2 minute read
A Disappointing Reply
If Paul is saying, in Timothy, that women cannot he trusted with authority because they are more gullible surely such an argument can only be taken back to Gen.3. Here France suggests that this is an illustration of the potential dangers in relationships between men and women. In Gen. chps. 2 ~ 3 the woman took the initiative with disastrous consequences. She acted independently.
Nowhere in Paul’s writing does he ever use, the word save with regard to physical safety, or well being. Christians are not guaranteed physical safety; Christ did not have it, Stephen did not have it, Peter did not have it, Paul did not have it we could continue. Can I draw your attention back to the religious background of Ephesus? Marriage was despised; childbearing was looked down upon in those pagan religions. Paul is trying to correct a perverted system of belief that had crept into the Church from the surrounding religious thinking. He wants Timothy to teach the wholesomeness of Christian marriage and family life. Remember that Artemis was the one who looked after women in childbirth. Paul is telling Timothy to teach that Christ will look after them in childbirth. Their salvation is secure in childbirth; whether they live or die their salvation is secure.
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Main Source Books:
R.T France. Women in Church Ministry, Paternoster Press, Stambaugh & Balch.
The Social World of the First Christians, SPCK.
Barbra Sambrooks MA, BA., Dip. Th. Lecturer in Biblical Studies CFN UK.
A Disappointing Reply
From the Principals reply I was very disappointed and I sighed at the situation. Barbara Sambrook’s article may be answered but that is not the object of my notes today. How ever here is my first response..
In the book of Revelation Ephesus is the first Church Jesus sent word too with a commendation because they could no bear them that are evil and who tried them who claimed to be Apostles and found them liars. They had laboured patiently and not fainted for the cause and name of Jesus Christ in the city of Ephesus and suffered persecution at the hands of
Rev. 2. 2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
