There is one woman in scripture who is shown as a Deacons (below) the word used in relation to her by Paul is "servant" but that word is defined "deacon".
"Pastors" where the word is used only once in the NT but moreso in the OT (Pastor) is the same word as shepherd (even in the OT) . Now in the OT under the defintion is included the word "Shepherdess" but the word itself is not used in scripture.
For example
Jermiah 3:15 And I will give you
pastors according to mine heart, which shall
FEED you with knowledge and understanding. (Feed my sheep?)
The word "
pastors" is ra`ah {raw-aw'} here
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
a) (Qal)
1) to tend, pasture
a) to shepherd
b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
c) of people as flock (fig)
d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
2) to feed, graze
a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
b) (Hiphil) shepherd,
shepherdess 2) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
a) (Qal) to associate with
b) (Hithpael) to be companions
3) (Piel) to be a special friend
This brought me to thinking about Deacons, as it seems to show here only men can be (keep reading)
1Titus 3:12 Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Deacon "diakoneo"
1)) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon
a) to minister to one, render ministering offices to
1) to be served, ministered unto
b) to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests,
1) of women??? preparing food c) to minister i.e. supply food and necessities of life
1) to relieve one's necessities (e.g. by collecting alms), to provide take care of, distribute, the things necessary to sustain life
2) to take care of the poor and the sick, who administer the office of a deacon
3) in Christian churches to serve as deacons
d) to minister
1) to attend to anything, that may serve another's interests
2) to minister a thing to one, to serve one or by supplying any thing
Same word
Deacon "diakoneo" means "minister" or "minster unto" check the word in the verses
Mat 25:55 And
many women were there beholding afar off,
which followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering unto him: (more examples of this word found in the above definition even "minister" which is synonomous with deacon and others connect)
Again here (Just so you can see if not only in part give it a look yourself)
1Cr 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
The word "ministers" here is diakonos {dee-ak'-on-os}
1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master,
a servant, attendant, minister
a) the servant of a king
b) a deacon ( above shows a woman as well) one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
c) a waitor,
one who serves food and drink ( if serving food is synonomous with those who serve tables its not assigned just to women see seven men are chosen Acts 6:3)For Synonyms see entry 5834
The best example is Phebe
Look at the word
"servant" in this verse is "diakonos" {dee-ak'-on-os}
Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you
Phebe our sister, which is
a servant (Deacon)of the church which is at Cenchrea:That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that
ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a
Succourer of MANY, and of myself also.(and Romans 16:27 as well)
Succourer
1) a woman set over others
2) a female guardian, protectress, patroness, caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her resources
So it does show that a deacon can be a woman and set over others, being a "protectress" shes much like a "shepherdess" in that regard as a shepherd not only lays down ones life for the sheep but "protects" and cares for them.
In regards to being able to a woman teaching... rather then dive into why the Lord said ye suffereth that woman *Jezebel* to teach, and Paul who said HE suffer NOT a woman to teach, lets take it straight on.
If a woman would TEACH then she would be a TEACHER, the scripture then puts a "difference" between "pastors" and "teachers" correct? Theres only one word in the NT for "pastors" it means "shepherds" but in the OT the definition allows for shepherdess ra`ah {raw-aw'}
They were allowed to prophesy and shows the woman prayeth or "prophesieth" propheteuo {prof-ate-yoo'-o} then when you look at the definition it does have something to do with "speaking". It says your "Daughters" shall "prophesy" Acts 2:17 one had four daughters which did prophesy Acts 21:9 One who prophesieth simply "edifieth the church". Now, if women cannot speak (in order to edify the church) its a pretty useless gift for women, but they had it. What good is having a gift to simply edify the church you cant speak in it? I'm pretty sure as I have heard some think "edifying others" (which is what prophesying is) has passed away? Im not sure, I guess it depends on which camp I suppose? Now "where" a woman could prophesy seems to be the issue. How can she edify the church when a woman cannot supposedly speak in the church?
Pastors and teachers
Ephes 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and
teachers;
Only one word for "pastors" synonomous for "shepherd"
Ephes 4:11
Pastors poimen {poy-mane'}
1) a herdsman, esp. a shepherd
a) in the parable,
he to whose care and control OTHERS have committed themselves TO, and whose precepts they follow
2) metaph.
a) the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church
1) of the overseers of the Christian assemblies
2) of kings and princes
The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were:
- to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep
- to defend the sheep from attackers
- to heal the wounded and sick sheep
- to find and save lost or trapped sheep
- to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
This is short but I wonder if we understand all the roles correctly. Though to be servant of all in Christ would not need collars, papers, position, title or recognition. Man or woman if the Spirit of my Lord quickens something in me through you I would hear.
Just because Jim Jones (and many like him) are a men no more makes him worth the listen, heeding or correct (as I see it).
But Im with her ^ Im a woman, I dont know squat either. Though, I know when Zachariah was told he was to be dumb and not able to speak, he asked for something to "write with" ... He seemed to understand the "order" to be silent did not include writing
Typing ok?
Peace
Fireinfolding
