John 2:
Strong's Greek: 1249. διάκονος (diakonos) — 29 Occurrences
The English word "deacon" came from G1249.
BDAG διάκονος:
A G1249-servant worked for a boss for a specific service/task. There was a more common word G1401 δοῦλος (126 occurrences) that meant
servant or
slave
NIV, 1 Tim 3:
i.e., male and female deacons/servants who were tasked by a local church for its service
i.e., female deacons
i.e., a male deacon
The term could be applied to male or female. BDAG διάκονος:
When Paul was alive, did he allow a woman to be a dG1249-deacon?
I think so. NIV, Romans 16:
See also
Did Paul allow a woman to be an elder?.
I could be wrong, but I think the male is addressed 1st in the Bible in the same way the man is used in English, as inclusive of both men and women. When the Bible said that God created "man," the term included both male and female.
Since God created the male 1st, not as a matter of importance, but rather, of order, it becomes the natural focus of anything related to all humans, male or female. In other words, human is referred to in the masculine gender even though it really relates to all humans, male and female.
So yes, I would agree with you. Sometimes Paul treats male and female differently. But in many cases, what Paul would apply to men would also apply to women. And some of the checks placed upon women had to do with ensuring priorities, rather than some kind of assumed competition between the sexes.
Obviously, the woman's exclusive ability to have children is going to take precedence over a competition as to who is going to earn the bread in the family. The need to preserve the woman on behalf of family preservation is going to give the man the place of higher priority, to protect the woman from putting herself out there, whether in a hazardous job or in the military.
The woman's susceptibility to endanger her role also enhanced male leadership.
John 2:
Strong's Greek: 1249. διάκονος (diakonos) — 29 Occurrences
The English word "deacon" came from G1249.
BDAG διάκονος:
A G1249-servant worked for a boss for a specific service/task. There was a more common word G1401 δοῦλος (126 occurrences) that meant
servant or
slave
NIV, 1 Tim 3:
i.e., male and female deacons/servants who were tasked by a local church for its service
i.e., female deacons
i.e., a male deacon
The term could be applied to male or female. BDAG διάκονος:
When Paul was alive, did he allow a woman to be a dG1249-deacon?
I think so. NIV, Romans 16:
See also
Did Paul allow a woman to be an elder?.
When the Bible spoke of God creating "Man," the term "Man" appeared to be neutral. It refers to humanity, which includes both male and female.
Women were created as "soul mates" for men the same way a king is given a palace--it is because in order to have a successful relationship and partnership there has to be essential equality as well as compatibility. The king and his palace are virtually synonymous. The "Man," in every way, includes male and female.
If a man can serve, so can a woman. If a man can teach, so can a woman. If a man can lead, so can a woman.
However, for a partnership to work well, roles have to be defined. And that is a different subject entirely. Women obviously have certain priorities, as do men. They are obvious, and will naturally lead to distinctions.
The Women's Rights movement, and the transgender movement, are doing a great disservice to maintaining these essential male and female roles. Clearly, there are abuses in any kind of relationship, from business to social to family.
There is going to be some chauvinism, and there's going to be some violent protests against these abuses. But it is important to maintain God's order of creation, whatever that requires. I won't try to answer that here. But yes, women can serve as well as men. The roles women fill in individual churches may be determined by availability and need.
