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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

594.0. "A woman should be quiet" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (Celebrate Diversity) Fri Jan 29 1993 16:24

I Timothy 2.11-12 (NJB)

During instruction, a woman should be quiet and respectful.  I give no
permission for a woman to have authority over a man.  A woman ought to
be quiet,...


Questions:

	Is this Scripture to be taken literally?  If so, to what degree
and under what circumstances?  Does it apply only to instances of religious
instruction?  Does it only apply to the times when the church is assembled?
Should it apply, say, to notesfiles?

** note: There are plenty of other portions of Bible which back up the
above verses on the subordination of women.

Richard

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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594.1You be the judgeCLT::COLLIS::JACKSONLadies center and the men sashayFri Jan 29 1993 16:5614
You left out the important continuation of the context.

  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...

You tell me.  Wass this written because of the immediate
cultural context or because of an overriding principle?
(assuming God was the author, of course)

(It is important as well to keep in mind that the fuller
context is instructions on worship.)

Collis
594.2CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityFri Jan 29 1993 17:2128
Note 594.1
>	                   -< You be the judge >-

Why, thank you, Collis.  I have come to something of a conclusion.

>You left out the important continuation of the context.

>  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...

Covered in another topic.  But certainly I would support reading *any*
verses referenced in this file in context.

>You tell me.  Was this written because of the immediate
>cultural context or because of an overriding principle?
>(assuming God was the author, of course)

Well, I am mostly curious about the inerrantist perspective.  And assuming
God was the author, was it not something to be practiced for all time?

>(It is important as well to keep in mind that the fuller
>context is instructions on worship.)

I realized that.  That's why I asked the questions I did in .0.

Richard

594.3BUSY::DKATZThe Prodigal NoterSat Jan 30 1993 20:0314
    Richard,
    
    I've that passage and one's similar to it with great curiosity..it was
    even the subject of a paper in college.
    
    What seems so odd to me is that in another letter of Paul, greetings
    are sent to Phoebe, who is a *deacon* in a church...are we meant to
    believe that she must be silent in her own church?
    
    I suppose this is where redaction criticism comes in handy.
    
    regards,
    
    Daniel
594.4COMET::DYBENGrey area is found by not lookingSun Jan 31 1993 08:248
    
    
    
    > Is this scripture to be taken literally
    
    Yep.
    
    David
594.5CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityMon Feb 01 1993 12:2014
I'm curious, David.  Does your affirmation that a woman should be silent
indicate that you believe it is literally not right for:

	A woman to provide religious instruction to men?  (Teach Sunday
	School, read the Scripture lesson aloud during worship)

	A woman to preach?

	A woman to sing (in the choir, during hymns)?

	A woman to pastor a church?

Richard

594.6Does anyone actually care to exegete the passage???CLT::COLLIS::JACKSONLadies center and the men sashayMon Feb 01 1993 16:261
Well, Richard, how do you interpret the Scripture?
594.7CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityMon Feb 01 1993 17:2412
I believe someone other than Paul the Apostle actually wrote the letters
to Timothy.  And since apostolic origin was a requirement for admittance
to the New Testament, the letters to Timothy probably should have been
omitted.

But since it's in there, I try to read Timothy for what it is: a letter of
caring, concern and instruction from one early church leader to another.

I don't believe that women should be required to be silent.

Richard

594.8something missing?CLT::COLLIS::JACKSONLadies center and the men sashayTue Feb 02 1993 11:4911
Re:  .7

Well, that's a start.  You've expressed an opinion about the
authorship, an opinion of why the letter was sent and then
your conclusion about the text.

I don't mean to be picky, but I think something is missing
if you meant this as a response to my request in .6 for
someone to exegete the text.

Collis
594.9CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityTue Feb 02 1993 12:474
    You're right.  It's not an attempt at exegesis.
    
    Richard
    
594.10CLT::COLLIS::JACKSONShoot that starTue Feb 02 1993 15:279
Re:  .3
  
  >What seems so odd to me is that in another letter of Paul, greetings
  >are sent to Phoebe, who is a *deacon* in a church...are we meant to
  >believe that she must be silent in her own church?
    
No, but she should be the husband of just one wife (I Tim 3:12). 

Collis 
594.11seekers of truth?CLT::COLLIS::JACKSONShoot that starTue Feb 02 1993 15:282
Anyone care to exegete the text before coming to a
conclusion?
594.12It appears Bob is one step ahead of me (as usual)CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityTue Feb 02 1993 15:588
Collis,

	Would you take a moment and, for the benefit of those unfamiliar
with the term, explain what "exegesis" is?  I might suggest posting it in
538 or starting a new note.

Richard

594.13COMET::DYBENGrey area is found by not lookingFri Feb 05 1993 08:3127
    
    
    
    Richard,
    
    
     Sorry I took so long to respond, i've been ill.
    
    > a woman to preach
    
      Should not.
    
    > provide religious instruction
    
      To their children.
    
    > sing aloud
    
      They better, cuz I sure cannot sing:-)
    
    
       In all honesty Richard I do not have the answers myself. I used to
    be a liberal christian, now I am a moderate.. I don't know where to
    draw the line accept to say that I think men should be the leaders.
    
    
    David
594.14Sons *and* DaughtersCSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityFri Feb 05 1993 11:2717
Joel 2:28  And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will �pour�
out my �spirit� upon all �flesh;� and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men
shall see visions:

Acts 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I
will �pour� out of my �Spirit� upon all �flesh:� and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

	To "prophesy," to me, includes a meaning to speak.  Certainly
here in these 2 passages the ability to prophesy includes women.

Peace,
Richard

594.15a startCLT::COLLIS::JACKSONShoot that starFri Feb 05 1993 13:3417
I agree with you, Richard.  God does indeed pour out His Spirit
on women and they have (and do) indeed prophesy.

This raises several questions:

  Does this relate to the order of worship services?

  If it does, was Paul addressing the issue of prophesy in
    church?  Did he address it unintentionally, or was this
    just not part of what he was addressing?  (i.e. Paul may
    have been addressing the issue of women disrupting the
    service and may have not been addressing the issue of
    "orderly" prophecy)  Or was he?

Collis

  
594.16CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityFri Feb 05 1993 15:2414
Note 594.13
    
>       I used to
>    be a liberal christian, now I am a moderate.. 

A curiosity, David.  I understand Collis has had a similar experience,
while Mike Valenza experienced just the reverse.

A the risk of completely derailing this topic, would you mind sharing what
influenced your direction?

Richard


594.17COMET::DYBENGrey area is found by not lookingFri Feb 05 1993 16:389
    
    
    -1
    
    
      An awakening of manhood.
    
    
    David
594.18CSC32::J_CHRISTIECelebrate DiversityFri Feb 05 1993 17:088
    .17 David,
    
    	Heh?  Forgive my density.  But, how so?  (I'll understand if you'd
    rather not discuss it)
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    
594.19COMET::DYBENGrey area is found by not lookingFri Feb 05 1993 17:2210
    
    
    Richard,
    
     
     I don't know how to explain it. I would discuss anything with you, you
    are my friend. I just know that I feel a voice inside calling me back
    and it seems to be a fatherly figure calling..
    
    David