"Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, ‘Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.’ And I said, ‘What is it?’ He said, ‘This is the basket that is going out.’ And he said, ‘This is their iniquity in all the land.’ And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! And he said, ‘This is Wickedness.’ And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening. Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. Then I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘Where are they taking the basket?’ He said to me, ‘To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.’" Zechariah 5:5-11

The Quran, on the other hand, has a major problem with angels being females:

Has then your Lord (O Pagans!) preferred for you sons, and taken for Himself daughters among the angels? Truly ye utter a most dreadful saying! S. 17:40 Y. Ali

Now ask them (O Muhammad): Hath thy Lord daughters whereas they have sons? Or created We the angels females while they were present? S. 37:149-150 Pickthall

And they regard as females the angels who are the servants of the Gracious God. Did they witness their creation? Then their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned. S. 43:19 Sher Ali

Those who do not believe in the world to come name the angels with the names of females. They have not any knowledge thereof; they follow only surmise, and surmise avails naught against truth. S. 53:27-28

According to Paul, women could have a teaching position within the Church in that he permits them to teach other women:

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5

Paul also assigns women the office of deaconess, that the Church can have female deacons:

"Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Some commentators and translators do not believe that Paul is mentioning an office of deaconess, and therefore render the text in the following manner:

"Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things." 1 Timothy 3:11

The above rendering gives the impression that Paul was exhorting the wives of the deacons. There are several reasons why we do not accept this rendering and understanding of the text. First, Paul earlier referred to the qualifications of bishops without ever mentioning their wives personally and telling them how they should conduct themselves (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7). This is a rather strange omission if in fact 1 Timothy 3:11 is referring to the deacons’ wives since one would naturally assume that the Apostle would address the wives of both groups. That he didn’t provide instructions on how the wives of the bishops should conduct themselves seems to make a strong case that the reference to women in 3:11 isn’t in connection to the deacons’ wives, but to deaconesses.

Second, Paul mentions a female deacon in one of his letters:

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess (diakonon) of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me." Romans 16:1-2

There are some who believe that the word diakonon is being used in a broader sense to mean servant or slave{2}, thereby implying that Paul wasn’t calling Phoebe a deaconess. Our main objection to this view is that Paul could have used another word if he meant servant/slave, namely doulos, a word that he commonly uses:

"Paul, a servant (doulos) of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God," Romans 1:1

"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves (doulous), you are slaves (douloi) of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves (douloi) of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves (edoulootheete) of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves (doula) to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves (doula) to righteousness leading to sanctification. When you were slaves (douloi) of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness." Romans 6:16-20

Our belief is that since the Apostle didn’t use this specific word this pretty much demonstrates that he intended to let his readers know that Phoebe was a deaconess of another Church and should be treated with the respect due to her.{3}

Third, there is extra-biblical evidence corroborating the fact that there were female deacons in the Church. Pliny the Younger (c. A.D. 62-113), the Governor of Bithynia in northwestern Turkey, wrote a letter to the emperor Trajan about the Christian movement, dated A.D. 111:

"I have never been present at an examination of Christians. Consequently, I do not know the nature of the extent of the punishments usually meted out to them, nor the grounds of starting an investigation and how far it should be pressed … I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution; for, whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished … They also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error to be no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god, and also bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery … This made me decide that it was all the more necessary to extract the truth by torture from two slave-women whom they call deaconesses. I found nothing but a degenerate sort of cult carried to extravagant lengths."

For more on this letter please check out the following links:

http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/pliny.html
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/pliny/pliny_mss.htm

There are specific Church councils which even refer to the office of deaconess in their canons:

Concerning the former Paulinists who seek refuge in the catholic church, it is determined that they must be rebaptised unconditionally. Those who in the past have been enrolled among the clergy, if they appear to be blameless and irreproachable, are to be rebaptised and ordained by the bishop of the catholic church. But if on inquiry they are shown to be unsuitable, it is right that they should be deposed. Similarly with regard to deaconesses and all in general whose names have been included in the roll, the same form shall be observed. We refer to deaconesses who have been granted this status, for they do not receive any imposition of hands, so that they are in all respects to be numbered among the laity. (The Canons of the Council of Nicaea (AD. 325), Canon 19: http://www.piar.hu/councils/ecum01.htm)

Canon 15. A woman shall not receive the laying on of hands as a deaconess under forty years of age, and then only after searching examination. And if, after she has had hands laid on her and has continued for a time to minister, she shall despise the grace of God and give herself in marriage, she shall be anathematized and the man united to her. (The Canons of the Council of Chalcedon (AD. 451); online source)

In light of the foregoing, we feel that the data strongly favors the position that there is an office of female deacon in the Church.

Women also functioned as evangelists and missionaries. An example of a woman who evangelized people by leading them to Christ is the Samaritan woman with whom Jesus conversed:

"Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you seek?’ or, ‘Why are you talking with her?’ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the town and were coming to him… Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’" John 4:27-30, 39-42

Also recall that earlier we had cited Acts 2:1-4 where a group of disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. What the reader may not be aware of is that this filling of the Holy Spirit was specifically given in order to equip all the believers to testify and evangelize the world on behalf of the risen Christ:

"In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth.'" Acts 1:1-8

As we also saw, this group of evangelists included women:

"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty) ..." Acts 1:12-15a

Hence, God empowered even the women to be his very witnesses all over the world in spreading the Good News of his Son Jesus, the risen Lord and immortal King!

In fact, Paul praised many women as fellow co-workers and evangelists, going out of his way both to mention and honor them by name:

"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard among you." Romans 16:3-6

Prisca, or Priscilla, and Aquila were a husband and wife team who were renowned among the believers. These were the very persons who took a young fiery believer named Apollos under their wing:

"Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." Acts 18:24-28

What is interesting about this is that both texts happen to mention the name of the wife before the husband!

"Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphae'na and Trypho'sa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyn'critus, Phlegon, Hermes, Pat'robas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philol'ogus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olym'pas, and all the saints who are with them." Romans 16:12-15

"I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." Philippians 4:2-3

The Quran, unlike the Holy Bible, mentions only one woman by name, that of Mary the blessed mother of the Lord Jesus.

History even testifies that it was primarily the work and evangelistic efforts of Christian women which led to so many conversions:

"As already noted, neither Christ nor his apostles promoted or organized a woman’s movement. Yet Christ’s message of repentance and salvation proclaimed by his apostles had revolutionary effects on the lives of women. The early Christians not only included women in the life of the church, but they also gave them freedom and dignity unknown to women at that time.

The acceptance women received in Christian circles was not an end in itself. It moved them to active evangelists and missionaries, as we saw with Phoebe, Euodia, Syntyche, and others. The work and zeal of faithful Christian women was a powerful force in the early church’s spiritual and numerical growth and expansion. As every church historian knows, women commonly were more active in the early church than men. St. Chrysostom (late fourth century) said: ‘The women of those days [early church] were more spirited than men.’ W.E.H. Lecky credits women "in the great conversion of the Roman empire,’ and he adds, ‘In the ages of persecution female figures occupy many of the foremost places and ranks of martyrdom." Leopold Zscharnack says: ‘Christendom dare not forget that it was primarily the female sex that for the greater part brought about its rapid growth. It was the evangelistic zeal of women in the early years of the church, and later, which won the weak and the mighty.’ They exercised the sword of the spirit to promote the growth of the church." (Alvin J. Schmidt, The Great Divide, pp. 74- 75)

Women can also be eyewitnesses according to the Holy Bible. After all, the first eyewitnesses to the greatest event in history, the bodily resurrection and the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus, were women! Women, not men, were the first to see the resurrected Lord:

"When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back--it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." Mark 16:1-8

"But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.’ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’" Matthew 28:5-10

"Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’--and that he had said these things to her." John 20:1-18

Women and Men are Different in Position and Function

The Holy Bible also teaches that God specifically designed it from the very beginning of creation that man would hold a position of authority, that he would be the head of a woman:

"Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’" Genesis 2:23

"The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living." Genesis 3:20

The man’s naming of his wife implies his authority over her, and the fact that he named her both before and after the Fall shows that God had designed this to be so from the very start. Another indication that God created the man to be the head of the family is the fact that he was created first, even before the woman (cf. Genesis 2:24-25). As a result of this chronological priority women are to be in loving submission to their head.

These points are reiterated all throughout the Holy Bible, showing that this is indeed the view held by all of God’s inspired agents and messengers:

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God… For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man." 1 Corinthians 11:3, 7-9

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." Ephesians 5:22-24

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." Colossians 3:18

"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives-- when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening." 1 Peter 3:1-6

Moreover, in light of God’s specific and deliberate design women are not to hold a position of authority and headship in the Christian congregation. The NT Scriptures clearly teach that God appointed male eldership over the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ:

"The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the HUSBAND [note that it says husband, implying male headship] of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:1-7

"This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the HUSBAND of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it." Titus 1:5-9

However, women can pray, prophesy or proclaim, sing, and speak in tongues in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, provided it is done in an orderly manner (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:5; 12:4-31; 14:1-25).

The Bible explains what the attitude and position of women should be in relation to this male leadership:

"What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached? If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized." 1 Corinthians 14:26-38

"likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." 1 Timothy 2:9-15

What these texts are saying is that women cannot hold a role of elder or bishop, and cannot make authoritative decisions in relation to Church governance since this is the function of the presiding elders. They must learn in quiet submission and not seek to usurp the authority which Christ has given the male leadership of his Church.

Sadly, some have distorted these last two passages to mean something other than what Paul intended. They claim that Paul is muzzling the women by forbidding them to speak altogether, which is the furthest thing from reality.

In the first place, Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 14 is directed to Christians who were acting in a disorderly manner. Paul was correcting such chaotic behavior by telling believers how and how not to behave. In light of this context, Paul tells women not to contribute to this chaos but to remain silent and, if need be, ask their husbands privately. The reference to husbands clearly shows that Paul was addressing a specific situation where there were married women who were disrupting the worship service by acting out of line. Besides, it is not the place of women to administer discipline or to correct disorderly behavior and conduct in the congregation. That is the job of the male leadership appointed by Christ.

In a similar way, Paul in 1 Timothy 2 is telling women that they cannot function as teachers or hold authority in a congregation consisting of both men and women since God designed that men will be the ones who will authoritatively teach and lead a mixed congregation.

There are still others that claim that Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy that Eve was deceived, not Adam, is intended to show why women are inferior to men.

To correct this gross distortion of the text we need to remind the reader that the Holy Scriptures, specifically Paul, hold Adam responsible for the death and corruption of the human race, not Eve:

"But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me." Hosea 6:7

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:12-21

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by A MAN came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

"Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

The foregoing makes it quite obvious that the blessed Apostle Paul holds the first man primarily responsible for the fall of humanity. Hence, his statement that Eve was deceived, not Adam, is no more an insult to all women then Paul’s claim that Adam plunged all humanity into sin and death is an indictment against all men. Paul is simply stating the facts, as reported in God’s true Word.

If anything, Paul’s comments are intended to protect women by placing the responsibility on men to insure that Christ’s Church does not fall prey to the enemy’s cunning:

"And from Mile'tus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."’" Acts 20:17-35

For example, Paul reasons that Eve being deceived by Satan is tied in with the fact of a reversal of roles, an implicit indictment against the first man for failing to protect her and do what he was created to do. Adam was supposed to lead Eve as her head, and yet he allowed the serpent to deceive her and lead them into sinning against God. Had Adam intervened to protect Eve by opposing the serpent, she wouldn’t have been deceived into becoming a sinner. In other words, it is precisely because of Adam’s failure to take responsibility as the head of the relationship that the woman was deceived into becoming a transgressor against God. After all, had Adam done what he was created to do then Satan would have failed to achieve his task. This is perhaps one of the reasons why Adam is blamed for plunging humanity into sin and despair.

This also explains why Paul goes on to say that, instead of assuming a role which God assigned to men, women would do well to perform their roles as mothers and nurturers of the family. Women honor God by carrying out the specific directives which God gave them to do, thereby resulting in their salvation (or more precisely, is the evidence of their salvation since one is saved purely by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone [cf. Romans 3:20-28; 11:5-6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-10]).{4}

Concluding Remarks

At this point we want to summarize what we have discussed and seen thus far. This is what we have learned from God’s true Word, the Holy Bible, regarding women:

1. They are created in the image of God.
2. They share the same essence and nature of men, and therefore have the same intrinsic value and dignity in the eyes of God.
3. They are designed to rule, along with the men, over God’s physical creation.
4. They could function as prophets, leaders, teachers, missionaries, and evangelists.
5. They are given the same kinds of spiritual gifts that the men receive.

At the same time, the Holy Bible teaches that:

1. Men are the head of women. This doesn’t mean that every man is the head of every woman, since sons are not the heads of their mothers, a person cannot be the head of another man’s wife etc.
2. Even though women are co-rulers with men, man holds authority over them because he is the head in the relationship.
3. Women cannot hold authoritative roles of teaching or eldership over men, since God has designed that the men will function as leaders and protectors of the Church of Jesus Christ.

We conclude our discussion by looking at some final references from God’s true Word in praise of godly women. This should confirm to the reader that our analysis that the Holy Bible grants women great honor and dignity is correct and sound:

"He who finds a wife finds what is GOOD and receives FAVOR from the LORD." Proverbs 18:22

"Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD." Proverbs 19:14

The ideal woman is one who maintains godliness, manages her family, and is successful at business. Such a woman is priceless according to the Holy Bible:

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth FAR MORE THAN RUBIES. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD IS TO BE PRAISED. Give her the reward SHE HAS EARNED, and let her works BRING HER PRAISE at the city gate." Proverbs 31:10-31

Recommended Reading

For those wanting a fuller and more in depth analysis of the issues raised in this paper regarding men and women roles in the Holy Bible, we highly recommend the following website and all of its online books: http://www.cbmw.org/resources/books.php

Godly Evangelical scholars who love the Lord and God’s Word have written these books in order to better equip Christians as to what the Holy Bible truly says about these issues.

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Endnotes

{1} For a very helpful book which provides the textual and historical data establishing that Junia was a prominent female apostle we cautiously recommend the following book by Eldon Jay Epp, Junia The First Woman Apostle (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2005). We say cautiously since the author holds to more of a liberal critical view of the Holy Bible which is not based on any solid evidence, but on a priori assumptions. Apart from his critical views, Epp’s book is a great read.

{2} In the NT Church, the office of deacon was instituted specifically because the Apostles were need of believers who could serve and attend the needs of the believing community so that the twelve could focus on prayer and preaching the word:

"Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them." Acts 6:1-6

So in one sense a deacon is a servant, which means that everyone serving could be viewed as being a deacon of sorts:

"It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant (diakonos), and whoever would be first among you must be your slave (doulos); even as the Son of man came not to be served (diakoneetheenai) but to serve (diakoneesai), and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-27

"What then is Apol'los? What is Paul? Servants (diakonoi) through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each." 1 Corinthians 3:5

"But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant (diakonos) of sin? Certainly not!" Galatians 2:17

"provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister (diakonos)." Colossians 1:23

Yet, just as the above text suggests that Paul’s appointment to be a minister refers to his commission as an apostle, i.e. in an official position within the Church, one could serve as a deacon in an official capacity, as a specific role or function either within the Church or government:

"Then the king said to the attendants (tois diakonois), ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’" Matthew 22:13

"For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant (diakonos) for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant (diakonos) of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:3-4

Thus, deacon in a more restricted sense refers to an official role within Christ’s Church.

{3} But even this point is not so ironclad since in the previous chapter Paul uses the same word in connection to Jesus being a servant to the Jews:

"For I tell you that Christ became a servant (diakonon) to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs," Romans 15:8

In light of this, one can legitimately argue for the view that Paul was simply calling Phoebe a servant, taking deacon in the more general sense of one who serves and not as one holding a specific office in the Church.

It may even be that Paul used the title deacon in relation to Christ to show how the Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this role (as well as a host of others) as an example for the others who assume these various positions and functions within the Church. After all, Christ is given many of the same titles and roles assumed by believers. For instance, both the Lord Jesus and believers are called living stones:

"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5

Both the Lord Jesus and believers are called shepherds and overseers or bishops:

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (episkopon) of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

"And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." 1 Peter 5:4

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkopous), to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28

Both the Lord Jesus and believers are called apostles and priests, with Christ being the High Priest of our faith:

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;" Hebrews 3:1

"He appointed twelve—designating them apostles —that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach." Mark 3:14

"But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:15-16

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

"and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Revelation 1:5-6

"And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’" Revelation 5:9-10

Thus, Paul calling Jesus a deacon is quite in line with the fact that Christ assumed many of the roles found within the Church in order to set forth the example for others to emulate. If understood in this manner then the reference to Jesus being a deacon wouldn't undermine the point of Phoebe having functioned in an offical capacity as a deaconness of the Church.

{4} Muslims who bring up such objections are either being dishonest or do not know what their own religious scriptures and traditions teach about women. For example, there are several narrations which are classified as sound by Sunni Muslim scholarship that blame Eve for women’s negative and sinful behavior toward their husbands:

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Were it not for Bani Israel, meat would not decay; and were it not FOR EVE, no woman would ever betray her husband." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 611)

Hammam b. Munabbih said: These are some of the ahadith which Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and one of these (this one): Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Had it not been for Bani Isra'il, food would not have become stale, and meal would not have gone bad; and had it not been FOR Eve, a woman would never have acted unfaithfully toward her husband. (Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Number 3472)

Thus, if Muslims have a problem with what Paul wrote regarding Eve, they must definitely have a problem with Muhammad who blamed women’s betrayal of their husbands entirely upon Eve.

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