(and a question of how the Christian Bible was written...)
| Passage | Pro-inequality or equality? |
| Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says, If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) | |
| Verse 11: 5 contradicts 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35. St. Paul states that women can actively pray and prophesy during services. | |
| Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:11-14). | |
| Paul refers to a married couple: Priscilla and Aquila as his fellow workers in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:3) | |
| There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) | |
| Paul refers to two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as his coworkers who were active evangelists, spreading the gospel. (Philippians 4:2) | |
| Paul writes to "Apphia, our sister" and two men as the three leaders of a house church. (Philemon 2) | |
| Christ is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3) | |
| For a man...is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. (1 Corinthians 11:7-9 - this became women covering hair as a sign of inferiority) | |
| Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife...wives should submit to their husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24) |
| Probable dates… | |
| Paul was executed about 65 CE… | |
| Ephesians perhaps was written around 95 CE. | |
| Colossians tackles in part Gnostic Christianity concerning the Hellenistic Church (that became Christianity) in the 100s CE. | |
| 2 Thessalonians was written around 75 to 90 CE. | |
| 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus were written sometime around 130 CE. | |
| So is Paul talking or one branch of the early Church? Strip these statements away and Paul becomes a radical for female inclusion and leadership (like the Gnostic Christians) and not the contradictory figure also calling for female inequality and Church hierarchy. | |
| Why might large sections of the Church in the second century until now argue for male leadership? | |
| Paul in general, religion and marriage... | |
| St Paul is a contradictory person. He never met Jesus. As Saul the Pharisee he started by persecuting Christians, felt guilty and had a profound conversion experience. He then became a leader of one of the early branches of Christianity, eventually to become the whole Christian Church. As a leader he interpreted the teachings of Christ to extend beyond the Law and beyond the Jews. He both traveled and wrote letters to early Christian churches especially well outside Palestine. His are some of the earliest writings in the New Testament, earlier than Mark, Matthew, Luke or John even thought they are placed first. His impact is huge not just in the formation of Christianity but also into society. | |
| As a contradictory person Paul wrote with different emphases about men and women. For example he wrote that women should be silent in church and never have a position of leadership; yet he wrote that in Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female, Greek not Jew, slave nor master. Both of these opinions have had a huge impact not just on churches but society since Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. | |
| When Paul wrote his views on marriage - as a container for passion but best avoided (1 Corinthians 7) - he did so because he believed the ordinary world was about to end and Christ Jesus would return very soon. Time was short. Yet his views on the role of men and women have become merged into Christian and social conduct. Principally, he saw a direct connection between authority in the Church and authority in the family, so as the Church submits to Christ so wives submit should to their husbands (Ephesians 5: 24). Another, if more indirect, transmission has been Paul's emphasis on faith: just as the Law was succeeded by faith, then we should live by faithfulness to one another. | |
| 1. | In your own words, using bullet points, summarise what Paul wrote about husbands and wives in Ephesians, 5:22-33 and Colossians 3: 18-19. |
| 2. | In your own words, using bullet points, summarise what Paul wrote about children and parents in Ephesians, 6: 1-4 and Colossians 3: 20-21. |
| 3. | "Paul's advice for married couples is as true for today as during his time." Do you agree with this statement? Give your opinion, showing consideration for other viewpoints. Refer to Christianity in this answer. |