Craig

Friend: I can see now how you are reading 1 Tim 3 and how that could be true.
Craig: Yes, it seems like women elders and deacons could really be something God desires.
Friend: Well yes, but a comp interpretation of 1 Tim 3 can also work pretty well. “Anyone” can mean “men and women” as you say, but from what I understand, it can also just mean “men”.
Verses 1-10 could be just referring to men. There is nothing in them to say that women have to be included.
Vs11 about women could be just referring to women deacons because that is what the verses before and after it are about.
Therefore, 1 Tim 3 by itself isn’t really conclusive by itself. We will have to look at the rest of the bible to see what it says.
Craig: You may be correct, but I think the normal way of understanding “anyone” includes both men and women. The context would have to clearly indicate otherwise, and it doesn’t. I’ll check on the blog and see if there are any other arguments just from 1 Tim 3 that really favor an egal interpretation.
Thanks again everyone.