Cheryl Schatz

Mark,
You said:

As i said above. I answered this in another post. But just so you know i don’t deny they are in service. They are to continue in supplications and prayers day and night, i have said this several times. I just don’t believe there is an office of over 60 women elders who are to shepherd the church.

I never said that all of these women are “shepherds”. God gifts whomever He wants to so they could be, but that isn’t stated in the passage.

Do you accept that these women are a group of elderly widows who serve the church with their gifts? Do you think that a “group” of people who serve the church would be an “office” of the church? Do you think that a “group” of men who serve the church would be an “office” of the church?

Also considering the rest of the context regarding older/younger women aswell as the numerous verses talking about support and caring and burdened, i also believe the enrolment involves support. Please tell me why you are ignoring these very clear verses talking about caring for people and think it has nothing to do with the list.

I am not ignoring that the church supported orphans and widows who merely needed food. However to attach them to a special “group” of women who served the church and because of their pledge to continue this as a lifelong service, they received life-long support from the church as a requirement for all women for getting food from the church would be taking the passage out of context. I have clearly said before and am happy to repeat here that not all widows would be listed on the “roll” but they still may be fed by the church. Paul is making sure that their families understand that it is their obligation to take care of those who merely need food and that the church will take care of those who are dedicated life-long to service in the church that they are willing to give an oath of celibacy in order to continue this life-long service. These are two different groups of widows and not all widows who are fed will be on the “roll”. Ministry is the issue here that is ahead of just their being fed by the church.