Servants of the Servant

Paul’s letter to the Philippians

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you,

my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling

others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-

workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4: 2 – 3

“…The needs were very varied - from alcoholism and protection from

enemies to cars that needed repair. Folks seemed to be drinking in the

presence of God while we prayed…”

Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to

teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.

1 Timothy 2: 11 – 12 NRSV

Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to

teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.

1 Timothy 2: 11 – 12 NRSV

ἡσυξίᾳ

hēsychia

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all

who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all

godliness and dignity.

9 verses earlier…

1 Timothy 2: 1 - 2 NRSV

Let a woman learn quietly and peaceably with full submission. I

permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to be

quiet and peaceable.

I permit a woman neither to teach nor to have authority over a man

1 Timothy 2: 12

αὐθεντεῖν

authentein

Those who lived long ago in your holy landyou hated for their detestable practices,their works of sorcery and unholy rites,

….these parents who murder helpless lives.

Wisdom of Solomon 12: 6

Those who lived long ago in your holy landyou hated for their detestable practices,their works of sorcery and unholy rites,

….these parents who murder helpless lives.

Wisdom of Solomon 12: 6

“Therefore, if Saturn alone takes planetary control of the soul and

dominates (authentesas) Mercury and the moon…”

PtolemyTetrabiblos 3.13

“I permit not a woman to teach, neither to domineer over a man

[neque dominari in virum].”

Vulgate (C.4th – 5th)

“I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over a man.”

King James Version (1611)

“I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do.”

The Message (1993)

The NIV Committee on Bible Translation (1965-1983)

• Larry Walker• Robert Preus• Ralph Earle• Burton L. Goddard• R. Laird Harris• Earl S. Kalland• Richard Longenecker• Robert Mounce

• Stephen W. Paine, • Kenneth L. Barker• Ronald Youngblood • William J. Martin.• John H. Stek, • John C. Wenger• Marten H. Woudstra

Let a woman learn quietly and peaceably with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to

dominate a man; she is to be quiet and peaceable.

to teach or to dominate

to teach in order to dominate

…and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6: 20

Let a woman learn quietly and peaceably with full submission. I

permit no woman to teach in order to dominate a man; she is to be quiet and

peaceable.

‘The biggest problem with interpreting 1 Timothy 2: 11-15 as excluding women

from teaching roles in the church is that Paul clearly commended women for such

roles, even though these roles made them far more prominent and equal to

men than they would have been in Judaism in this period.’

Craig S. Keener

Paul, Women & Wives

•v.1 Phoebe ‘Deacon’•v.3 Priscilla ‘Minister’•v.7 Junia ‘Apostle’

Romans 16

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 8: 3

‘I would have given the church my head, my hand, and my heart. But the church would not have them.’

Florence Nightingale

‘If there is any one generalization that can be made about single women

missionaries and their ministries, it is perhaps their bent for difficult

pioneer work. The more difficult and dangerous the work, the higher the

ratio of women to men.’

J. Herbert Kane