Apologist Cliffe Knechtle Defends Egalitarianism

Paul writes that women are not to be pastors. I don’t think that’s a fair translation. He does write, “I do not permit a woman to have authority over a man.” And yet Paul had a partner in ministry named Priscilla. Who taught the great preacher Apollos? So what on Earth is he saying when he says “I don’t allow a woman to have authority over a man?”  I would argue that he is writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2 and he’s pointing out that in Ephesus, which is the city that Timothy was pastoring in, there was a goddess Diana of the Ephesians so there was massive confusion about sexual roles in Ephesus. Women received a new freedom in Christ that they began to abuse, and that’s why in his comments to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians. 11 and 14. He says I don’t allow a woman to teach a man. But wait a second, Paul. You got Priscilla teaching Apollo. I think it’s back to the education issue. Women were not allowed to get an education, so Paul is saying, “I’m not gonna have an uneducated person starting to teach.” Now, what I’ve just told you some very strong Christians who I respect highly disagree with me. Please, I’m not trying to contradict them. I’m just telling you how I handle those difficult scriptures.

Like most egalitarian apologetics, Knechtle has to insert historical context into texts where Paul makes no references. Moreover, Paul’s argument against women’s ordination comes from ontological differences between men and women (1 Corinthians 11, 1 Timothy 2:11-13). There is no reference in the text regarding women in pagan worship practices, but it is certainly a most pagan tendency to elevate women in religious worship. If anything, this is further proof of inversion to the created order, which is what Paul articulates when he said, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”

He mentions Priscilla “teaching” Apollo while omitting her husband Aquilla. There is no evidence that she was either a pastor or deacon, but rather they were a righteous couple Paul encountered. Acts 18 does not suggest Priscilla was taught Apollo, but Scripture implicates that it was Aquilla, who taught at the synagogue (Acts 18:4), that corrected Apollo, not Priscilla.

The appeal to the lack of education in ancient times is an anachronistic argument. Literacy was much higher in ancient and medieval times than is often presumed, but often the statistics of the medieval period are derived from literacy in Latin, not the vulgar tongues. Nevertheless, Knechtle appeals to their lack of education when apart from universal literacy, ancient peoples were more intelligent and were rather innovative because they were physically connected to the world around them. Because they were working with adults at a younger age, they were also more mature and skilled at younger ages than children today who undergo schooling into their twenties. Ancient women had practical education where they knew how to cook, care for animals, rear children, be midwives, and make household items by hand. Many of these skills are lost on women today.

Knechtle concludes with an appeal to his church’s practice and a nonconfrontational stance that he is not trying to ignite a feud with pastors who disagree. But the sin of women’s ordination is a serious issue. Since Paul wrote, “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man” then that is not a man’s words, but God speaking through inspired revelation. Therefore, disobedience to these verses is sin.

Whereas Creation is clear regarding the existence of God, Scripture is likewise clear regarding the prohibition of female pastors. Feminism is the number one threat facing the Church, with the PCA tolerating female deacons and shepherdesses (the same title of pastor) while the SBC’s formal position is that women can be pastors if subject to a male lead pastor.

Due to weakness, there are major apologetics ministries that fail on this critical issue. Christianity needs a better form of apologetics, one that does not compromise on the contents of Scripture. Hopefully, men like Wesley Huff can rise to the occasion to fill this void.