Views on Women in Ministry

[Name of Student]

[Name of Institute]

Views on Women in Ministry

Introduction

This book is written by more than one author and therefore includes many different views on this controversial topic of having women in the ministry. Often these kinds of books are very interesting because the authors give counter arguments to the theories of others. However in this book it is different, the theories have been developed upon each other and the idea is built accordingly. The editors of this book have made it easy for everyone to read by separating the introduction and the conclusion of the book.

The book has four contributors that present their thoughts and views on role of women in the ministry of church. It includes all local churches that have women working and leading the religious related activities. The contribution of four authors is mentioned below with their arguments. Each of them comes under the category “evangelical” and considered as the scholar in the particular field of New Testament interpretation.

Belleview's Egalitarian Argument

Belleview's argument is based on the answer to four important questions. The first question emphasizes on whether or not the Bible has mentioned the hierarchy between male and female. The second question is based on the statement that whether women are initiating t6heir role in the old and new testaments. The third evaluates whether men and men split and share their leadership roles and the last one is based on the question that whether or not the Bible has restricted women from specific leadership roles.

Her argument explores that male and female are different from each other on the basis of the sexual differences and body parts. However they are considered as the part of God and one flesh that are considered as the union of two persons. In such union, they both share the image of God. She emphasizes more on Genesis 1 that states the use of second person in plural form according to the description of God and command that has been provided to both men and women. The same command was given to Adam and Eve that was based on ruling the nation and participation in child-bearing. Her argument was brief and entirely emphasizing on the argument against the concept of gender hierarchy.

Her forty percent of argument was highlighting question two and addressed the five roles of women in church setting: house church patron, deacons, overseers and teachers. Her explanation was more emphasized on prophecy and teaching of women in New Testament. In last, her forty percent of argument was devoted to question four. In this argument, she rejected the idea of Paul that all women should adopt silence in all churches. Rather, she argues that this is something related to those women who are married and can argue with their husbands in their homes. A restriction in teaching has nothing to do with any leadership role of teacher in church.

Blomberg's Complementarian Argument

Blomberg's argument was the most significant from the other contributors. He is aware and knows ...