Frank

Cheryl, there are a number of points in Mike’s latest response which I believe reveal some erroneous thinking regarding biblical and theological interpretation. Consider, for example, what he says about disputes regarding eschatology. As a convinced Premillennialist, I can assure you that our viewpoint is based on more than one “proof-text” in Revelation 20. It is based on the consistent application of the historical-grammatical method of interpretation to all the OT and NT prophecies regarding the Messiah and the establishment of his Kingdom, in which a multiplicity of biblical witnesses are brought together to provide a complete and harmonious testimony as to the nature and extent of the Messianic Kingdom.

And the point I am making here is, of course, that the dispute over women in Christian ministry and leadership, like the dispute about the Millennium, is not due to egalitarians having a low view of the inspiration, inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture, while hierarchical-complementarians have the higher view. Rubish! The issue is one of the consistent use of a biblical and theological method of interpretation derived from Scripture vs. the consistent use of a method of biblical and theological interpretation that incorporates foreign, pagan elements that actually sckew the true teaching of Scripture.

Then, again, he makes assumptions and assertions about elders and their role in corporate worship that is based more on the accidents of church history than on the actual teaching of Scripture. He certainly seems unaware of the comparative studies of 1 Tim. 4:12-5:2 and Titus 1:5-2:5 made by Kenneth Bailey, Aida Besacon Spencer, and Leonard Swindler, using so-called “rhetorical criticism,” which have demonstrated Paul is instructing both Timothy and Titus on halting heresy in the churches must be accomplished by putting qualified male and female elders in charge of the congregations. And where, pray tell, does it say in 1 Corinthians 11-14 that either men are in charge of who can pray and prophesy, or that women alone are forbidden to prophesy or judge any prophesy made? That idea is a reading back into 1 Corinthians 11-14 of what is, as we all know, a very questionable interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12-15. So there are a number of problems with Mike’s answer.