that - he lives his life as an example. Now whether he has a position of elder is immaterial, in my view - he functions as an elder whether or not. I’ve always wanted to attain his level of Christian maturity (and humility)..
 

CONCLUSION:
No person has spiritual oversight of another believer, man or woman.  Our relationship is with Jesus.  However, it can be clearly seen from scripture that women should not have authority over men - this is not what God intended.  Whatever the title used makes no difference.  This does not mean we are saying men are more capable than women either!  Indeed the Bible says women have a powerful contribution to make and should be encouraged and supported but in matters of spiritual discipline it is unsupported by scripture.  (Mind you, personally I don't think a man should have spiritual authority over someone else's wife either!)   To avoid deception we should always be in line with scripture and whatever the trends of contemporary society, we should never deviate from the Bible.

Bryce Kaye