The Role of Women in the Church (part 4): Women Eldership and Conclusion

Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in ministry.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Titus 1:6-9

Can women be elders?

Nearly all English versions use the masculine pronoun (he) and the possessive (his) in 1 Tim 3:1-7. For example, the NIV above uses “he” seven times and “his” four times. But in the Greek text all the verbs are generically expressed, capable of being either gender, and there are no masculine pronouns or possessives.

One Woman Man

the purpose of this phrase is not the gender but the sexual ethic and faithfulness. Against polygamy and homosexuality.

Paul also writes about the gift of singleness in 1 Cor 7 and that it does have spiritual advantages for men and women. Does being unmarried exclude one from eldership? If it does then Paul and Jesus couldn’t be elders at our church. This furthermore points to the meaning of “one-woman man” being about sexual ethic rather than gender or marriage requirements.

• The list of behaviors in Timothy and Titus that are criteria for eldership that Paul says are capable of women:

o Eldership is good work (3:1), Paul expects women to do good work (5:10​)

o Elder must be above reproach (3:2), Paul expects women to be irreproachable (5:7)

o Elders must be temperate (3:2), Paul expects women to be temperate (3:11​)

o Elders must be self-controlled (3:2), Paul expects women to be self-controlled (2:9,15)

o Elders must be respectable (3:2), Paul expects women to be respectable (2:9)

o Elders must be hospitable (3:2), Paul expects women to be hospitable (5:10​)

o Elders must be able to teach (3:2), Paul expects women to be teachers of what is good (Titus 2:3)

o Elders must not be drunkards (3:3), Paul expects women not to be drunkards (Titus 2:3)

o Elders must not be lovers of money (3:3), Paul expects women to avoid being adorned with gold, pearls, and expensive clothing (2:9)

o Elders must be good managers of their household (3:4), Paul expects women to rule their households (5:14​)

o Elder must show dignity in the they keep children under control (3:4), Paul expects women to show dignity (3:11​)

o Elders must not be new converts, falling into condemnation on account of pride (3:6), Paul expects women to be humble and not under condemnation (5:10​,12)

o Elders must have a good testimony from outsiders (3:7), Paul expects women to have a good testimony from others (5:7,10)

Every item on Paul’s list of qualifications for eldership are things he expects of both women and men in 1 Timothy and Titus. Every item listed here we see Paul encouraging the women to become elsewhere in these same letters.

Paul specifically uses gender neutral terms to show that women and men should both aspire to this office and these behaviors. The masculine pronouns and possessives are not in the Greek text.

“One-Woman Man” is an idiomatic phrase that is about sexual faithfulness between one man and one woman in marriage.

Scripture does not ban women from being elder but rather encourages men and women to mutually work together leading and guarding the flock.