Talk 3
St Paul - Misognyst or Misunderstood?

St. Paul - Mysogynist or Misunderstood. (Slide 1)

Paul’s views on women are often seen as very controversial and I expect a lot of people in this room have strong views about some of the things Paul says or is reputed to have written. 3 things need to be taken into consideration when I come to explain some of my ideas about Paul and women in Christianity:

1. Paul has to be judged in the contest of 1st century Judaism and the Jewish view of women in the OT. The apostle is seen by many feminists as one who hates women, or at least as one who accepts the inferiority of women. It is argued that since Paul received his training under Gamaliel, one of the most famous rabbis, and since he was a man socialised in a very chauvinistic society, it was natural for Paul to believe in the inferiority of women. A scholar, Richardson, says, "The goal in Paul’s exegesis appears to be, without I hope being unduly harsh, greater conformity with the Jewish (or Palestinian) view of subordination of women (1 Tim 2:11ff; 1 Cor 11:7ff, especially vv. 10,12)

2. His teaching on eschatology has to be referred back to. Remember this would have a major effect on his ethical teachings.

3. If Paul didn’t write some of the letters as I have identified then this will affect the idea of Paul on women. That means that the ideas in Ephesians, Timothy and Titus are not Pauline and therefore Paul cannot be blamed for some of the sentiments expressed there. (And no that’s not a kop out for not knowing answers to questions on these letters. We will be looking at them.)

I’d like to start with a short PowerPoint on quotes on women throughout the centuries. Then I’d like to look at the texts and see what Paul really said. I thought then we’d look at the case for the defence and the case for the prosecution and I’ll let you be the jury. We’ll end with the prayer this week.

Quotes from PowerPoint

'You start by sinking into his arms and end up with your arms in his sink.'
(Graffiti)

'100 women are not worth a single testicle.'
(Confucius)

'The female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities.'
(Aristotle)

'I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent.'
(St Paul's Epistle to Timothy, 1 Tim 2:12)

'Women must accept the authority of their husbands.'
(1st Letter from Peter, 1 Peter 3:1)

'Every women should be overwhelmed with shame at the thought she is a woman.'
(St Clement of Alexandria, 1st century AD)

'Women should remain at home, sit still, keep house and bear and bring up children.'
(Martin Luther, 1483-1546)

'The souls of women are so small that some believe they've none at all.'
(Samuel Butler, 1612-80)

'What a misfortune to be a women.'
(Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-55)

How does Paul compare with some of these famous religious writers then???

Paul and the texts.

What does Paul actually say? What is so interesting about Paul are the opinions about him that are poles apart? Why is it that some people can believe fervently in Paul's commitment to equality among the sexes while others believe just as passionately that Paul is responsible for women’s inferior status in the churches? It’s the same for Paul’s position about the Jews and the Law. While diverse interests often lead readers to draw differing conclusions, the personal bias of readers cannot be to blame for such widely divergent views of Paul. It must be there in Paul’s writings. He has only himself is partly to blame. He seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth; he has good as well as bad things to say about women and Jews. Ambiguity plagues both subjects in the writings of Paul and it is this apparent negative view of the status of women which has at times earned him such a bad reputation. But is it deserved???

Case for the prosecution.

One of Paul’s critics in recent decades was Karen Armstrong. While acknowledging the good in Paul she holds him responsible for a lot of the negativity in early Christianity. She portrayed that view in her TV series “The First Christians”. She accuses him of holding unpleasant and unhealthy views on women, marriage and celibacy. Paul is seen to be a social conservative, keeping the status quo and advising others to live within it. Wives should submit to their husbands, slaves obey their master, the government followed and obeyed also as ordained by God. (Case study of certain texts included here. Need to give them out.)

Why do people think Paul was anti women?

Look at the texts initially and see how easy it is to attack him!

1. Covering of heads in services.

This passage has aroused a huge amount of discussion in recent years. There are nearly 1 ½ million sites on the Internet when you type in this search into Google! That’s an awful lot though obviously they are not all that relevant. He doesn’t seem to suggest how men should dress. Is he implying that the type of dress might distract men from praying, that women were a source of temptation to men in church. Bishop Leonard seems to have supported this view when he was reported to have said about the ordination of woman that if he saw a woman on the altar his first impulse would be to embrace her! Or was Paul telling them to dress modestly because their dress sense represented their moral standing? I’ll come back to this point. Another interpretation is linked to that of authority. The head of the family was the man and his authority came from God. Covering the head could be a sign that though man’s authority comes from God, woman’s authority comes from her husband. Of course that idea is not popular today! Paul says though that it is a commandment from Jesus. Would it have formed part of the sermon on the mount – blessed are those who cover their heads because they shall receive free haircuts in heaven!!

2. Speaking in Church.

Paul forbids women to speak in worship. I Cor 14. “As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to enquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”