The Ordination of Women

The Ordination of Women

An Essay on the Office of Christian Ministry

by Paul K. Jewett.
Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary.

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1980.
republished on our website with the necessary permissions.

Contents

  Preface vii  
  Abstract of the Argument IX  
I Introduction 1
II The Argument from the Nature of Woman that Women should not be Admitted to the Order of Ministry in the Church 4
 
  A. A Statement of the Argument 4
  B. A Response to the Argument 9
III The Argument from the Nature of the Ministerial Office that Women should not be Admitted to the Order of Ministry in the Church 13
 
  A. A Statement of the Argument 13
  B. A Response to the Argument 18
  Addendum: Concerning Priests and Prophets 22
IV The Argument that the Masculinity of God Entails a Male Order of Ministry in the Church 26
 
  A. A Statement of the Argument 26
  1. Introduction 26
  2. The Incarnation 30
  3. The Male Apostolate 32
  B. A Response to the Argument 35
    1. God and the Male Imagery of Scripture 35
    2. The Analogical Nature of such Imagery 40
  Addendum: The Holy Spirit as Female(?) 47
    3. The Incarnation and the Historical Dimension 55
  Addendum: A Comment on George MacDonald's "The Wise Woman or The Lost Princess: A Double Story" 57
    4. The Male Apostolate and the Historical Dimension 58
    a. Introduction 58
    b. Women as Witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus 61
    c. Women Present at Pentecost and Endowed with the Prophetic Gift 62
    d. Women in the Pauline Congregations 66
  Addendum: Women - Apostles and deacons in the New Testament? 70
  C. Concerning the Vatican Decree: "Inter Insigniores" 74
    1. Introduction 74
    2. A Summary of the Argument 78
    3. An Appraisal of the Argument 85
V The Woman's Right to the Order of Ministry Affirmed 98
  A. Introduction 98
  B. Women and Theological Education 102
    1. Introduction 102
    2. A Historical Note 103
    3. Women Seminarians, Catalysts of New Structures in the Church 108
  Addendum: A Theological Comment on Motherhood 111
VI Epilogue:  
  Theology and the Language of the Masculine 119
  A. Introduction 119
  B. The Shape of the Problem 123
  C. Toward a Resolution of the Problem 129
    1. Introduction 129
    2. Sexist Language and the Hymnal 130
    3. Sexist Language and the Bible 133
  D. Conclusion 139

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