Thoughts on women...

I'm back with more (personal!) thoughts on Elders. This time about 1 Tim 2:13 "For Adam was formed first, then Eve". See my previous post here focusing on 'Pronouns and Traditions'  based on 1 Tim 3:1-12. I think for some who have a complementarian stance, the linguistics of the passage in 1 Tim 3:1-12 are not so relevant an argument, it's more about what they see as the original principles of male headship, ergo male only elders. So if you truly believe that male headship is correct, then of course the linguistics of chapter 3 are irrelevant because you'd only see the explicit language as confirming the male bias. So headship. First up two things, I think it's interesting that male headship is not mentioned until Ephesians 5:23 (when Paul first used the term 'kephale'). I also think it's interesting that Jesus didn't mention headship at all and when he did talk about marriage, he said it in the context of the Eden blueprint of a husban...

1 Timothy 2:11-15 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. First things first. I'm no theologian but I'm grateful to the many amazing voices and brains who've dedicated time, faith and energy to the Word. Second thing... This passage is HARD so the second thing is actually the most important thing. When reading passages like this, which on the surface really seem to subjugate women, we have to remember the premise which underwrites everything we know. God is good. That's it, full stop, no "God is good... but...", Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures fore...

What is the first thing that springs to mind when you think of the word 'modesty'? Who is required to be modest and why? It is likely that you first thought of women dressing in a way that does not draw attention to their body. A moderate western conservatism would be avoiding low fronted tops or short skirts and the extreme versions of this of course being women in burkhas, required to cover every part of their body apart from their eyes, which must be lowered. I cannot comment with any authority on the religious imperative on Muslim women to wear the burkha other than to say that the spectrum to which modesty is adopted in Islam suggests that there is much in there about culture and regional adoption rather than simply a religious edict. But what about Christians? What about modesty and clothing in the Christian faith? First lets go to the Bible and see what there is to say. 1 Tim 2:9-10 Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and...