christian teachings

galatians 3:23

• ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in JC. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise’ 

• Faith in JC breaks all boundaries and everything else is arbitrary -> this includes gender 

• Anyone who belongs to JC is promised to be an heir 

1 Timothy 2

• ‘I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive deeds, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God’ 

• B) ‘A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.’ 

context to 1 timothy 2 part A

written in reaction to the displays of wealth seen in the churches -> women showing off their wealth was perhaps disparaging to less wealth counterparts

context 1 timothy 2 part b

• in reaction to the false teachings in Ephesus (led by women) -> recommended submitting to deceiving spirits, espousing demonic doctrines, forbidding marriage etc 

• Relegation of women to role of learners represents a local group, rather than a universal rule 

• Mentioning of eve provides an example/ explanation, showing how just of the deception of eve would have had dramatic results, so did the deception of women on Ephesus 

• Debate on rule’s limits of applicability 

pauline theme of equality

• Paul encourages women to learn -> quietness and full submission 

• Does not say silence, just exhibit quietness (in spirt) instead of taking the lead 

• Teach and have authority over a man -> 

• Paul does not use usual term ‘exousia’ (normal exercise of authority), instead choses an unusual word, ‘authenteo’ which carries negative connotations such as ‘to usurp or misappropriate authority’, or ‘to domineer’ -> unusual term probably signifies unusual situation. In Ephesian context, women had misappropriated authority by taking upon themselves the role of teacher 

• Ultimately aims to restore peace in the worship service by placing certain limits on the role of women 

evangelicalism

• Men and women have separate roles 

• They do not have equal rights in society or the church 

• St Paul said women shouldn’t speak in church, therefore they cannot be priests 

• It is the role of the man to work and provide for his family. The woman must look after the household 

• They do not see this as discrimination because it is what is ordained by God in the New Testament 

liberal christians

• Liberal Christians believe that men and women should have equal roles in family/society life AND religion 

• They have female priests and ministers 

• This is because there is evidence in the Gospels that Jesus treated men and women equally therefore women should have equal rights 

• There is also evidence of female priests in the early churches, therefore we should have female priests now