WOMEN SERVING AS PASTORS
THE USURPATION OF DIVINE ORDER
By: Victor T. Stephens
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
~ George R.R. Martin
OPPOSING ARGUMENTS (continued)
25) The Nag Hammadi Library
The Claim: The Nag Hammadi library is often referenced by pro-women ordainers as an example of the "lost books of the Bible". That being the case, likened to their argument concerning Constantine, the Council at Nicaea, and the Council of Constantinople in 360 AD, pro-women ordainers suggest that it is not probable that Paul really meant that women are restricted from teaching in the church.
Rebuttal: Simply put, the Nag Hammadi scrolls are fraudulent. Philip did not write the gospel of Philip, nor did Peter write the acts of Peter, nor did Thomas write the gospel of Thomas. These scrolls were deceitfully authored in their names to serve the purpose of giving them authenticity during the early church period. Fortunately, the early church discerned these scrolls as forgeries that encompassed false teachings about God, Jesus, salvation, and many other essential Christian doctrines. There are numerous discrepancies between the Nag Hammadi library and the Bible. The Nag Hammadi library was an exciting discovery because many people, including pro-women ordainers, are looking for a way to discredit the Bible, which is a constant work of Satan.
On a positive note, the Nag Hammadi library presents perspicacity into what early heretics and false teachers taught. Paul warned the church about such individuals. He said in Acts 20:29-31,
"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." (Acts: 20:29-31)
Take note that Paul says, "for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
Second Peter 2:1-2 says,
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them -- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." (2 Peter 2:1-2)
Take note that this passage says, "Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." This is still taking place today. Many people are attempting to appeal to extra-biblical resources for the purpose of discrediting the Word of God. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warns the church in Corinth about false teachers. He says,
"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Cor. 11:13-15)
As we see, the early church was infested with false prophets and false teachers. And nothing has changed today. Likened to the early church, there are numerous people today, agents of Satan, who have made it their prime directive to distort the truth... having a predilection for propagating ambiguity about the Bible.
26) First Corinthians 14:26 proves that women may teach in the church assembly.
The Claim: Some feminists allege that 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV) provides firm evidence that women are permitted to teach in the church. This verse states:
"What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up."
(1 Cor. 14:26, NIV)
Since this verse is addressing "brothers and sisters" in the church, and it states, "each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation," then the "brothers and sisters" have a word to teach in the assembly. Thus, men as well as women can hold pastoral positions in the church.
Rebuttal: Pro-women ordainers have an incorrect understanding of this verse. Although women are in the assembly, what they fail to realize is that Paul is addressing men in the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 14. It is not Paul's intention to exclude acknowledgement of women in the congregation, but his speech is clearly directed at the men.
In verse 26, the Greek word "adelphoi," which is the masculine plural form of "adelphos" (Strong's Concordance #80), is rendered "brethren" or "brothers and sisters" depending upon the context of the verse and surrounding passages. That said, in proper context, the word "adelphoi" in verse 26 is more accurately rendered as "brethren."
Here is further evidence. First Corinthians 14:34-35 says,
"Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." (1 Cor. 14:34-35)
If Paul was focusing on women as well, why did he not write directly to the sisters if they were included in the term "brothers and sisters?" Take note that there is a major pronoun shift from "you" ("When you come together...") to "they" (third person pronoun) in verse 26 relative to verses 34-35 concerning women. Clearly, the women in the congregation were written about, rather than directly addressed by Paul. Thus, when Paul says in verse 26, "When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation," he is specifically alluding to the men, not the women. If Paul was referring to the women as well, then he would have contradicted himself (verse 26 vs. verses 34-35). This would also contradict 1 Timothy 2:11-13, where Paul restricts women from teaching on account of the creation order established by God. The King James Bible provides greater clarification. Let's take a look at it, including verses 26 through 39.
"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." (1 Cor. 14:26-39, KJV)
Now, take note of the following:
a) Verse 26 says, "How is it then, brethren?"
b) Verse 27 says, "If any man speak in an unknown tongue..."
c) Verse 28 says, "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God."
d) Verse 30 says, "If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace."
e) Verse 34 says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law." (Again, take note of the shift)
f) Verse 35 says, "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (Again, take note of the shift)
g) Verse 37 says, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."
h) Verse 38 says, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."
i) Verse 39 says, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." Again, take note that Paul is directly addressing the men in the congregation. The word "your" before "women" in verse 34 provides compounding evidence that the term "brethren" (KJV) and "brothers and sisters" (NIV) throughout 1 Corinthians 14 are specifically alluding to the men, not the women.
"All the previous directions given by the apostle, including the inclusive 'each one' of v. 26 and the 'all' of v. 31, were not to be understood as including women." (New International Commentary on the New Testament: The First Epistle To The Corinthians, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing p. 706).
The evidence makes it factually clear that Paul was addressing the men in the congregation. The Expositor's Bible Commentary states,
"women were not to speak in public worship (33b-36) . . . The command seems absolute: Women are not to do any public speaking in the church." (Vol. 10, pages 275-276)
Once we understand the proper exegetical context of 1 Corinthians 14:26, it collapses the argument that women may teach or even prophesy in the assembly.
