Paul's view of Women in the Ministry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paul's view of Women in the Ministry - Essay Example It is clear through Scripture verses that Paul, unlike many men of his time, was supportive of women actively teaching and praying in the ministry. One of the most profound references that can be found to the views of Paul is in the book of Romans. Romans 16:1-2 states: â€Å"I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.† If Paul did not support women in the ministry, he would not be commending anyone, let alone a woman, by name. Furthermore, though Paul refers to Phoebe as a â€Å"servant†, he wrote his letters in Greek, using the word â€Å"diakonos†, from which the word â€Å"deacon† is derived (Fees). Though the translation reads â€Å"servant†, it has been speculated, that Phoebe may have actually been a church leader, such as a deacon, not a servant. In fact, the word is only translated once out of thirty-four times as â€Å"servant†, and that is when it has bee n applied to Phoebe; the rest of the time it has been translated as â€Å"minister† or â€Å"deacon† (Fees). Another female name of note is Priscilla, noted to be a tent-making team of husband and wife whose house Paul is a guest in, as stated in Acts 18:1-3. In Acts 18:24-26, it states â€Å"now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in Scriptures, came to Ephesus.   This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.   So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.   When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.† Priscilla, along with her husband, taught and explained the gospel to Apollos while Paul was staying under their roof and sharing their house