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The Role of Women in Ministry Today
A review of evidence regarding the role of women in the church explains the Greek in the battlefield texts of the debate. The book also examines the woman's position in first-century society. House argues that women should participate in more areas of ministry than have traditionally been open to them, but he asserts that some governing and teaching roles in the church are reserved for men.
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First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
H. Wayne House
76 books4 followersDr. H. Wayne House is Distinguished Research Professor of Theology, Law, and Culture at Faith International University. He holds six degrees, including a doctorate in Law from Regent University and a doctorate in Exegetical Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Dr. House has authored or edited nearly 40 books and directed study tours to Israel, Greece, Turkey, and other biblical sites. He is the founder of Christian Perspectives International, a non-profit organization committed to helping believers grow in their spiritual walk through biblical education. He is also a founder and the first president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society.
Dr. House has authored or edited nearly 40 books and directed study tours to Israel, Greece, Turkey, and other biblical sites. He is the founder of Christian Perspectives International, a non-profit organization committed to helping believers grow in their spiritual walk through biblical education. He is also a founder and the first president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society.
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December 31, 2012
This book is exactly what I need: a ultra-fine sorting out of all the details followed by broad plans about practical implications. I know not everyone wants books about contentious issues to follow this format, but as an INTJ, it's mandatory for me! There is a lot of Greek here (mostly in the footnotes) but I think someone with no Greek knowledge wouldn't suffer. Lots of these arguments are very specific and academic, but have broad implications in this debate. There are few things that have changed in the course of the argument since 1995, but this book is still gold and going on my wish-list.
Chapter 1 sets the stage by setting up biblical hermeneutics and the problem(s) of feminism. This is the more dated part of the book, since Third Wave Feminism is even more barbed and nasty than most anything in 1990.
Chapter 2 is a detailed examination of the concept of head/headship (κεφαλή) and evangelical dismissals of key passages.
Chapter 3 is a detailed survey of women's roles in the ancient world.
Chapter 4 looks at ministries conducted by women in the NT
Chapter 5 looks at ministries conducted by women in the 2nd and 3rd century
Chapter 6 is a detailed look at Galatians 3:28
Chapter 7 is a detailed look at prophecy vs. preaching in the context of women's roles (1 Corinthians 11)
Chapter 8 is mostly about 1 Corinthians 14
Chapter 9 is where he comes down to brass tacks and answers the question: What can and can't be done? He's pretended to start answering these questions beforehand, but he always stopped short of answering them because the exegesis hadn't been completed yet. I think his conclusions are very good, except one area. No women pastors/elders. Deaconesses is an unclear issue in the Text, so perhaps the later centuries are an indicator that it's reasonable. Perhaps. Yes to women on staff at a church, heading para-church ministry, having administrative authority over men, etc. The area where I part ways with House is when he says no to women seminary professors. I'm IN seminary. My professors are not my pastors. I pay to be here and I can leave any time I want. They are not shepherds and I am not their sheep. The only job I wouldn't give a woman at a seminary is homiletics professor, and not because she couldn't do it.
Overall, awesome book.
Chapter 1 sets the stage by setting up biblical hermeneutics and the problem(s) of feminism. This is the more dated part of the book, since Third Wave Feminism is even more barbed and nasty than most anything in 1990.
Chapter 2 is a detailed examination of the concept of head/headship (κεφαλή) and evangelical dismissals of key passages.
Chapter 3 is a detailed survey of women's roles in the ancient world.
Chapter 4 looks at ministries conducted by women in the NT
Chapter 5 looks at ministries conducted by women in the 2nd and 3rd century
Chapter 6 is a detailed look at Galatians 3:28
Chapter 7 is a detailed look at prophecy vs. preaching in the context of women's roles (1 Corinthians 11)
Chapter 8 is mostly about 1 Corinthians 14
Chapter 9 is where he comes down to brass tacks and answers the question: What can and can't be done? He's pretended to start answering these questions beforehand, but he always stopped short of answering them because the exegesis hadn't been completed yet. I think his conclusions are very good, except one area. No women pastors/elders. Deaconesses is an unclear issue in the Text, so perhaps the later centuries are an indicator that it's reasonable. Perhaps. Yes to women on staff at a church, heading para-church ministry, having administrative authority over men, etc. The area where I part ways with House is when he says no to women seminary professors. I'm IN seminary. My professors are not my pastors. I pay to be here and I can leave any time I want. They are not shepherds and I am not their sheep. The only job I wouldn't give a woman at a seminary is homiletics professor, and not because she couldn't do it.
Overall, awesome book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review