Celibacy, Salvation, and 1 Timothy 2:15
Are ascetic teachings that emphasise celibacy behind Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:15? What does “saved through childbearing” mean?
January 27, 2016
14 Comments
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Search Results for: celibacy
Sandra Glahn Debunks Myths About Artemis
The idea that Artemis of Ephesus was a fertilty or mother goddess is often repeated. Using ancient evidence, Sandra Glahn challenges these ideas, and others, in her book Nobody’s Mother.
January 26, 2024
7 Comments
What does “saved through childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15) mean?
There are various interpretations of “she will saved through childbearing” put forward by scholars, but in this article, I explain how I understand the phrase.
October 30, 2023
32 Comments
Revisiting Eshet Chayil (“Woman of Valour”)
I look at the Hebrew word chayil, used in Proverbs 31:10 for an eshet chayil, and at the Greek word andreia (“courageous”), used to describe some Bible and early Christian women.
September 7, 2023
12 Comments
Anti-Woman Tendencies in Codex Bezae
Introduction I have several articles on my website about Priscilla, a woman mentioned by name six times in the Greek New Testament. I often make
August 16, 2023
3 Comments
The Holy Spirit as Mother in Early Syriac Texts
In early Syriac texts (2nd–4th centuries), the Holy Spirit and even God are described using feminine and maternal imagery. In this article, I quote from these texts.
March 31, 2023
19 Comments
Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Tim. 3:2 and Priscilla
What did Paul mean when he said “husband of one wife”? What was Priscilla’s role in Ephesus and Rome? What is Paul’s overall theology of ministry and women?
February 27, 2023
16 Comments
Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:12
Here is more from a talk I gave on February 11. In part 2, I look at 1 Timothy 2:12 within its immediate context and within the context of First Timothy.
February 21, 2023
13 Comments
Aphrodite and Temple Prostitution in Corinth
Introduction In the first-century Roman world, every major town had temples and shrines that were often attended by priestesses. Most of these priestesses came from
January 17, 2023
No Comments
A Note on Tertullian’s “On the Veiling of Virgins”
Introduction These notes started off as a footnote in my article that critiques Troy W. Martin’s understanding of hair in 1 Corinthians 11:15. Dr Martin
December 14, 2022
No Comments
Women Elders in Ancient Christian Texts (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION In this resource, I provide references from ancient documents about female church elders. My aim in compiling this resource is not primarily to provide
February 25, 2022
No Comments
Remembering Theosebia of Nyssa
Theosebia was the biological and spiritual sister of Gregory of Nyssa. Surviving sources show that she was deeply loved and admired.
January 10, 2022
5 Comments
Who are the 144,000 and why are they all men?
Who are the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14? What do they symbolise? Are women really excluded from this group?
October 13, 2021
6 Comments
A note on nature and hairstyles in 1 Cor. 11:14–15
in 1 Cor. 11:14-15, Paul says that nature is a teacher of hair lengths or hairstyles for men and women. What did he mean by “nature”?
September 2, 2021
21 Comments
Salome: Follower of Jesus and Myrrh Bearer
Salome was a follower of Jesus, a witness of his crucifixion and empty tomb. She is mentioned twice in the Bible but many more times in other early church documents.
July 30, 2021
8 Comments
Beth Allison Barr on the Reformation’s Role in Limiting Women
The Reformation is “a story of loss rather than a story of gain, of increased subordination rather than of liberation.”
May 25, 2021
3 Comments
1 Timothy 2:12, in a Nutshell
In this short article, I sketch the case that 1 Tim. 2:12 says nothing, one way or the other, about whether competent women can be pastors, preachers, priests, elders, or any kind of church leader.
October 3, 2020
19 Comments
4 obscure passages sometimes used to diminish women
In this article, I look at 4 passages from the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 27, Numbers 30, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Isaiah 3:12) which are sometimes used to diminish women.
October 23, 2019
44 Comments
3 reasons why it’s a woman, not all women, in 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are 3 reasons why 1 Timothy 2:12 may be about a particular couple in the Ephesian church and not Paul’s general thoughts on women in ministry.
August 28, 2019
64 Comments
Paul’s words on divorce, and leaving an abusive marriage
Does Paul’s teaching on divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 allow for an abused spouse to leave their abuser? What is the context of his words in this passage?
September 2, 2018
64 Comments
3 Legendary Ladies: Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria
Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria are three heroines whose stories of conviction and courage are part of our history and heritage.
May 7, 2018
17 Comments
An interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that joins the dots of 2:11-15
Here is a coherent interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that takes into account surrounding verses as well as documented heresies in the 1st-2nd century church.
August 30, 2017
51 Comments
The meaning of authentein with a brief history of authent– words
Here is a close look at the word authentein (translated as ‘to usurp authority’ in 1 Tim. 2:12 KJV). A brief history of how authent- words and their meanings developed is included.
June 29, 2017
107 Comments
The Anonymous Man and Woman in 1 Timothy 2:11-15
In this article, I look at the language of 1 Timothy 2:12 and discuss the idea that this verse concerns an anonymous couple in the Ephesian church rather than men and women more generally.
February 4, 2017
47 Comments
Tertullian on Equality and Mutuality in Marriage
Tertullian wrote about equality and mutuality in marriage; he did not regard the household code in Ephesians as comprehensive or prescriptive.
September 4, 2016
13 Comments
The Church at Smyrna and her Women (Part 2)
This is the second part of a two-part series which looks at the women in the church at Smyrna in the post-apostolic period. This article focuses on Gavia.
April 22, 2016
4 Comments
Who was Chloe of Corinth?
Chloe is a woman mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:11? Was she a pagan or a Christian? A concerned house church leader or the quarrelsome leader of a faction?
April 26, 2015
25 Comments
A wife has no authority of her own body? (1 Cor. 7:4)
What did Paul mean by “A wife/ husband does not have authority of her /his body” in 1 Cor. 7:4? This verse has been terribly misunderstood by some.
January 7, 2015
48 Comments
The Consensus and Context of 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are my notes from a talk I gave on the 28th of June 2014 at a public meeting hosted by the Sydney chapter of Christians for Biblical Equality.
July 2, 2014
31 Comments
Believing Wives and Female Co-workers of the Apostles
Does Paul refer to wives of apostles or female coworkers of apostles in 1 Cor. 9:5? Was their role companionship or teaching Christian doctrine?
February 14, 2014
5 Comments
Men and Women in Genesis 1
Genesis 1 tells us about God’s creation of humanity and the equal status and authority of men and women. This message of equality is lost in some interpretations tainted by influences from the ancient Greeks.
August 31, 2013
10 Comments
1 Timothy 2:15: What must a woman do to be saved?
What does “she will be saved through childbearing” in 1 Timothy 2:15 mean? Is being a faithful follower of Jesus not enough? What does Jesus say about this?
June 23, 2013
27 Comments
Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany
Mary and Martha of Bethany are well-known Bible figures whose characters are often polarized in the retelling of their story. What is the background of these women, their age, marital status, level of wealth?
May 15, 2013
39 Comments
1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (4): Phrase by Phrase
In Part 4 we begin looking at 1 Timothy 2:11-15, verse by verse, phrase by phrase.
April 17, 2013
30 Comments
1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (5): Eve’s Creation and Salvation
Why are Adam and Eve mentioned immediately after Paul’s prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12? What does Paul mean by salvation and childbirth in 1 Timothy 2:15?
April 17, 2013
27 Comments
Do women have rights? A reply to Sarah Bubar
This is my response to Sarah Bubar’s poorly reasoned arguments in her 2010 article entitled “Do I have the right to have rights?”
January 28, 2013
7 Comments
Plutarch and Paul on Husbands and Wives
While reading Plutarch’s “Advice to the Bride and Groom,” it struck me that some Christians sound like Plutarch (a 1st-century pagan author), rather than like Paul, in what they say about men and women and marriage.
November 13, 2012
4 Comments
Beauty, Marriage, Motherhood and Ministry
There are differences between the Old and New Testaments in how women are described, especially in regard to beauty, marriage, motherhood, and ministry.
April 1, 2012
41 Comments
Is God Male or Masculine?
God is often referred to with masculine pronouns and masculine terms in the Bible. Does this mean God is male or masculine?
June 22, 2011
47 Comments
Is motherhood the highest calling for women?
Is motherhood the highest calling for women? Is fatherhood the highest calling for men? What did Jesus have to say about this?
March 9, 2011
22 Comments
Paul’s Qualifications for Church Leaders (1 Timothy 3)
Do the qualifications for church leaders (i.e. overseers) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 apply only to men? Do these verses exclude women from church leadership?
August 5, 2010
75 Comments
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