Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

I listened to a fascinating video which clears up some questions I have had for a long time. Bart Ehrman talks here about Paul's views on women in church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6gXzBrrreM

His claim is the admonitions about women not talking in church and being subservient were interpolations (inserted by scribes in the earlier texts that we do not have). In fact he gives many examples of women playing a leading role in church activities Including praying etc and were even deacons in the church (Phoebe is one example). However he also explains the ancient view of women existing at the time which was universally accepted that women were inferior in development to men (that is why they were women they never fully developed, of course we now know that males and females although having different characterisrs, are fully formed humans.

Has anyone ever heard any discussion of this in CoC? And Ehrman points out really there are very few people who really believe the scriptures which say women can't talk in church.

Ssssh. Dont tell the wimnin this they will want to praych. The menfolk cant be free from the jabberin of wimnin for an hour and a half in church?

Seriously, i have read of this argument before and am not convinced on it. There is a lot of "yes, but no" in the new testament especially Paul. I do believe the new testament was an upgrade in status for women but not that much. Modern times have superceded it.

B.H. wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 3:18 pm Ssssh. Dont tell the wimnin this they will want to praych. The menfolk cant be free from the jabberin of wimnin for an hour and a half in church?

Seriously, i have read of this argument before and am not convinced on it. There is a lot of "yes, but no" in the new testament especially Paul. I do believe the new testament was an upgrade in status for women but not that much. Modern times have superceded it.

What about Phoebe who was a deacon?

TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?

Ivy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:49 pm TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?

He was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews

longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pm

Ivy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:49 pm TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?

He was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews

What about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?

zeek wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:08 pm

longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pm

Ivy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:49 pm TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?

He was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews

What about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?

I think Paul is the one responsible for the movement. But who knows?

zeek wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:08 pm

longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pm

Ivy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 6:49 pm TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?

He was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews

What about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?

The Christian group led by Peter, and really James, was a different branch than the one led by Paul. The book of Acts was written to back the merging of the two groups together, orc at least benefit the Pauline group. The Ebionites, followers who stayed faithful to James claimed Paul wanted to marry the daughter of the high priest and was rejected, so took his knowledge and created his version of Christianity.

By having "Peter" convert "Cornelius" it made it appear yhe doctrines of Peter and James were always the same as Paul when the first two in reality limited their teachings to Jews

There could have been deaconesses in the early church, and they taught people outside the general worship assembly. It doesnt contradict Pauls instructions for a woman not to preach or teach in a worship service or what we later called one.

B.H. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 1:55 pm There could have been deaconesses in the early church, and they taught people outside the general worship assembly. It doesnt contradict Pauls instructions for a woman not to preach or teach in a worship service or what we later called one.

Bart Ehrman firmly feels the passages telling women not to speak in church and be subservient were not written by Paul but added to writing by scribes. They are totally out of context.