Testing Paul's Words - The Subtraction

The Subtraction

Ideally, in the perfect garden of Eden, there were no quarrels between any combination of men and women. There would not have been any quarrels even if Eve had raised children prior to the fall. Had it existed, this would have been a perfect example of unified authority that does not exalt itself over a brother as demonstrated by the apostles in 1 Thessalonians 2:6. There would have been no exercise of authority over any human as they would have been one and equally authoritative over the rest of the earth while spread apart as commanded.

Regardless of this originally intended equality, the fall happened and Jesus commanded even men to do what the religious leaders said:

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. "They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. Matthew 23:1-4.

Because religious leaders today dictate adherence to the letter of Paul's rule of etiquette which has become one of today's traditions in 1 Timothy 2:12, women must obey Christ with regard to Matthew 23:1-4. But Matthew 23:1-4 cannot be used to justify Paul's tradition in 1 Timothy 2:12 because Jesus did not make a distinction between male and female when He spoke in Matthew 23:1-4. Therefore, Paul does indeed subtract from Jesus' own command in Matthew 23:1-4 by showing partiality towards men and preventing women from prophesying over men.

Furthermore, those in Moses' seat within the body of Christ are commanded to not lord their authority over others and will reap what they sow should they do so with their own rules of etiquette. Jesus is the example leaders are to follow and He did not come to be served neither should any Christian leader of any kind or at any level.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28

Mark says the same thing in Mark 10:42-45 and this is why the apostle wrote 1 Thessalonians 2:6.

• Moses' Example
• Pharisee Examples
• Today's Application
  • First Problem
  • Second Problem
• Three Current Examples
  • Keep Your Shoes On
  • No Laptops in the First Four Rows
  • No Loud Worship
• Testing Paul's Words
• The Addition
• God's Original Design
• The Subtraction
• The Curse
• Conclusion of the Matter

Copyright (c) 2012 by Diane Pebley All rights reserved, no use granted without the express written permission of the author, Diane Pebley