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). For example, one cannot be an elder and help oversee the local church if one is a brawler (1 Tim. 3:3), one must have a good reputation even among those who are not Christians (vs. 7), and so on.
The elder is a man, 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" (1 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 today for God's authority expressed in His word. More religions are appointing women to serve as elders over local churches. Women have a glorious role assigned to them by God, but the eldership is not such a role (cf. 1 Tim. 2: 8-15). Female elders along with having a singular preacher ruling as "the pastor" are practices not taught in the scriptures. Such practices have their origin with man and his creeds. We are to have scripture authority for all we practice (1 Thes. 5: 21, Rom. 12: 1-3). Hence, such practices are in rebellion to God's word.
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). For example, one cannot be an elder and help oversee the local church if one is a brawler (1 Tim. 3:3), one must have a good reputation even among those who are not Christians (vs. 7), and so on.
The elder is a man, 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" (1 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 today for God's authority expressed in His word. More religions are appointing women to serve as elders over local churches. Women have a glorious role assigned to them by God, but the eldership is not such a role (cf. 1 Tim. 2: 8-15). Female elders along with having a singular preacher ruling as "the pastor" are practices not taught in the scriptures. Such practices have their origin with man and his creeds. We are to have scripture authority for all we practice (1 Thes. 5: 21, Rom. 12: 1-3). Hence, such practices are in rebellion to God's word.