What Peter and Paul wrote about women in their New Testament letters is controversial. I recently saw a show on TV in which a woman read a portion of Paul’s letter to Timothy (a young pastor) and scorned it.
My position, however, is to trust God to say truth through those apostolic writings.
Here are some words from my Bible memory that rile women up:
Let women keep silence in the church … I do not permit a woman to speak … if a woman has a question, let her ask her husband at home …
Women are the weaker vessel …
For it was the woman who was deceived, not the man …
Wives, submit to your husbands …
BUT SUPPOSE PETER AND PAUL LOVE WOMEN AND THEIR WORDS ARE ALL WRITTEN IN THAT LOVE!
It happens that I’m well-taught in New Testament koiné and classical Greek. I’ve read Paul’s letters in their original language. Here’s what’s interesting:
When Paul strongly says that women should be silent in a church’s worship service, his word means also calm, and peaceful.
How might this be loving advice instead of a put-down?
I’ve attended church meetings where women were disruptive. Argumentative. Loud. Trying to usurp the men. A loving touch for women in worship gatherings is to use their power to stay calm and operate under authority. (The Greek word in the apostles’ writings translated as “head veil” is not meant to taken literally. Women are NOT commanded to wear doilies on their heads in a show of submission. They are, in the church and home, to operate under authority.
I’ve read that, yes, women have less physical strength than men. But if that’s not meant to be a put-down, then it may be translated as a woman is the more delicate vessel. Like a Ming vase compared to a big, red clay plant pot. Nice!
About women being deceived more than men … suppose the apostles wrote that because it is true? Ouch! Yet this what I’ve observed: Women, the fair descendants of Eve the first woman on Earth, have a strong urge to be “like God.” That’s the idea that got Eve in trouble and it keeps on going. Women (like me) can be nasty, belittling men, being manipulative, sneaky, and trying incessantly to make men do or stop doing something. Let that deceptive behavior be replaced by a refreshing combination of assertion and trust.
Finally, I will show a loving side of “submission to men.” Remaining assertive and self-confident, not putting up with abuse of any kind, women can still let men lead. When women domineer men with the “like God” complex, men get either abusive or passive—or both. Adam did, and so have millions of men who either hurt women or just let the women do it all. When women of courage use their considerable power and intuition to allow men to lead, they strengthen the church, the home, and society in general.
Rosemary B. Althoff, Author 