Page 669 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

WONDERFUL - WORLD

there is neither male nor female in Christ, but other restricted in the exercise thereof. The woman’s ministry
passages show us that this does not mean all distinction is focused on women and children (1 Ti. 2:15; Tit.
between the sexes are done away in this world, nor does 2:3-5). As noted earlier, there were no women apostles,
it mean that the original order of creation has been and the divine standards for pastors apply only to men
dissolved in Christianity. (1 Ti. 3:2-4; Titus 1:5-9).
Women Leaders in the Old Testament WONDERFUL. Great; singular (De. 28:59; 2 Sa.
Why did God make DEBORAH a judge in Israel 1:26; Job 42:3; Ps. 40:5; 78:4; 107:8; 111:4; 119:129;
(Judges 4:4-5)? The answer is not difficult. God’s 139:14; Je. 5:30; Mt. 21:15; Ac. 2:11).
perfect will is for men to lead. That is too clear to WONDERS. Something that arrests the attention by
misinterpret, but when men will not assume their its novelty, grandeur or inexplicableness (Webster). The
responsibilities, God uses women. The men in Deborah’s term “wonders” in the O.T. refers most commonly to
day were very weak and cowardly. This is seen in the God’s miracle-working power, particularly the miracles
fact that Barak, the captain of the armies of Israel, He accomplished in redeeming Israel from Egypt (Ex.
refused to go into battle unless Deborah went with him. 3:20; 4:21; De. 4:34; 6:22; Jos. 3:6; Ne. 9:10; Ps.
What a brave man! What a hero! The woman had to 77:11; 106:7; 135:9; Je. 32:20). In the N.T. this term is
remind him that God had said it is time to fight; the used in connection with “signs and wonders” (Ac. 2:22,
woman had to encourage and challenge him to go; the 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; Ro. 15:19; 2 Co. 12:12;
woman had to go with him (Ju. 4:8). Deborah clearly He. 2:4). The devil will perform “wonders” in the last
realized that this was not right nor natural, and she told days (2 Th. 2:9; Re. 13:13). [See Charismatic
Barak it would result in shame upon his name (Ju. 4:9). Movement, Miracle, Sign.]
Obviously it was a period in Israel’s history during WONT. Known; accustomed (2 Sa. 20:18; Mt. 27:15;
which God could find no man to do His will, so He used Lk. 22:39; Ac. 16:13).
a brave, willing woman. We can praise God for women WOOF. The threads that cross the warp in weaving
like Deborah who are willing to be strong when the men (Le. 13:48-58).
are weak. This has often happened, both in secular and
church history. The root problem in Deborah’s day was WORD. [See Bible, Logos.]
spiritual apostasy. When God’s people turn away from WORK. Labor; employment. [See Employment,
Him, He renders the men powerless against their Labor, Sluggard.]
enemies and removes wisdom from their hearts. It is a WORKFELLOW. Fellow worker (Ro. 16:21).
judgment upon apostate people. We can see this very WORKS. [For the place of works in salvation see
thing today in apostate North America and Europe. The Gospel, Grace, Justification.]
leaders are weak and seem entirely lacking even in WORLD. Two different words are translated “world”
common sense. We cannot control our little children, in the N.T., kosmos and oikoumene. The root meaning of
and women rule over us (compare Isaiah 3:12). It is the words themselves are different, but their biblical
God’s judgment because of the apostate condition of usage is basically the same. Kosmos is the word most
professing Christendom. Israel in Deborah’s day was in commonly translated “world” (roughly 200 times) and
bondage to their enemies only because of their apostasy means order or arrangement. The basic meaning of
from the true God and His revealed will recorded in the KOSMOS is seen in its usage in 1 Pe. 3:3. Here it is
Scriptures (Judges 4:1-2). This was why the men were translated “adorning,” and refers to a woman adorning
so weak. God had removed their power as He did from herself. In so doing, she arranges her clothes upon
sinful Samson (Amos 2:14-15). herself in an attractive manner. This word speaks of the
What about THE DAUGHTERS OF PHILIP? They orderly arrangement of the world, the world system.
were prophetesses (Acts 21:8-9). The fact that God gave OIKOUMENE means a habitable place. The root of this
gifts of prophecy to women does not mean that they are word is oikos, the Greek word commonly translated
free to take authority in the church or to prophesy to “house” or “household.” The emphasis of oikoumene is
men. When Paul was staying at Philip’s house, God used the world as the habitation of man.
a male prophet from another city to come and prophesy The term world has four basic meanings in the Bible:
to Paul (Acts 21:8-11). There is no doubt that God gave (1) It is used to speak of nature, of the earth and all
the gift of prophecy to some women (Acts 2:18), but the things therein—man and animals, land and sea (Ac.
Holy Spirit has placed restrictions on the exercise of 17:24). (2) It is used to refer to civilizations and
those gifts. 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 11 and 14 societies. It was this world which Satan offered to Jesus
are Holy Scripture. Paul warned that those who ignore (Mt. 4:8). This is the world which hates Christians (Jn.
this instruction are not spiritual (1 Co. 14:37). God 15:18,19), which is to hear the Gospel (Mk. 16:15), and
richly gifts women in spiritual things, but they are into which false teachers are entered (2 Jn. 7). (3)

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 669