The Ordination of Women
THE CONCISE VERSION
This version is the result of the first round of selective editing, and contains a broad collection of the best of the arguments found in the Extended Version. The Concise Version is like the Extended Version in that it is written as a point-by-point comparison, basically a written debate format. It is an abridged version of the Extended paper and is intended to contain a representative cross-section of the most important points in the discussions. This version is intended to sift through all the material in the Extended Version and focus attention on the key arguments. It contains more material than the Bible Study Version. As it is written in the debate format it also contains the T-F-I designations (True, False, Inconclusive) to assist the reader in evaluating each point as the arguments unfold. As a result of having a greater length than the Bible Study Version, and its written debate format, its purpose is to provide a more detailed study of the matter of the ordination of women. For each revision of the Concise paper consideration is given to the latest additions made to the Extended paper. Those additions will be weighed against existing material in the Concise paper. When new material is considered to be of greater significance than some of the existing material, as appropriate the new material will replace some of the existing in order to maintain the Concise paper at a constant size. To obtain a copy of this paper please go to Papers for further information. The table of contents of the Concise Version is given below. * * * * * * * * * Concise Version Rev. .01 1 T-F-I STATEMENT FOR WOMEN AS MINISTERS AND ELDERS. 4 1.1 T-F-I The Bible Contains No Role Distinction Between Men and Women. 4 1.1.1 T-F-I The Old Testament. 4 1.1.1.1 T-F-I Deborah as Judge. 5 1.1.1.2 T-F-I Old Testament Prophetesses. 5 1.1.1.2.1 T-F-I Miriam. 5 1.1.1.2.2 T-F-I Huldah. 5 1.1.2 T-F-I Jesus’ Attitude Toward Women. 5 1.1.2.1 T-F-I The Samaritan woman (John 4). 6 1.1.2.2 T-F-I The Canaanite Woman Whose Faith Brought Healing to Her Daughter. 6 1.1.2.3 T-F-I The Woman in Simon's House Who Washed Jesus' Feet. 6 1.1.2.4 T-F-I The Woman With the Hemorrhage. 6 1.1.2.5 T-F-I Mary. 6 1.1.2.6 T-F-I Women Who Participated in the Ministry of Jesus. 6 1.1.3 T-F-I Women in the New Testament Church. 7 1.1.3.1 T-F-I "Fellow-workers." 7 1.1.3.1.1 T-F-I Prisca 7 1.1.3.2 T-F-I Prophetesses. 7 1.1.3.3 T-F-I Apostle. 7 1.1.3.4 T-F-I Deaconesses. 7 1.1.3.4.1 T-F-I Phoebe. 8 1.2 T-F-I Rule of Man Over Woman: Result of the Fall. 8 2 T-F-I STATEMENT OPPOSING ORDAINING WOMEN AS MINISTERS AND ELDERS. 10 3 T-F-I STATEMENT: MEN ONLY ARE TO FUNCTION AS MINISTERS AND ELDERS. 12 3.1 T-F-I The Headship Principle is a Creational Norm 12 3.1.1 T-F-I The Old Testament evidence. 12 3.1.1.1 T-F-I Before the Fall: the argument from the creation story. 12 3.1.1.1.1 T-F-I Adam was the first created 13 3.1.1.1.2 T-F-I Adam Names Eve 13 3.1.1.1.2.1 T-F-I Naming Was An Act of Authority 14 3.1.1.1.3 T-F-I Eve As Adam's "Help" 15 3.1.2 T-F-I The New Testament and the Headship Principle 15 3.1.2.1 T-F-I "Head" in Scripture 15 3.1.2.1.1 T-F-I The Use of "Head" in the New Testament 16 3.1.2.1.1.1 T-F-I Head As "Source" 16 3.1.2.1.1.1.1 T-F-I Ephesians 4:15-16 17 3.1.2.1.1.2 T-F-I Head As "Authority" 17 3.1.2.1.1.3 T-F-I "Source" and "Authority" Closely Connected 18 3.1.2.1.1.3.1 T-F-I Colossians 2:10 18 3.1.2.1.1.3.2 T-F-I Ephesians 1:23 18 3.1.2.1.1.3.3 T-F-I Colossians 1:18. 19 3.1.2.1.1.3.4 T-F-I Ephesians 5:23. 19 3.1.2.1.2 T-F-I New Testament: Man As Authority Over Woman 19 3.1.2.1.2.1 T-F-I I Corinthians 11:3,8-9 19 3.1.2.1.2.1.1 T-F-I Head Not Source 21 3.1.2.1.2.1.2 T-F-I "Authority" Fits This Passage 21 3.1.2.1.2.2 T-F-I Ephesians 5:23 23 3.1.2.2 T-F-I New Testament Passages Without the Term "Head" 23 3.1.2.2.1 T-F-I I Corinthians 14:33b-35 24 3.1.2.2.1.1 T-F-I The Worship Services of Paul's Day 24 3.1.2.2.1.2 T-F-I Conflicts With Headship Principle Prohibited 25 3.1.2.2.1.3 T-F-I Headship Principle Confirmed 27 3.1.2.2.1.4 T-F-I This Injunction is Very Important 28 3.1.2.2.1.4.1 T-F-I A Universal Statement 28 3.1.2.2.1.4.2 T-F-I "As The Law Says" 28 3.1.2.2.1.4.3 T-F-I The Lord's Command 29 3.1.2.2.2 T-F-I I Timothy 2:11-15. 29 3.1.2.2.2.1 T-F-I The Instituted Church 31 3.1.2.2.2.1.1 T-F-I I Timothy 3:14-15 31 3.1.2.2.2.1.2 T-F-I The Broader Context 32 3.1.2.2.2.2 T-F-I The Headship Principle is Implied in This Passage 33 3.1.2.2.2.2.1 T-F-I Submission 33 3.1.2.2.2.2.2 T-F-I Women and Authority 34 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.1 T-F-I The Authority of Official Teachers 34 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.2 T-F-I Not "Domineering Authority" 34 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.3 T-F-I Women and Teaching 35 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.3.1 T-F-I Official Teaching Prohibited 35 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.3.2 T-F-I Not False Teaching 36 3.1.2.2.2.2.2.3.3 T-F-I Teaching and Authority in the N.T. 36 4 T-F-I STATEMENT: OPPOSING MEN ONLY AS MINISTERS AND ELDERS. 39
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