# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S566
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

566 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Ill. Application to Specific Problems

A. Our asignment is not, to present to Synod an exhaustive
study on how the Christian, who enjoys equal rank with all be-
lievers in his relationship to God, shall conduct himself in the
earthly sphere with its orders and in the multifarious situations
confronting the Christian daily. In that case we might have
entered upon a close study of the command: “Be kindly affec-
tioned one to another in brotherly love; in honor preferring one
another” (Rom. 12:10) and “Submitting yourselves one to another
in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21).

B. Our assignment is not, to present a guide with respect to
mutual relations between sexes and between husband and wife.
In that case we might have thoroughly examined such passages
as Eph. 5:21-33 and investigated the implications of superordina-
tion and subordination.

C. Our assignment is not, to present a brief on the question
whether woman shall be admitted into the ministry of the Word
in normal mixed congregations. In that case our brief, operating
with the same materials as above, would have led to an unequivocal
NO! Apart from the special case of the “prophesying woman” of
1 Cor.11:5, where God Himself by a special gift of revelation and
inspiration established the exception (and here it was not a “pas-
toral ministry” as we understand the term), the New Testament
knows only of a male apostolate and a male pastorate. Deacons
and deaconesses ministered in other areas of church work (Acts
6:1 ff; 1 Tim. 3:8; 1 Timothy 5: “the widows”). The “four unmar-
ried daughters of Philip who prophesied” (Acts 21:9) have, indeed,
in our days been elevated into the rank of congregation preachers,
along with Phoebe, the deaconess (Rom. 16:1 ff.) and Priscilla, the
competent “better half” of Aquila (Acts 18:26). But where is the
warrant for such elevation? Not a word is said about their teaching
in congregational services. Historical romance writing did not end
with the fictional Acts of Paul and Thekla of the second century!
See Zerbst, p. 63 ff. and 83 ff. Understandably the romancers are
silent about the unsavory woman of Thyatira, “that woman Jeze-
bel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling
My servants to practice immorality” (Rev. 2:20 RSV).

D. Our assignment is not, to discuss the place of woman in the
parish education program. However, we wish to point out with
more emphasis than we did above that the Pauline veto of woman’s
teaching is in the setting of the worshiping congregation, including
men besides women. Teaching women and children in the home
is a different case (Titus 2:3 ff; 2Tim.1:5; 3:14). So is the in-

structio
Priscilli
did mu
homes ©
was ba
prograr
do not
Compa:
I (1930
In
has lec
work tl
gation,
done wv
Pauline
advice
a posit:
for the
E.
tion co
judgme
1.
bers of
4: 4-6;
2.
in the
Rom. 1
3.
admini
develo;
require
4.
affairs
whethe
connec
not all
gregati
(bisho:
5.
and es
disreg:
Cephai
all are
3:21-2