Expert: Tom Smith - 1/18/2006

Question
I'd pposed this question to another volunteer by the handle of DEAN GADE, however he was unable to answer the question. If you will, I now address it to you, it is from the same day I sent you my last question. Thanks :-)
God Be Praised!!!!!
We have an upcoming sunday school lesson at our church which addresses the issue of chosing qualified leadership. My question is both doctrinal and interpretive and is as follows:
                Doctrinal
In 1Timothy 3:2, the verse and following verses address the qualifications of a bishop (KJV). My question relating to this is rather or not the greek word for bishop, is equivalent to that of an apostle, thus making this office and position one and the same? and....

                Interpretive
In the same passage of scripture, I believe Paul is clear that this leadership position is to be held by a male (vs 2 "must be the HUSBAND of one wife), yet many conceded that a woman may hold this position in the christian church. I'll admit that these are hard sayings but other teachings of Paul assert that women are not to have authority over men. Am I in keeping with the contextual value of these teachings by this interpretational conviction?

Unfortunately, not all volunteers are able to answer all questions. Feel free to repost your question to another volunteer by clicking on the link below

Answer
Let's take these one at a time.

1) Doctrinal
In 1Timothy 3:2, the verse and following verses address the qualifications of a bishop (KJV). My question relating to this is rather or not the greek word for bishop, is equivalent to that of an apostle, thus making this office and position one and the same?

RESPONSE:
Let's look at that passage:

1 Tim 3:1-7
3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
NKJV

The word in the original Greek text for bishop is episkopos which means "a superintendent" (Source: Strong's Exhustive Concordance). The word in the original Greek translated as Apostle is "apostolos" which means a messenger or a delegate. So these are not the same or related offices. Indeed, if we look at what scripture says about apostles, we find that in Rev 21:14, there have only been 12 Apostles delegated by God in the early church. Today, we have only one Apostle and High Priest, Jesus (Heb 3:1).

2) In the same passage of scripture, I believe Paul is clear that this leadership position is to be held by a male (vs 2 "must be the HUSBAND of one wife), yet many conceded that a woman may hold this position in the christian church. I'll admit that these are hard sayings but other teachings of Paul assert that women are not to have authority over men. Am I in keeping with the contextual value of these teachings by this interpretational conviction?

RESPONSE:
I agree that the passage is clear that Bishops are to be men, but that does not stop women from holding other places of leadership, for example:

Titus 2:2-5
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
NKJV

So the older women can teach the younger women, but we do not find women teaching or holding a position of spiritual authority over men. We also see indications that the roles commonly assigned today to deacons (service to others) was handled by women in some cases (Rom 16:1 for example). We do not find women as Elders, Bishops, Pastors or Apostles, all positions of spiritual leadership over others, including men.

We do find exceptions in the OT, for example Deborah:

Judg 4:4-5
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
NKJV

Deborah was a woman who was a judge and prophetess. We may find in unusual cases where a woman is placed in authority like this, but I think that this is a situation where God chooses the person for purposes known to Himself. What we do know is that this is not intended to be the norm, and before a women would assume such a position, we should be very certain that it is God's calling. Personally, it would be my expectation that this would only occur in cases where no man was qualified or willing to take the place of leadership in the church.

I therefore believe that your understanding is sound.