Search — Theology Explorer

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 3 eldership qualifications

What was uniquely priestly was the mediating function, which now belongs to all believers

Mike clarifies the distinction between priestly mediation and teaching.

Craig Keener prophecy argument prophecy and authority

Three egalitarian claims from women prophesying: (1) women could speak publicly, (2) prophecy is similar to teaching, (3) prophecy carries authority rivaling eldership

Mike outlines three sub-arguments egalitarians derive from women prophesying.

1 Corinthians 14:31 soft complementarianism 1 Corinthians 14:31 prophecy and teaching

Claim 2 analysis: Prophecy is similar enough to teaching that women should be able to teach in mixed gatherings

Mike now analyzes the second egalitarian claim from women prophesying.

eldership prophecy and teaching biblical categories

Prophecy is NOT teaching — the Bible consistently keeps them in separate categories

Mike's key pushback: while prophecy may involve elements of teaching, they are distinct categories in Scripture.

functional eldership women teaching

Important qualifiers: context, frequency, and whether a woman is functionally serving as an elder matter

Mike adds nuance about when teaching from a woman might cross a line.

1 Timothy 3 soft complementarianism 1 Timothy 3 prophecy argument

The egalitarian move 'prophecy involves teaching, therefore all teaching is acceptable, therefore prophecy equals eldership' blurs God-given distinctions

Mike warns against the slippery-slope reasoning some egalitarians use.

prophecy and authority testing the man vs. testing the word eldership authority

With elders, you test the man so the teaching will be pure; with prophecy, you test the prophecy because anyone can give one

Mike draws the fundamental distinction in how authority works for elders vs. prophets.

spiritual gifts argument teaching gift leadership gift

Argument 5 introduced: The spiritual gifts argument — God gifts women with the same gifts as men

Mike introduces the fifth and final argument, which he considers the strongest of the day.

1 Corinthians 12:7 Philip Payne spiritual gifts argument 1 Corinthians 12:7

Philip Payne's two-part argument: complementarians either assume God never gives women certain gifts OR they wrongly restrict those gifts

Mike presents Philip Payne's formulation of the gifts argument.

Romans 12:6-8 spiritual gifts teaching gift leadership gift

Romans 12:6-8 — teaching and leading are listed as spiritual gifts alongside gifts women clearly have

Mike examines the gifts list in Romans 12 to determine whether women can have teaching and leadership gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 word of wisdom word of knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 — speaking gifts (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, tongues, interpretation) seem available to women by analogy with prophecy

Mike examines another gifts list and finds it would be arbitrary to say women can prophesy but not have other speaking gifts.

1 Peter 4:10-11 spiritual gifts 1 Peter 4:10-11

1 Peter 4:10-11 — 'whoever speaks' includes all speaking gifts and all are meant to be used

Mike cites 1 Peter to show gifts are meant to be used, not kept dormant.

women teaching practical ministry application

Women gifted in teaching should use that gift — find ways that honor biblical limitations

Mike counsels pastors on how to handle gifted women in their churches.

apostles spiritual gifts offices vs. gifts

Gifts do not seem gender-specific; leadership and teaching could be gifts women have

Mike's conclusion on the first part of the gifts argument.

eldership teaching gift offices vs. gifts

Most Christians gifted in teaching are not elders — you can teach without being an elder

Mike challenges the assumption that having a gift requires the highest office to express it.

1 Corinthians 12:7 Philip Payne 1 Corinthians 12:7 common good

Second part of gifts argument: Philip Payne says gifts are 'for the common good' so you cannot restrict who a woman teaches

Mike addresses the more challenging claim from Payne.

Titus 2:3-5 Titus 2:3-5 women's ministry women teaching

Titus 2:3-5 — older women are to teach younger women; a biblical case for women's teaching ministry outside eldership

Mike provides a scriptural example of women teaching in appropriate contexts.

Colossians 3:16 Colossians 3:16 teaching gift necessary but not sufficient

Not everyone who teaches is an elder — an elder must be able to teach, but ability to teach does not require eldership

Mike makes the logical distinction between necessary and sufficient conditions.

Colossians 3:16 Priscilla Apollos Colossians 3:16

Colossians 3:16 — mutual teaching applies to all believers including women; Priscilla corrected Apollos

Mike argues that general mutual teaching and admonishing in the church includes women teaching men.

Romans 12:6-8 spiritual gifts Romans 12:6-8

Romans 12:6-8 revisited — women were in every gift category except teaching/leading; it is arbitrary to exclude them from those two

Mike restates the argument from Romans 12 more explicitly.

necessary but not sufficient women teaching realms of ministry

It would contradict clear passages to say women can never lead or teach, but the question is: in what realms?

Mike affirms women have gifts of teaching and leadership based on Scripture and personal observation.

spiritual gifts argument gifts expressed outside eldership

Egalitarian claim that women are 'kept from serving God according to their gifting' is wrong — most gifted teachers are not elders

Mike rebuts the claim that restricting eldership means restricting women's gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Stanley Grenz gifts expressed outside eldership 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Grenz presumes (1) teaching and leadership can only find true expression in eldership — Mike disagrees

Mike identifies the first false premise in Grenz's argument.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 3 Stanley Grenz eldership qualifications

Grenz presumes (2) gifts are the ONLY requirement for eldership — Scripture clearly gives additional requirements including gender

Mike identifies the second false premise.

eldership spiritual gifts argument

Summary of gifts argument: women likely have teaching/leadership gifts, no scripture limits those gifts by gender, but limitations are on who can be an elder specifically

Mike summarizes his conclusions from the gifts argument.

spiritual gifts argument eldership qualifications gender-based restriction

Why gifts do not translate to eldership: (1) one can teach and lead outside eldership; (2) the restriction is gender-based, not gift-based; (3) gifting alone cannot be sufficient for appointment

Mike gives three reasons why the gifts argument fails to establish women as elders.

Colossians 3:16 1 Corinthians 14:26 Tom Schreiner Apollos Colossians 3:16

Tom Schreiner quote: complementarians should not give the impression women are unintelligent or lack teaching ability

Mike quotes a fellow complementarian to correct unhealthy attitudes toward women's teaching.

women teaching gender bias

Bias against women's teaching comes from women too, not just men

Mike points out that the attitude that women cannot correct men is held by some women as well.

Colossians 3:16 Philip Payne Colossians 3:16 teaching ministry

Rebutting Philip Payne's use of Colossians 3:16 to claim all Christians should have a teaching ministry

Mike addresses Payne's argument that Colossians 3:16 proves every woman should have a teaching ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Philip Payne teaching ministry 1 Corinthians 12:29-30

1 Corinthians 12:29-30 — Paul's rhetorical questions show not everyone is supposed to teach

Mike cites Paul's own words against the idea that all Christians should have a teaching ministry.

soft complementarianism prophecy argument complementarian correction

Video summary — Argument 4: Women can prophesy in mixed gatherings but prophecy is radically different from eldership

Summary of the prophecy argument.

eldership spiritual gifts argument women teaching

Video summary — Argument 5: Women can teach and lead but should find expression outside the role of elder

Summary of the gifts argument.

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Definition of the two sides: complementarian and egalitarian

Mike defines the two major positions in the women in ministry debate for his audience.

Galatians 3:26 Galatians 3:26 in Christ justification by faith

Sonship benefit #2: Full participation of being in Christ — equal standing regardless of background

Mike identifies the second element of Paul's sonship teaching.

Galatians 4:6-7 circumcision Galatians 4:6-7 Holy Spirit

Sonship benefit #4: Internal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit

Mike identifies the fourth and final element of Paul's sonship teaching.

logical consistency eldership authority

Does the silver bullet argument challenge the very idea of eldership itself?

Mike presses the egalitarian position to its logical conclusion.

servant leadership eldership pastoral theology

Church leadership is service, not a prize for personal fulfillment

Mike addresses a pastoral concern about how leadership is framed in the debate.

Cynthia Long Westfall choir robe analogy clothed in Christ

Westfall's choir robe analogy: all differences subsumed under identity in Christ

Mike examines another bridge-building analogy from Westfall.

1 Corinthians 14 Galatians 3:28 1 Timothy 2:11 1 Corinthians 14 Galatians 3:28 Cynthia Long Westfall

Revisiting Westfall and F.F. Bruce quotes on Galatians 3:28 as an interpretive override

Mike re-presents key quotes to drive his point home.

hermeneutics clear interprets unclear topical relevance

Hermeneutic principle: look at passages that actually teach on the topic

Mike states the final hermeneutical takeaway.

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-18

Clinton Arnold: Rufus's views were well-known in Asia Minor, famous for advanced medical schools

Mike cites Clinton Arnold on the significance of Rufus's teaching in Asia Minor.

Ephesus Clinton Arnold Asia Minor medical schools

1 Peter 3:1-7 1 Peter 3:1-7 hypotasso ESV translation

Teaching through 1 Peter 3:1-7 - wives told to be subject to husbands

Mike reads and begins teaching through the first main passage.

Ephesians 5:21-24 headship Christ and church analogy Ephesians 5:21-24

Ephesians 5:21-24 -- instructions to wives including headship analogy

Mike teaches through the major passage on marriage.

Mark 10:42-45 Linda Belleville servant leadership Mark 10:42-45

Mark 10:42-45 parallel: Jesus redefines authority as service, not its elimination

Mike uses Jesus' teaching on servant leadership as a hermeneutical key.

Ephesians 5 Craig Keener Ephesians 5 dual messaging theory

Internal vs external messaging theory: Paul supposedly wrote differently for Romans vs Christians

Mike explains the most provocative aspect of Keener's theory.

Craig Keener Paul, Women and Wives Paul's imprisonment

Keener's conclusion: Paul wrote household codes as long-range Roman cultural defense

Mike quotes Keener's concluding summary on the cultural argument.

1 Peter 3 Craig Keener Christianity seen as Judaism Plutarch

Christianity was seen as Jewish -- household codes were not the primary cultural threat

Mike adds another historical argument against the cultural-defense theory.

Ephesians 5:31-32 Ephesians 5:31-32 transcultural indicators creation grounding

Ephesians 5 has transcultural indicators, not cultural-bowing indicators

Mike evaluates internal evidence in the passage itself.

Ephesians 5 self-sacrificial love Ephesians 5 Paul's cultural distinctiveness

How Paul IS different from his culture (complementarian distinctives)

Mike distinguishes Paul's teaching from both Roman culture and egalitarianism.