Editor’s note: We asked two scholars—Tom Schreiner and Alex Strauch—the question, “Does the Bible allow for women deacons?” Below, you’ll find Tom’s answer, as well as Alex’s response. (You can read Alex’s answer and Tom’s response here.)
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Tom’s answer:
Whether women should be deacons is a difficult matter. It’s not easy to decide—and besides, I don’t like disagreeing with Alex Strauch because he is one of my favorite pastors! He may be right, and I may be wrong. The issue of whether women should serve as deacons is restricted to a few verses: Romans 16:1, 1 Timothy 3:11. Here are five arguments why they should serve as deacons.
First, Phoebe is called a “deacon of the church in Cenchreae” (Rom. 16:1, NIV). The word translated “deacon” (diakonon) could mean “servant” (CSB),[1] but the reference to the church and to the congregation suggests an office that Phoebe held in the church.
Second, 1 Timothy 3:11 is inserted in the middle of a discussion about deacons (1 Tim. 3:8–13). The words “in the same way” (NIV) are most naturally taken to mean that the women serve as deacons, just as men did.
Third, the character qualities required are
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