From the Desk of Jeff King

Female leadership

Bible translators were reckless with 1 Timothy 2:12, a critical passage that addresses female leadership in the church. The New King James Version renders Paul's letter in English, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man." Problem is, the Greek text doesn't match.

Translators omitted the word "yet" twice from the verse, which totally corrupts Paul's message. Applying the Greek Interlinear Bible, it is better rendered, "I am not permitting women to teach YET or to have authority over man YET (emphasis added)." Jewish women in Paul's day were not afforded the same religious training as men. Paul wanted women to wait until they had equipped themselves to teach doctrine correctly. Men were held to the same standard. Men and women are equal partners in the body of Messiah (Galatians 3:28), including offices of leadership. Male cronyism in church is a violation of Scripture.

Footnote – Thanks to Christie Michas for helping me smooth out the choppy English in the Greek Interlinear Bible. Christie and her husband Peter co-authored an excellent book entitled "Christianity's Misconceptions of Women." The book can be read online for free here.