Epistles (Letters)

 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,

but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about

something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for

a woman to speak in the church.

1 Corinthians 14: 34-35

Two Difficulties…

1. Letters are occasional

Now for the matters you wrote about…

1 Corinthans 7: 1

 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as

one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy…

1 Corinthans 7: 25

Two Difficulties…

1. Letters are occasional

2. Cultural difference

 …every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is the same as having her head

shaved.

1 Corinthians 11: 5

…bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the

parchments.

2 Timothy 4: 13

 …all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3: 23

 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,

but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about

something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for

a woman to speak in the church.

1 Corinthians 14: 34-35

When & how does it apply to us?

1. Notice our own attitude

 …use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

1 Timothy 5: 23

When & how does it apply to us?

1. Notice our own attitude

2. Think paragraphs not verses

33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the

Lord’s people.

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,

but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about

something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for

a woman to speak in the church.

1 Corinthians 14: 34-35

When & how does it apply to us?

1. Notice our own attitude

2. Think paragraphs not verses

3. Do exegesis before application

Two-stage process:

1. What did text mean to the original hearers/readers? (exegesis)

2. How does this meaning apply to us?

The basic rule:

‘The text cannot mean to us what it could never have meant to the

original hearers’

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes,

what is in part disappears.

1 Corinthians 13: 9-10

When & how does it apply to us?

1. Notice our own attitude

2. Think paragraphs not verses

3. Do exegesis before application

4. What is clearly seen as moral?

When & how does it apply to us?

1. Notice our own attitude

2. Think paragraphs not verses

3. Do exegesis before application

4. What is clearly seen as moral?

5. Where does NT attitude vary?

Two examples

1. Women in authority in the church

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a

man; she must be quiet.

1 Timothy 2: 11-12

Two examples

1. Women in authority in the church

2. Homosexual practice

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women

exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men

also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the

due penalty for their error. Romans 1: 26-27

Women in authority

1. Exegesis

2. Is NT consistent?

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and

explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18: 26

 

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.

Romans 16: 1

 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me.

They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I

was.

Romans 16: 7

Homosexual practice

1. Exegesis

2. Matter of morality

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be

deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male

prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit

the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6: 9-10

 

Homosexual practice

1. Exegesis

2. Matter of morality

3. Is NT consistent?

Two examples

1. Women in authority in the church

2. Homosexual practice