Your reading assignment for 11/6/01 is:
In class on Tuesday, I will lecture for a bit about
the Pastoral Epistles. Then, we will have a second debate in class,
this time on women's equality (or inequality) in Paul's churches.
Here is what I suggest you do to prepare for the debate:
1. Read the Pastoral Epistles. Make note of
the verses where the author(s) discuss women. What do the letters
say about women? What do they say about women's behavior in church?
2. Read the Acts of Paul and Thecla. This
is a second or third century text that is a bit like the Acts of the Apostles
in the New Testament. It purports to follow Paul around on his missions,
and particularly describes the life and times of a woman he meets on his
travels, Thecla. What kind of things does Thecla do as a Christian
woman? Does she do things that might be considered unseemly for women
to do? Does she act in any way as a leader or authority figure?
How?
3. Read Ehrman, and pay close attention to pp. 368-73.
Use Ehrman to refresh your memory as to what Paul says about women in the
authentic Pauline letters. Are there women in leadership roles in
some of Paul's churches? Who are they? What do they do?
Does Paul have specific instructions for or about women in the Christian community? Write down the numbers of any verses in tbe authentic letters of Paul that you think might be relevant.