Let a Woman Learn

Paul's directive in 1 Timothy 2:11 to "let a woman learn," was controversial in its time—no one encouraged women in their theological studies like that. We believe God wants women to learn and grow in their own faith, and to become good theologians, not just borrow the theology of their parents or husbands. And what does God say about women's roles in the church? With women like Phoebe, Euodia, and Syntyche as examples, among others, we see women (as well as men) coming alongside church elders as deacons to serve the church. We believe men and women both have all the spiritual gifts, are gifted to teach, love, and serve, and are called to offices of leadership in the church, as outlined in 1 Timothy 2 and 3.

This clip is excerpted from the sermon "Where Are You?" part #3 of our current sermon series, God's Work, Our Witness. It was recorded at Mars Hill Church Downtown Bellevue in Washington and released online December 19, 2011.



Watch the full sermon here: http://marshill.com/media/gods-work-our-witness/where-are-you

Category:

Education

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• Bible
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• gospel
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• men
• women
• complementarian
• I Timothy
• teach
• theology
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• school
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• deacon
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• Phoebe
• Euodia
• Syntyche
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• service

[WatersofLife27]

We must all come together and serve as one in the Body of Christ ! :)

[mrspogadaeus]

This is the same thing Jesus was saying when he told Martha that Mary had chosen a good thing (Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet, he was probably teaching, so she was in the mindset of a student.In those days the men would 'sit at the feet of' a teacher, but not the women. They would go cook and stuff) Deaconesses were in the Bible serving in the early church. Phoebe was a deaconess, as were several others mentioned in the Bible. I would think Pastor Mark would endorse anything the Bible endorses.

[TheAtheistFuture]

I feel like I've just been transported to the 1900's, as if women need to be told to learn. This dude needs to be told that women have been in education for a while now under secular law. Damn, religion is slow.

[SamWiseGingy]

@swartzbryan So let's see your god put women under men in the "chain of authority" because they are equal. I think your brain is a pretzel. Please tell me why is it that many of the very conservative Christians (See this video - John MacArthur - I do not Allow a Woman to Teach... (1Timothy 2:12-15)) until that last fifty years or so with the rise of "feminism?"

[swartzbryan]

@SamWiseGingy The best way I know to think about it is this: the only overt statement about worth/value is being made in the image of God in Genesis. The others discuss roles, not worth, as each gender is uniquely gifted for different things. Whether you agree or not, go in peace

[swartzbryan]

@SamWiseGingy I Cor. 11 does not say anything about image-bearers. It's talking about the chain of authority, it uses the term head not image of as your quote relates. Genesis: 1:27 "male and female he created them" seems to me to be saying just that. Re: Paul in I Timothy: v. 12 states he is talking about teaching/authority in the church. The creation order/deception is stated afterwards as the reason for this.

[SamWiseGingy]

@swartzbryan Part 1: Okay men and women are "equals," then why doesn't Genesis say and God made Eve equal to Adam? If men and women are equal and that's what Paul actually meant to say then why does he bring up the fact that Eve was deceived and that she was made after man.

[SamWiseGingy]

@swartzbryan

Part 2: Then you have 1st Corinthians 11 where Paul says men are in the image of God and women are in the image of man.

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God.

[swartzbryan]

@SamWiseGingy I don't see how that verse portrays women as being inferior in the least, when combined with the rest of Scripture. The fact that Eve was deceived highlights Paul's point that man was created first to be the leader. But Genesis tells us that both were created in the image of God, and I Peter 3:7 calls women 'fellow heirs of the grace of life'. God called Eve a helper suitable for Adam ... he could have created another man if that would have been better

[SamWiseGingy]

@swartzbryan The problem with view is that Paul taught that women were inferior. 1 Tim 2: 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. I don't know where MD gets this "equality but different roles" stuff. It certainly is not in Paul's writings.

[SamWiseGingy]

@NexusCapital If you follow my threads you will see that evidence based answers are very seldom provided. What is typically provided is proclamations, threats, and anecdotes that have no way of being confirmed. These type of anecdotes are in no way unique to Christianity. But I keep looking for a rational believer. Perhaps someday I will find one.

[NexusCapital]

@SamWiseGingy I hope someone answers your question, because Im curious as well.