In Romans 16, there are two shocking illustrations of possible gender bias in the translation of many English Bibles which potentially have hidden the truth that God intended for women to serve as elders and deacons in His church.

In Romans 16:1, Paul writes a strong commendation of Phoebe, his ministry colleague in the Cenchrean Church. In that verse, diakonon is translated “servant” rather than “minister” or “deacon” thus failing to identify her apparent official leadership role in the Cenchrean church.

The gender bias plot thickens when one observes that a reader of several key English translations of the next verse, Romans 16:2 (e.g. NIV84, NASB95, NLT, etc.), would likely incorrectly assume that the identical Greek word is used twice in the same verse and therefore is translated “help” both times. While that may be a valid translation of the first word (pragma), it is NOT a valid translation of the second (prostatis) which literally means to “stand in front of” or to “stand at the head of”–in other words, to be the leader.

In 1 Timothy 5:17 Paul uses the SAME word (prostamai), to refer to an elder. It is translated “direct the church” or “rule.”

How can one not suspect gender bias in English versions which translate two totally different different Greek words in the same sentence as “help” thereby implying that the second, prostatis, conveys “assisting” rather than “leading”? Then when the same Greek word, used by the same author (Paul), is translated “help” when referring to a woman’s service and “rule” when referring to a man’s, the appearance of gender bias is huge.

Could this apparent patriarchal bias in translation hindered generations from recognizing God’s plan for women to be elders and leaders in church? Could a host of male translators have consciously or subconsciously perpetuated the barring of women from roles God gifted and called them to fill? How else should one understand translators identifying Paul’s commendation of Phoebe as a “servant” and “helper” instead of as a “deacon/minister” and “leader”?

Once confronted with what Paul ACTUALLY wrote in these verses, to maintain their biblical integrity, those who look to the Scriptures as their trustworthy guide must sincerely consider that God called women, like Phoebe, to roles of leadership in His church.

These observations are adapted from Chapter 7 (Ground Zero In the Gender Roles Debate) in my book: “Should Women Be Pastors and Leaders In Church? My Journey to Discover What the Bible Says About Gender Roles.” It is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Westbow Press, and other sources including me.

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