Women in Christianity
Suitable Helper - Implied Subordination?
As Paul draws on narratives from the Hebrew Bible to support his case, and as he considers it authoritative for the Ephesian church, I think it is necessary for us to look at Genesis 2 and 3 over the next few posts. As they are often used to justify patriarchy, and as chapter 2 is [...]
Toward an Egalitarian Ecclesia - Excursion not originally planned…but intersting nonetheless.
I just ran across a lecture by NT Wright that gave a thumbs up to my Artemis Cult reading of I Timothy 2. He doesn’t go as far as I do in attempting to explain the pain in childbirth, but nonetheless, he deals with I Timothy 2 and a few other supposedly patriarchal texts.
Here’s [...]
They Shall Be Saved Through Childbearing
For most scholars, dealing with this passage is like trying to fold a fitted sheet – no matter how you manipulate it, it still doesn’t look right. The most they can hope for is to jumble together some cockeyed story and throw it in the closet hoping their guests won’t see the mess.*
This final [...]
I Timothy 2 and the Artemis Cult
A Very Brief Background to Artemis:
The Greek/Roman female deity Artemis/Diana had a twin brother named Apollo. When her mother went into labor, Artemis came out of the womb first. Having preceded Apollo, many female worshipers considered her superior to Apollo because it symbolized the female preceding the male and therefore being superior. After she [...]
Toward An Egalitarian Ecclesia
During the next few posts I will seek your thoughts on a fresh interpretation of I Tim. 2 and the way Paul deals with women in this chapter. Some of the arguments will be stronger than others, but hopefully in the end my arguments will be articulated well. Far from being a proof-text for male-only-pastorates, [...]
Wednesday AM Word study: A Penny for your Kidneys
The Better Bibles Blog points us this morning to the Kruse Kronicle :: Household: Household Code Lost in Translation: Kephale. Kruse takes a look at the problem of translating/interpreting kephale. I recommend checking it out, especially in light of the nature of some of our recent discussions.
While you are at it, [...]
Too much of one, not enough of Another
A while ago, the BBB had a poll running on headship and submission. Right now they are unpacking the poll and the issues surrounding the headship/submission issues. See part 1 and part 2. I really liked what Wyane had to say in the following quote. I think it is good [...]
Paul and Early Christians
A good friend of mine gave me a most interesting gift card to Barnes and Noble. I was able to turn it into the following books:
What Paul Really Said About Women I am curious about this one. A straight forward reading of some of Paul’s letters seem to slap women in the [...]
Can we reverse the Curse?
I was reading Genesis 3 today about God’s curse on mankind and the snake.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”
Does this imply that males ruling over females is unnatural?
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither [...]
2 Tim 2:2 - A Point of Contention
Since the topic of the week seems to be translation issues, let me add to the debate Henry Thomas and I are having. As I have made muddled earlier, I am very concerned with word-for-word translations misleading non-students of the 1st Century in serious errors in doctrine. The Better Bibles blog points out [...]
Biblical Manhood
This past week on the Albert Mohler Program that I get by podcast, he has been addressing gender issues. At the start of the week he was discussing stay-at-home moms and one feminist’s beliefs that say those moms are “letting down the team.” Thursday, he was discussing plagiarism in the pulpit and how [...]
adelphoi and huioi
As I am sure many of our readers know, the masculine Greek word, adelphoi, literally means “sons.” In it’s usage, however, it referred to any group of people with at least one male. The feminine version was only used for groups that consisted of all females. With Christians being a mixed group, [...]
Gospel Selection and Wisdom
I just want to throw out some ideas.
What is Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Testament? Is it the Holy Spirit? Since the words for spirit and wisdom are feminine in Hebrew, should we assume that the Holy Spirit is the feminine side of God?
This question has more to do with [...]
Wives are not required to love their husbands
An exercise in error.
Ephesians 5:22:
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25a:
Husbands, love your wives,
So husbands don’t have to submit to their wives and wives don’t have to love their husbands.
Beware of the prooftext.
Tanget Alert! Women and Christianity
I want to move a discussion that Casey and I started to it’s own post.
On Andy’s follow up to his heavily commented Dear Christians post, I said the following:
…On number #5, there is a lot that could be added at the very end.
This may also allow for a difference in roles [...]