Women in the Bible

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The following is an excerpt from a message sent 
previously on this subject.  If there were no women 
ministers (as opposed to 'laypersons') then how 
does one explain these things?

---------
...regarding women in ministry, 
you say, "Add to this that there is no mention of female "bishops" or
"deacons" anywhere in the Bible." What about the scripture in Romans 16:1:

	"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the 
	church which is at Cenchrea:"    (Romans 16:1)

The word 'servant' in this verse is the exact same word as deacon used in
the passages in 1 Timothy 3:8,12.

1249. diakonos, dee-ak'-on-os; prob. from an obs.  diako (to run on
errands; comp. G1377); an attendant, i.e. (gen.) a waiter (at table or in
other menial duties); spec. a Chr. teacher and pastor (techn. a deacon 
or deaconess):--deacon, minister, servant.

It is also used many, many times in a general reference to servants
including where Jesus tells us that in order to be great, we must be 
a minister and if we want to follow Him we must serve Him.

Paul uses the same word as he used for Phebe for Apollos, Tychicus,
Timotheus, and Epaphras, whom I doubt anyone would dispute were 
actual Ministers (as opposed to 'laypersons').



Kathy Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@colsa.com
kedimick@hotmail.com
http://members.tripod.com/~coffeepleaz/index.html

"For to me to live is Christ"