NT Wright: learning perspective

1. NT Wright: learning perspective • The whole passage is about learning and the power of it • Women should learn • That shouldn‘t lead to Ephesian-Style-Women-Domination • There was a temple to female goddess (Artemis) • All priests were women • It is a danger writing to new church in this environment so Paul warns about not misunderstanding and helping them to see that it is not about that. • Adam & Eve: shows what happens when a woman is unlearned („look what happened when Eve was deceived. Women need to learn just as much as men do.”) • Childbearing: don‘t consider it as a curse. It is safe and God‘s original design, just as learning is.

2. NT Wright: other noteworthy remarks • Jesus ministry: 12 men • Mary sitting at the feet is the pasture of rabbi and follower • At the tomb with the basic message of Christianity • Women having access to the cross (not seen as dangerous), vs persecuted later on by Saul (seen as dangerous because part of leadership)

3. Cunningham: salvation and prayer • The passage is about surving in oppressing circumstances (chapter 1) and the power of prayer (beginning 2). Christ is the saving power • Men should lift up hands and pray • Women should do good works • Women should learn • A woman (singular) is ruling over men and should stop it • Adam and Eve show what happens when there is strain between men and women • „they are safed“ referrs again to all women and the coming of Christ

4. Cunningham: other good thoughts • Differentiate between „aner“ (man) and „anthropos“ (human / persons; inclusive). • 2. Tim 2,2: I want anthropos to teach with… • Anthropos (444): • 1) a human being, whether male or female • a) generically, to include all human individuals • Aner (435) • 1) with reference to sex • 2) with reference to age, and to distinguish an adult man from a boy • 3) any male

5. Nathan: building bridges between cultures (socially appropriate) • Inconsistent execution on opinions (based on comfort level) • Holy Spirit is a major force in understanding theology (wimber) • Gal 3.28 is the view of the end times and should guide us: no distinction • Creation has equality, no distinction • Implications • If contemplmentarians are correct: One implication would be that all women are to be subordinate to all men in all situations. • There should be no exceptions to the rule. There ought to be no Deborahs or Junias or Priscillas. If hierarchical relationship between men and women is part of our creation pattern, we should see no exceptions to that rule. • 1 Tim. 2 is set in the context of what is socially appropriate. • 1 Tim. 2:9-10 is concerned with the propriety of women’s dress in Greco-Roman society. The Greeks wrote a great deal about what was socially appropriate for women to wear. • „For the sake of the group’s reputation the author insists that women not cease to model the ideal of submissiveness and silence when the church gathers.“

6. Peter Davis: no probs • „In 1 Tim 2:8-15 (in the context of 1 – 2 Timothy) some women have been manipulated by a group of elders who have fallen into error and they are grabbing authority to express their teaching.” • Prominent positions • In Rom 16:7 Paul mentions Junia, whom he describes as “prominent among the apostles”.

7. Derek Morphew: it‘s cultural • Agree that Paul does teach male leadership etc, but then argue that it is part of a unique cultural context and therefore not applicable for us today. • Evidence is adduced from the text itself, indicating that Paul was responding to a disruption of the public worship meetings. • The Ephesians were not prepared to pray for all men (2:1f). • Men were angry and arguing in prayer meetings, i.e. public worship gatherings (2:8 – ‘without anger or disputing’). • Women were over dressing (2:9) and trying to get dominance over men (2:11-12). 44