Mark

Also, lke the majority of you i believe the church is ‘the body of believers’, not a building. Sorry, i should have clarified that.

Paul in writing those letters was addressing a church and a pastor of a church. Both the immediate contexts of the passages refer to the ‘formal’ if i can call it that assembly of believers. Not bible study, not youth, not mission, not bible college, but ‘church’. Simply stated with the exponding of Pauls comments regarding eldership and how i see that role in the bible, i conclude that men should only be in that position teaching in the church.

That said there number 1 priority should be to humble themselves and do everything in their power to make their ‘church’ as much like Christ as possible. They should teach the word faithfully and be submissive in character and action to their sheep. They should never lord it over or demand things, but they also have the auhtority to make decisons knowing that one day they will give an account for what they do.

That is my rant

Pinklight,

i believe Genesis shows us something about Adams headship not about teaching. In both mine and my wifes understanding of the scriptures i am the ‘head’, but it doesnt mean she can’t teach me or show me things in the bible or be able to have an opinion. Headship isnt about domination, Christ revealed it is about love and submission and doing everything in my power to make my wife more like Him. If husbands dominate, it is not representative of Christ and is really fulfilling Gen 3. I dont think we should confuse teaching between spouses and the teaching roles involved in churches.