May a woman serve as an elder?
Introduction. The teaching of the scriptures relative to the structure and government of the local church is plain. Each local church is to have elders/bishops and deacons, when there are those who meet the qualifications (Phili. 1:1, Acts 14:23). The qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3: 1-7 and Titus 1: 5-11.
All the qualifications are required. One word which reflects the absolute presence of all these qualifications is "must" (see 1 Tim. 3: 2, 7). "Must" (dei) means absolutely required, no optionality allowed. This is the word used when Jesus told Nicodemus, "...Ye must be born again" (John 3: 7). One cannot be an elder, help rule over local church, if one is a brawler (1 Tim. 3:3). One must have a good reputation even among those who are not Christians, etc. (vs. 7).
The elder is a male, not a woman. Laying all grammar arguments aside, Paul said the elder is to rule well their own house (1 Tim. 3: 4, 5). The scriptures teach the husband is the head or ruler of his house (Eph. 5: 22-23). Hence, the elder is a male. If this is not plain enough, please consider the qualification, "...the husband of one wife" (I Tim. 3: 2). How can an elder be the husband of one wife unless he is, in fact, a male? Put another way, a woman cannot be the husband of one wife.
There is much disregard for God's authority, his word, today. More religions are appointing women to serve as elders over local churches. Such appointments are totally in rebellion to God's word. We are to have authority for all we practice (1 Thes. 5: 21, Rom. 12: 1-3). Women have a glorious role assigned to them by God, but the eldership is not such a role (cf. 1 Tim. 2: 8-15). The common pastoral system, the preacher ruling as the pastor and woman elders are practices not taught in the scriptures. Such practices have their origin with man and his creeds, and as such, are a perversion of Christ's gospel (cf. Gal 1: 6-9).
All the qualifications are required. One word which reflects the absolute presence of all these qualifications is "must" (see 1 Tim. 3: 2, 7). "Must" (dei) means absolutely required, no optionality allowed. This is the word used when Jesus told Nicodemus, "...Ye must be born again" (John 3: 7). One cannot be an elder, help rule over local church, if one is a brawler (1 Tim. 3:3). One must have a good reputation even among those who are not Christians, etc. (vs. 7).
The elder is a male, not a woman. Laying all grammar arguments aside, Paul said the elder is to rule well their own house (1 Tim. 3: 4, 5). The scriptures teach the husband is the head or ruler of his house (Eph. 5: 22-23). Hence, the elder is a male. If this is not plain enough, please consider the qualification, "...the husband of one wife" (I Tim. 3: 2). How can an elder be the husband of one wife unless he is, in fact, a male? Put another way, a woman cannot be the husband of one wife.
There is much disregard for God's authority, his word, today. More religions are appointing women to serve as elders over local churches. Such appointments are totally in rebellion to God's word. We are to have authority for all we practice (1 Thes. 5: 21, Rom. 12: 1-3). Women have a glorious role assigned to them by God, but the eldership is not such a role (cf. 1 Tim. 2: 8-15). The common pastoral system, the preacher ruling as the pastor and woman elders are practices not taught in the scriptures. Such practices have their origin with man and his creeds, and as such, are a perversion of Christ's gospel (cf. Gal 1: 6-9).