Women in the Church (1 Cor 11:3-16)
Some of my more faithful readers might remember how I started this blog - as a summary/overview of First Corinthians. At first I attempted to do a chapter at a time, but I quickly became acquainted with the fact that sometimes chapter breaks make no sense whatsoever, and other times, I simply have too much to write. For example, the last two entries I've given have been on 1 verse each!
My entry is going to be a little bit different today, as it requires your input! That's right, we'll see how many people read this thing still... and care enough to send me some insight. The real reason I have taken so long with this part of 1 Corinthians is not because I don't have time. It's because I just don't get it. I've tried to examine it and think about it, but I seriously don't understand. I don't want to just copy down MacArthur's notes here either. There are study Bibles for that.
I have a few questions for you to attempt to answer:
What constitutes praying or prophesying?
Is Paul focusing on a certain setting, or whenever a woman prays/prophesies?
Do you think the word here for "woman" is better rendered "wife" as in the ESV?
Does verse seven mean that women are NOT made in the image of God?
What is Paul getting at in verses 8-10?
Is Paul giving us permission to adjust to culture in verses 13-15a or is it just rhetorical?
Does 15b mean that only bald women need an auxiliary covering?
Does 16 mean that if someone doesn't like it, Paul is ok with setting it aside for their sake?
Let me know what you think! Thanks all. Grace be with you.
1 comment:
here's my attempt -
What constitutes praying or prophesying?
praying or prophesying -> I think prayer is self-explanatory - coming before a holy God through Jesus Christ in the Spirit to offer up worship, confession, petitions, thanksgiving and maybe something else that I can't think of. Specifically, I think that passage refers to public prayer on behalf of the members of the congregation.
prophesying - I see this to be a "thus saith the Lord" thing. I do find it distinct from preaching (though I do see them closely related) and I find it a far cry from the "the Lord gave me this impression." If someone's going to invoke the authority of the Lord, it's certain. I don't see evidence that people had "impressions" but rather they had commands (or maybe information). I think of the prophet foretelling the famine in Jerusalem to be a prime example.
Is Paul focusing on a certain setting, or whenever a woman prays/prophesies?
2) I think Paul is speaking specifically in the context of a church worship.
Do you think the word here for "woman" is better rendered "wife" as in the ESV?
3) I don't know, I do know the words are interchangeable in the Greek.
Does verse seven mean that women are NOT made in the image of God?
4) No, as that contradicts Genesis 1 . I do see Paul stressing the derivative nature of woman and a specific role that comes with that.
What is Paul getting at in verses 8-10?
8For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
v.8-9 I see stresses the created order, that Eve (and by extension) all wives, are helpers. Created for man.
v.10 I've heard two explanations.
1) says that the wife ought to have a symbol of authority when she prays or prophesies, namely as a symbol of her authority before the church.
2) As the wife's primary intent is to help the man, when she prays or prophesies, she ought to wear a symbol of the man's authority over her, that he has permitted her to do so... (or something, I don't remember entirely)
Is Paul giving us permission to adjust to culture in verses 13-15a or is it just rhetorical?
I don't know about Paul giving us permission, though I do see the fact that he appeals to culture as relevant. Namely, we ought not to do things that are offensive to the culture simply because of our freedom in Christ.
Does 15b mean that only bald women need an auxiliary covering?
no, v. 5 remarks that it would be the same as if she were bald if she prays without a covering, so I think it makes it clear that both bald women and those who have hair need covering while praying.
Does 16 mean that if someone doesn't like it, Paul is ok with setting it aside for their sake?
I see Paul more appealing to tradition for practice (and not doctrine. Namely, "why must you be contentious about something like this? Everyone else is fine with it"
Post a Comment