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Religion Forum Index » Christian Methodist Forum » Binney & Steele: Women's Sphrere in the Church
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 Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 7:58 am |
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WOMAN'S SPHERE IN THE CHURCH.
by Amos Binney & Daniel Steele
[From _BINNEY'S THEOLOGICAL COMPEND IMPROVED_ written by Amos Binney and
Daniel Steele and published in 1839. This text is in the public domain.
I include this to demonstrate that the Methodist suport for the ministry
of women pre-dates the modern feminist movement. Craig.]
--
This is not limited to the duties of the family or household, since she
is often by nature and grace pre-eminently adapted for a wider service.
Hence women were employed as prophets, that is, in the sense of public
religious teachers, including the higher ministerial duties, as appears
from the rank next after apostles . I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11. Compare
Acts 2:17-18; 21:9; Rom. 16:1-2. So in the Old Testament. Exod. 15:20;
Judg. 4:4; II Kings 22:14; Num. 11:29.
Compare also Ps. 68:11, where the true rendering is, of the women
preachers there was a great host; which accords with the wish of Moses,
Num. 11:29, and of Paul, I Cor. 14:5. (181. Who should govern in the
decisions of the Church? What is the duty of the minority? What benefit
will result? What is said of woman's sphere? Of their service as
prophets or teachers? Did Paul condemn the practice?)
Some have understood Paul as prohibiting women teaching. I Cor.
14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2: 11-12. But he evidently refers to such only as
prayed and prophesied unvailed, as appears 1 Cor. 11:5-13. Paul in this
had respect simply to the usage of society, as was his custom in
matters of indifference. I Cor. 9:19-23. To say that his prohibition
applies alike to all times and conditions of society, is to say that
the prudential regulations of a degraded heathen people, eighteen
hundred years ago, are universally binding, and that Christianity in
this respect has wrought no change in the world it came to reform. Paul
surely had a different estimate of woman service. Rom. 16:1-7, 12-15.
His first public discourse in Europe was at a meeting of women, and his
first convert and host was a woman. Acts 16:9-15.
There is indisputable scriptural and historical proof that subordinate
official position was accorded to women in the apostolic Church:-
1. The correct translation of Rom. 16:1-2, shows that Phebe was a
deacon of the Church and a patron of many-the original of patron being
radically the same as is rendered, he that ruleth, in chap. 12:8. (182.
What is said of his estimate of women? Was offical position accorded to
her? What is said of Phebe? What exposition of Rom. 16:1-2?) of Deacons
not only minister to the sick and needy, but from Phil. 1:1, and I Tim.
3:2, 8, we infer that they preached and discharged other spiritual
functions subordinate to the elders or bishops, who correspond to the
pastors of modern times.
2.The rules of conduct laid down for women in I Tim. 3:11, and Titus
2:3, have been referred to the deaconesses by a series of eminent
commentators from Chrysostom to Alford.
3. Dr. Schaff and other scholars interpret the words, "let not a widow
be taken into the number," I Tim.5:9. Let not a widow be elected and
ordained under threescore years old.
4. From Titus 2:3-4, we learn that women were employed as teachers in
the direct personal application of Christian truth.
5. Pliny, a few years later, speaks of the order of deaconesses as
exercising, in relation to their own sex, functions analogous to those
of the deacons.
The history of the early Christian Church confirms this statement, and
adds, also, that women baptized. (183. What exposition of I Tim. 3:11;
5:9? Of Titus 2:3? What is said of the history of the early Church?)
Signal honors are recorded of woman's devotion to Christ and his cause.
Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 10:38-42. She was first to preach
the actual advent of the promised Messiah, both to the Jews and to the
Samaritans. Luke 2:36-38; John 4:28, etc.; and first to preach the
risen Savior to his doubting apostles. Matt. 28:7-9, 17.
"Not she, with traitorous kiss, her Savior stung; -- Luke 22:47-48.
Not she denied him with unholy tongue; -- Matt. 26:69-75.
She, while apostles shrank, could danger brave: -- Matt. 26:56
Last at the cross, and earliest at his grave." -- Matt. 27:55-56 28:1. |
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