Egalitarianism

Egalitarianism, when dealing with issues of church government usually refers to the idea of men and women being eligible for eldership. I found myself in a discussion defending the position that only men are called by God for the office of elder/bishop/overseer. I will attempt to make my case by looking at 1 Timothy 2:9-15:

"9Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. 11A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint."

The text is clearly describing the roles of men and women in the church. Verses 9-10 ought to be interpreted as Paul literally meant it, that is, that women ought not to wear the dress of prostitutes. To clarify, I believe that today it is okay for a woman to braid her hair, or wear jewelry and nice clothing. However, a woman in our day and age should not wear scandalous clothing comparable to prostitutes we have today.

Verse 11 should be connected with verse 12. Paul's command that a woman remain submissive in the church and receive instruction is expanded upon by saying that a woman is not permitted to teach or exercise authority over a man. Should one argue that this likewise is a cultural argument being made, I would point to the Apostle's substatiation for his argument in verses 13-15.

Notice how verse 13 begins, "For..." It is clear that verses 13-15 is the continuation of the argument in 11-12. A woman should remain submissive in the church, and shall not be permitted to have authority over a man FOR ... (verse 13) Adam was created first, and then Eve ... (verse 14) Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived. Using Adam and Eve as his example, Paul's argument transcend time and culture. Thus, Paul's argument applied in the days of Adam and Eve, in his own day, and in our present age.

Verse 15 may be alluding to a woman's special role to spend time with her children in the time that the husband/father is away providing for the family.

I believe that if one is fair to the text of Scripture one will conclude that men are called to the office of elder. Only the traditions of men will blind one to the plain teaching of Scripture.

See if my attempt at exegesis follows Paul's argument later in this epistle:

"An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)" (1 Timothy 3:2-5).

*wipes the sweat from his brow* That wasn't so bad =)