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What do I mean another?
"There is none", the Complementarian might say, since that is the name given for those who believe women have no leadership role over men in church.
Well, Deborah is a clear woman leader in the Bible.
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
Judges 4:4
We read how she judged Israel for 40 years (Judges 5:31).
Can anyone claim that Judges were not the Lord's leaders in Israel?
So here I wish to highlight something Paul said about Phoebe in Romans. Here it is in full in the NKJV,
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.
Romans 16:1-2
Here is the YLT,
And I commend you to Phebe our sister -- being a ministrant of the assembly that is in Cenchrea -- that ye may receive her in the Lord, as doth become saints, and may assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you -- for she also became a leader of many, and of myself.
Romans 16:1-2 YLT
What I would like to do is show how Robert Young in his YLT is accurate in rendering the Greek as "leader" in contrast to the "helper" translation first quoted.
In the Greek the word here is PROSTATIS
It is a Greek word only occurring once in the New Testament (NT), right there in Romans 16:2
However, we have several examples of this word in the Septuagint (LXX) which helps us recognise the meaning. But first allow me to explain a little about this Greek word.
Now a Greek first declension noun like the word for "prophet" is a masculine word
PROPHÉTÉS
This is not an English familiar thing, but it is in French so that "a ship" in French is "un bateau", it is a masculine word, so also there are feminine words like "a table" in French "une table", or "une voiture" "a car" so this is a Greek thing too.
But in Greek, this word for "a prophet" when used for a prophetess then becomes: PROPHÉTIS
e.g. as found in Luke 2:36 "Anna, a prophetess" (PROPHÉTIS)
And also, Revelation 2:20 "Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess" (PROPHÉTIN - Acc.)
So back to Romans 16:2
Paul was writing about Phoebe a sister in Cenchrea. He says,
For she also became PROSTATIS of many and of myself
Romans 16:2
Now, armed with the above information the word PROSTATÉS is in view.
Yes, it only occurs once in the NT and, in its feminine form
But it occurs more often in the LXX - the Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament (OT) which Jesus and the apostles quote throughout the NT.
And the meaning of PROSTATÉS is clear:
It is spoken of someone who is a,
"head, chief; superintendent; officer; governor (of a place)"
And can be found translating,
1 Chronicles 27:31
all these were the officials over king David's property
1 Chronicles 27:31
LXX PROSTATAI
The English Translation of the LXX (engLXX) has, "superintendents"
1 Chronicles 29:6
the officers over the king's work
1 Chronicles 29:6
LXX PROSTATAI
engLXX "overseers of the works"
2 Chronicles 8:10
And others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon: two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.
2 Chronicles 8:10
LXX PROSTATÓN
engLXX "these are the chiefs of the officers of King Solomon"
2 Chronicles 24:11a
Brought to the king's official
2 Chronicles 24:11a
LXX PROSTATAS
EngLXX "brought in the box to the officers of the king"
2 Chronicles 24:11b
the high priest's officer came
2 Chronicles 24:11b
LXX PROSTATÉS
EngLXX "the officer of the High Priest"
So Saints, with all this info in hand, is it any wonder - is it not reasonable - for the YLT in regards to our sister Phoebe, to translate Romans 16:2 as,
for she also became a leader of many, and of myself.
Romans 16:2 YLT
Of course it is.
Please note
In regards to Paul's words about this topic, the major element missing from the majority of writers on both sides, is his teaching of deception in regards to the female gender make up, which he only really applies "in the moment" within meetings.
For further reading I recommend my article:
A WOMAN SILENT, NOT TEACH, NOT RULE OVER A MAN?
For a full discussion of this matter please see my book:
Leadership is male?
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