Paul's views on women.
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Paul's views on women.
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.
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.
Re: Paul's views on women.
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 Modern times have superceded it.

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.
The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.----Karl Marx
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Re: Paul's views on women.
What about Phoebe who was a deacon?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.
Re: Paul's views on women.
TBH, I have never been a big fan of Paul. Why is he on such a pedestal?
~Stone Cold Ivyrose Austin~
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Re: Paul's views on women.
What about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pmHe was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews
"All things are difficult before they are easy."(found in a fortune cookie)
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Forgetting isn't healing." Elie Wiesel
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Forgetting isn't healing." Elie Wiesel
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Re: Paul's views on women.
I think Paul is the one responsible for the movement. But who knows?zeek wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:08 pmWhat about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pmHe was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews
Re: Paul's views on women.
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.zeek wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:08 pmWhat about Peter and the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10? Were they not the first recorded gentile converts to Christianity?longdistancerunner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:49 pmHe was solely responsible for extending the Jesus movement to gentiles, before him it was limited to Jews
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
The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.----Karl Marx
Re: Paul's views on women.
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.
The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.----Karl Marx
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Re: Paul's views on women.
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.