Priscilla Papers | Academic Journal | Winter 1997
An interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed academic journal exploring Bible interpretation, theology, church history, and other disciplines as they address a biblical view of women’s equality and justice in the home, church, and world.
"Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos more perfectly in the way of the Lord." (Acts 18:26)
Academic JournalsThe opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members.
Winter 1997
Volume: 11 | Number: 1
Women’s Ordination
From a study of women’s ordination in Scripture to the personal experience of a “biblical feminist,” this issue breaks down why women should be ordained.
Contents
With due respect to Packer’s erudition and contribution to evangelical thought, we do not see women’s ordination as merely a by-product of modernity. We firmly believe that Scripture has consistently affirmed the ministry of women and placed equality at the core of God’s redemptive purposes since the very beginning.
J. I. Packer published a short piece in Christianity Today, titled “Let’s Stop Making Women Presbyters.” As the title suggests, this piece is a straightforward example of the age-old attempt to justify the treatment of women as second-class and substandard—an oppressive gesture, even if unintended as such. However, if [...]
The role of women in ministry is a controversial issue in evangelical churches today. On one side are the “traditionalists” who firmly believe that women should not be permitted to teach, preach or hold any position of authority in the church. On the other side are the “biblical feminists” who firmly believe that God calls [...]
The Bible does not allow gender to be a criterion for eligibility for any office or function in the church. Although in the Semitic/Hebrew culture the subordination of women to men was probably universal, and although there were no early explicit divine prohibitions against female subordination, the climax of special divine revelation in the [...]
How should women be involved in Kingdom ministries? Which specific ministries are to be opened to them? Should any remain closed? How shall we decide?
One of the most hotly contested passages in the New Testament these days is 1 Timothy 2:8-15. The cultural reason for this is clear: The ordination of women in the Church is a major issue of debate among traditional and evangelical denominations. Biblically-minded Christians are rightly concerned about the meaning of this passage for ministry today. [...]
I recently read a letter by a young woman struggling with the issue of women in ministry. She was torn because her father, a wonderful man of God, believed strongly that women were not to be ordained to ministry. “How can I question the beliefs of such a passionate godly man?” she asked. But [...]
I have been told on a number of occasions that men who adhere to an egalitarian view of the marital relationship and who see no ministry restrictions for women in the church approach the Bible from some personal bias that keeps them from seeing the truth. What usually follows in the conversation (lecture) is armchair [...]
The newly formed Advisory Council on Violence Against Women, co-chaired by Attorney General Janet Reno and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, is seeking to maximize the impact of the Violence Against Women Act by recruiting the collaboration of national leaders from law enforcement, the media, colleges and universities, sports, health care, primary [...]
