The Biblical Role of the Pastor's wife - South African Theological ...

CHAPTER 3
A Biblical Perspective on Woman, Wife and the
Pastor’s Wife
The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the biblical perspective on the
role of pastors’ wives. I will seek to identify her as a woman, a wife and a
believer. There are no explicit passages prescribing specifically what the role
of a pastor’s wife in the local church should be, so I will seek to uncover
characteristics of the elder’s wife and her responsibilities in the local church,
by examining 1 Timothy 3:11 and Titus 2:3-5. A discussion on the role of the
wife, with special emphasis on Proverbs 31, will reveal common
misconceptions. A brief look at the importance of women’s ministry in the local
church will be considered from both a historical perspective and concerning
today’s church. The biblical basis of this study is vitally important for
establishing a mandate that the local church may adopt when considering the
role of the pastor’s wife.
3.1. The Creation of Woman
Scripture speaks in detail regarding the creation of the woman (Gen.
1:26-27), her fundamental role as a wife (Gen. 2:18, Prov. 31:10-31) and her
identity in Christ and responsibility as a follower of God (Jn. 1:12-13). These
three components should not be separated as each is an integral part of a
woman. The pastor’s wife is first and foremost, in her existence, a woman.
When she understands the reason for her creation, she will be able to build
upon it as a foundation to establish her purpose and realise fulfilment in life as
she is placed in different roles and positions.
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