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Female priests

1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 are frequently used in the still ongoing debate against women serving in pastoral or priestly roles, with some interpretations suggesting a so-called 'prohibition' against women teaching or exercising authority over men in church settings.

However, alternative interpretations exist that emphasize the specific context of these verses and the broader biblical view of women's role. It's thus yet again much more complex. If faced with any issue I'd take the more complex answer, even if it's basically at first reading too easy to be true.

Concerning these particular Bible passages some scholars argue that St Paul's instructions were specific to the cultural and social context of the Ephesian (and Corinthian) church at the time, particularly addressing issues of false teaching and disruptive behavior in worship.

The writings of St Paul are afterall also in a different tradition than many other Bible authors and he viewed his letters himself as mere instruction and not as scripture. Compare any of his instruction to Luke's Magnificat and you'll hopefully notice the difference.

St Luke was indeed writing in a similar tradition but with an eye on the Gospel Message. There's little doubt that his writing of The Magnificat is indeed the strongest statement about love and justice in the entire Bible. Keep remembering that the actual words were from a simple woman and mother-to-be.

Moreover, other passages in the New Testament from St Paul, such like for example Galatians 3:28, emphasize the actual equality of men and women in Christ, suggesting that Paul's restrictions in 1 Timothy 2:12 might indeed not be a universal ban on women in leadership.

Taking a closer look at 1 Corinthians 14, we can see that the overall concern there and then was rather 'orderly assemblies'. The church of Corinth was particularly noted for the disorder in the sense that everyone was seen and heard whenever and however they desired.

In fact, there are so many women mentioned in the New Testament, with 180 references to women. Of these [45 named, 94 unnamed, 14 fictional] 45 named women we get over 30 of them that were positive female disciples.

When St Peter wrote that husbands are to show honor to the woman as the 'weaker vessel' he doesn't mean that women are inferior in personhood, or that they are inferior spiritually or intellectually. He is merely pointing out the obvious that physically women are not typically as big and strong as men.

Ultimately, the interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and the role of women in church leadership remains a complex and debated issue within Christianity but one can't use only that to be against one and be for the other. To do so goes against the primary principles of being a follower of Christ in the first place.

Finding nothing from Leviticus in the New Testament against female priests points straight to it not being an argument against it in the first place. That book doesn't forbid women from being priests, but it does establish strict requirements for who can be a priest
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Shade bruv!

No, I wonder how the church managed the first 1900 years without biblically unqualified pastors!

You are right about disruptors but that applied to asking questions, prayer, etc at that time, there you are right.

But it does not apply to pastors- there are many roles women in the church can do- notice reading, prayers, Sunday school teacher, treasurer, safeguarding officer, etc and even more choice in larger churches but a pastor is not one of them.
val70 · 51-55
@BritishFailedAesthetic I'm sure that you'll know that your statement makes no sense at all
@val70 Then don't quote Vatican II when it is of no relevance to me.
val70 · 51-55
@BritishFailedAesthetic Then don't read the Bible as it should be read 🙄 Matthew 15:14 fits the belief here
JanBos2 · 61-69, M
Thx for the good article. Balanced.
The source of these automated posts gets singed for wasting resources
@val70 and protecting my world, from that entire automated system
val70 · 51-55
@pentagrammom I'm sure that you make a point that needs to be made. How much for that art of yours?
@val70 traced I assure the source of that comment gets deleted, one at a time every fragmented cell

 
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