Thread by @CatherineMcNiel

Today in Greek Exegesis, we looked at the word translated "authority" as in "women cannot hold authority over men. This 1 Timothy passage is the ONLY place it appears in the NT and we had only guesses what it meant until scholars discovered it elsewhere. Ready for the meaning?

It seems to mean something like "to kill with your bare hands." So, probably (?) using this idiomatically, it might mean that a woman who was being VERY aggressive to the point of violence should not be allowed to teach (my prof pointed out that would be true of either gender).

But! Prof went on to say that our theology is so committed to this word meaning "hold authority over" & not (at least) "violently dominate" that translations & even lexicons haven't changed, even though "authority" is just bad and dangerous.

That's news you can use.

And its a good reminder that it isn't our English translation that Christians believe is God-breathed. When we learn more about the original text, language, and meaning, carefully updating our understanding is FAITHFUL not HERESY.

When we know better, we do better.

Annnnd....I'm guessing I should just delete my account now, right?

And on THAT note (and since I'm on a roll) isn't it interesting that I'd feel nervous to share news like this? If we're worshipping the God of love revealed in Jesus this would be either joyously celebrated or gently corrected.

So....what DO we worship? What matters most to us?

Friends and dear readers who have been asking for more information, this may not be the most accessible resource, but this is the research we were referencing in class last night.

https://twitter.com/R_D_Johnson/status/1577669721851396097?s=20&t=etIKd2yHWiVOx3P_YkD-Xw

And this, by the same scholar:

https://twitter.com/ProfMaxLee/status/1577678116117520385?s=20&t=etIKd2yHWiVOx3P_YkD-Xw

(also, this tweet is from my actual Greek Exegesis Professor!)

This one, @FlatheadMama