CT — February 18, 2006, 2:00 pm
Widows and Silence
I Timothy 5:3-16 has practical advice on how to care for widows, young and old. Few if any churches these days follow this advice because they know that the advice was for that time and place. And yet the practical advice in I Timothy 2:11-12 (women should keep quiet in church, probably because they weren’t as well trained as the men) who some theologians see was for a particular time and particular place is seen by other theologians as advice for all times, all cultures, and all places.
Biblical interpretation is a tricky business. Who is a church layman to believe?
Gidday,
I am married to a lovely guy who has been raised in the reformed church. I feel called to teach and am currently studying for my M DIV at bible college. We are really trying to seek common ground and praying the Lord will lead us forward into a unified position on the whole egalitarian/patriarchal debate. We both love God with all our hearts and want to walk in integrity in the things we believe he has shown us in his word.
One of the sticking points for us right now is when Paul uses Gen 2 (”pre-Fall”) to make his case in 1 tim 2:11-15 (cf also 1 cor 11:8-9) hubby feels that this is what makes his teaching regarding women not having (usurping?) authority or teaching men “transcultural.” Do you have any thoughts/comments on this belief?
I am doing a research paper at the moment on how Paul used Gen 1-3 in reference to his teaching on women (in the church or marriage), so any other comments regarding this topic would be very helpful….
If Paul uses Gen 2 to support a Patriarchal stance, should we therefore assume that he (God) is saying that this is God’s ultimate way for all time?
Good day to you, too,
Christians for Biblical Equality have free articles online on this subject and others as well that might prove helpful. If you don’t know CBE, I’d highly recommend them to you. Especially, hang out at their blog, The CBE Scroll.
I take from your greeting that you may be Aussie? If so, you may want to contact two of CBE’s blogging team who are Aussie husband and wife, Liz and Trev: see their blog at 1plus1equals1. I can also put you in touch with them if you like.