Dave

Mark, you said, “As i understand 1 TIm 2:8-15, the teaching restricted is that linked with authority in the public congregational setting. That is, the preaching from the pulpit so to speak. This is the responsibility of the elders.”

I think your understanding is wrong. I agree with Cheryl. Last time you were here you tried to prove Cheryl’s exegesis as wrong but failed. Also, why do you persist in your understanding that is not backed up from the text?

You said, “deacons again scripturally were never responsible nor did the authoritative teaching of God’s word in the Churches”.

So Stephen could do this outside the church, but not in the church? Look at what Stephen said. He taught ‘authoritatively’ God’s word in the synagogue. Can you provide for scriptural evidence for this being ok for deacons to do outside the church, but not inside?

You said, “But what you have done is try to confuse the issue. Again, to lump all ‘preaching’ or teaching together as one thing.”

I think you had tried to confuse things before I got here. Also, neither the word ‘preaching’ or ‘teaching’ is used to describe what Stephen was doing in Acts. So why are you trying to confuse things? If you think the two are different then give some evidence from scripture.

Look at what you are doing Mark. It is ok for a woman to TEACH in private, it is ok for a woman to PREACH in public, it is not ok for a woman to PREACH or TEACH in the church. You think I am confusing?

You said, “Let me be more clear, the teaching restricted in Paul’s epistle is the authoritative teaching of God’s word to the Church in which he (the elder/pastor) has the spiritual oversight. Deacons did not have this responsibility as seen most clearly in 1 Tim 3 where elders are to have a qualification of being able to teach. Deacons do not need this qualification. Likewise Paul specifically notes in 1 Tim 5:17, that ELDERS who labor in preaching and teaching are worthy of double honour.”

But I thought you said it was ok for a woman to teach in private. So a woman can be an elder if they teach in private? Legalism always produces more questions than answers.

You said, “So as i see it, my point still stands. No where in the NT do we see deacons given nor practicing that responsibility. Therefore Stephen, Pheobe, Priscilla are all irrelevant proof cases for the egalitarian”.

If you say so Mark! All I was doing was showing that Deacons can preach. If you look at what Stephen said, I believe it is fair enough to say he taught God’s word to the Jews. This is a problem for your claim.