Implications of gifts in Romans 12:3-8 for gender roles in the church : a pastoral study
Abstract
This research attempts to determine how gifts of individual believers can enrich the
respective gender roles in church and society.
Some Pauline writings were studied, and in addition to Romans 123-8, exegesis is also
done on other passages (1 Corinthians 121-31 and Ephesians 4:4-16) dealing with the
'body of Christ" (gifts). An exegesis on passages concerning the role of women (gender) (1
Corinthians 11:3-16, Ephesians 521-33, 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35, I Timothy 28-15 and
Romans 1631-16) in church and marriage follows. By doing this, biblical guidelines are found
on how men and women should exercise their gifts in the church. Galatians 328 is found
to form the basis for all Pauline writings. Here Paul puts the given fact that "in Christ Jesus"
male and female 'are one" and therefore equal before God. There still remains a created
difference between male and female. Turning to gifts, men and women have equal access
to all gifts, but the way in which they exercise the gifts may have certain nuances.
This research attempts to correct the old practice by using Zerfass's method of putting the
basis theoretical perspectives into interaction with meta-theoretical perspectives, so that a
new practice is developed. This means that a study of other relevant sciences (i.e.
Psychology, Sociology, Law, Feminism I Feminist Theology) concerning gifts and gender
had to be done. Supplementing this with an empirical study, it is determined how gifts are
used among the genders in daily practice. In this way the real experiences of men and
women in church are reflected.
The research comes to a close when pastoral consequences are drawn, and a strategy for
churches is proposed.
The finding is that both men and women should take part in the offices of the church,
because they are on an equal footing with one another.
Collections
- Theology [793]