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Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
Interesting take. I have a different view, but definitely, your interpretation fits neatly into mine.
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There is some overlap in our interpretations. I don't see a major issue if the woman is considered (honorary) elders as long as the woman is in subjection to her (real) elder husband, as the Scripture says. I do not see a strong case for equal male-female eldership or women-only elders. The language in the original Greek or in our English translations does not allow for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ... 23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;
So I would ask you a few simple questions.
1. In the church, which are our comely members, the brothers or the sisters? (Hint -- anyone who is married knows there is only one right answer).
2. On which members has Paul bestowed more abundant honor, the brothers or sisters?
3. Which members have no need? (This is a little tougher to understand but as your earlier post about how brothers refuse to go to churches that seem "too feminine" suggests, one of these requires their ego to be stroked and for one there is no need).
4. Which members are "lacking" in the church -- brothers or sisters?
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The reason why Paul bestowed more honor on the sisters is because the woman is the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7). It is because they are the weaker vessel that they are suited for being elders to the weaker women (young women) but not to the men and women (the whole church).
There is another point which I believe makes the egalitarian viewpoint highly unlikely and it is that menstruation was a taboo topic in many cultures including Judaism and early Christianity which prevented women from leadership in various church rituals due to ritual impurity. This would have ruled out a young woman being considered for church leadership:
Ezekial 18:6 he....neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,