The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum 1 Timothy 2 issue

One cannot use Deborah as a reason to allow women into the ordained offices, Elder or Deacon, in the N.T. Church.

1) God's appointment of Deborah as a Judge was an exception to the normal rule which He Himself had established. If one wants to use Deborah to justify women in office, then to be consistent, we must also allow donkeys to prophesy today as well. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

2) In the New Testament we find the revelation of what was first revealed in the Old Testament; e.g., the fulfillment of the shadows, types, prophesies, etc. And thus the transition from the old economy to the new economy includes many changes both in expressions of a new universality, e.g., redemption and equality of men, women and children as well as a new spirituality. In this new economy, which is grounded upon the old economy, there is to be found a refining and defining of the people of God and a set of precepts and governing rules for them, one of which is who is to serve as office bearers in the Church. There are specific passages of Scripture which address the requirements and duties of those offices, particularly 1Tim 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Passages which are specific to a topic indisputably take precedent over passages which only allude to a topic. And in these two passages alone, there are very clear instructions as to who are to hold those offices; i.e., men only.

The restriction to men for the offices in the Church is not one based superiority and or ability but one which is based upon the original creation of God. The roles of men and women are clearly laid out in a covenantal formula; man being head of the woman. The principle is one of "functional subordination" and in my understanding, it reflects the relationship within the economic Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In His Grace,