Marg Mowczko

@Ramon The only time that the word “man” is used in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 is in the phrase “a one woman man”. This is often translated into English as “the husband of one wife”.

While this may sound like a cop out, “a one woman man” really was a common Greek idiom.

If someone said that they were “so hungry they could eat a horse”, most English speaking people would know not to take this idiom literally.

This phrase, “a one woman man”, is an idiom found on numerous sepulchral [gravesite] inscriptions celebrating the virtue of a surviving spouse that had not remarried. By noting that he or she was married only once, it suggests the virtue of extraordinary fidelity. (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition, Walter Bauer, revised & edited by F.W. Danker, University of Chicago Press, 2000, p292.) Paul uses the phrase “a one man woman” in this context when writing about widows in 1 Timothy 5:9. These women had been married only once, their husband had died, and they were now single and celibate. The New Revised Standard Version somewhat captures this meaning in their translation of this phrase as “married only once” in 1 Timothy 3:2 and 5:9. However the idiom, “a one women man”, has a broader context than that. The real implication being marital fidelity.

The phrase, “a one woman man”, may actually be generically applied to a group of both men and women as can be seen from its use, for example, in 1 Timothy 3:12. 1 Timothy 3:8-10 is about men ministers; 3:11 is about women ministers; and 3:12-13 is about both men and women ministers. Chrysostom wrote that the phrase a one woman man in 1 Timothy 3: 12 ”. . . must be understood therefore to relate to Deaconesses [women ministers]. For that order is necessary and useful and honourable in the Church”. (Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 Timothy, Homily XI)

I fully respect and acknowledge the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures, however the Scriptures were written during times that were very different from ours, to cultures that were very different to ours, and using languages that are different from ours. It is dangerous (and unwise) to ignore good scholarship that sheds light on culture, history and language that can help us to understand the meaning and intent of the Bible authors.

Moreover, several women are mentioned by name in the New Testament who were house church leaders: Chloe, Nympha, Priscilla (with her husband Aquila) etc. Other female ministers include Phoebe, Junia, Euodia and Syntyche, etc. Paul had no problem with women being ministers.
http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/new-testament-women-church-leaders/