Paul, Women, and the Meaning of Silence
A Contextual Reading of 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
Summary
Paul, Women, and the Meaning of Silence further considers cultural and historical contextual issues, including women’s education and speech in the Greco-Roman world.
This book will assist Bible scholars, pastors, and theological students in navigating some of key interpretive issues in 1 Corinthians. Scholars seeking to locate primary source material will especially profit. Pastors will find an explanation of various views as they preach and teach on the subject. The book is one of the most extensive discussions of this challenging New Testament passage on women in the church.
"In what is possibly the most thorough examination of 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 to date, Alex Carr offers an insightful discussion of the history of research, literary context, historical context, and theological context of this debated text. His knowledge of the topic is vast, his arguments cogent, and his conclusion persuasive. Carr’s research will topple several of the popular theories and become the work with which all future scholarship simply must engage."
—Charles L. Quarles, Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology; Charles Page Chair of Biblical Theology, Southeastern Seminary
"After decades of debate and libraries of books on the ministry of women, Alex Carr’s study shows there are new insights still to be had from examining the biblical texts afresh. Paul, Women, and the Meaning of Silence demonstrates that lexical, literary, historical, and theological factors weigh against Paul’s command in 1 Corinthians 14:34 demanding ‘absolute silence’ of women. Instead, Carr shows that Paul’s command enjoins women to temporary silence during a specific time in the church gathering, namely, during the weighing of prophecies. His findings support the authenticity of the text and shed light on the contribution and participation of women in the first century church and today."
—Claire S. Smith, Author of Pauline Communities as ‘Scholastic Communities’: A Study of the Vocabulary of ‘Teaching’ in 1 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus (2012)
"1 Corinthians 14:34–35 at first glance appears to silence all women in church, yet 11:5 permits them to pray and prophesy if their heads are covered. A plethora of approaches has developed both to affirm and deny that this is an irreconcilable contradiction. But Alex Carr deftly guides his readers through the maze of options that scholars have developed, showing there is no contradiction at all. A welcome addition to a crowded field of studies."
—Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Denver Seminary
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Advance Praise
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- Series Editor Preface
- Author Preface
- List of Abbreviations
- 1 History of Research
- General Introduction
- History of Research
- Literary Context
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Was Inserted by a Later Editor (Interpolation)
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Is a Corinthian Slogan
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Contradicts Paul Elsewhere
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Applies Only to Married Women
- Historical Context
- Paul Silenced Women because of Their Lack of Education
- Paul Silenced Women because of Cultural Restrictions on Speech in Public
- Paul Silenced Women because Only Women Were Causing Problems
- Theological Context
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Contradicts Paul’s Theological Principles
- First Corinthians 14:34–35 Contradicts Paul’s Practice
- 2 The Literary Context: The Range of ΣΙΓΑΩ as a Basis for Consistency
- Introduction
- Review of Lexical Works and Dictionaries
- Usage in Greek Literature (Narrowed by Date Closest to the New Testament)
- Usage in the Old Testament
- Usage in the New Testament
- Consistency of 1 Cor 14:34–35 within 14:26–40; 12:11; and 11:5
- Interpolation and Textual Criticism
- Conclusion
- 3 The Historical Context: Consistent Application Then and Now
- Introduction
- The Multi-cultural Context of Women in the Ancient World
- The Lack of Education Argument
- The Lack of Public Speaking Argument
- The Search for Consistency in Method and Cultural Analysis
- Paul’s Consistent Pattern
- The Male and Female Problems at Corinth
- The Old Testament Law: A Basis for Paul’s Teaching in 1 Corinthians
- Conclusion
- 4 The Theological Context: Consistency within Pauline Theology and Practice
- Introduction
- Galatians 3:28
- First Timothy 2:11–12 and the Study of Ἡσυχία
- Lydia in Acts 16:11–15, 40
- Named Women in Romans 16:1–7
- Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4:2–3
- Nympha in Colossians 4:15
- Conclusion
- General Conclusion
- Summary
- Implications
- Appendix: ΣΙΓΑΩ in Greek Literature
- Bibliography
- Index
- Series Index
Series Editor Preface
More than ever the horizons in biblical literature are being expanded beyond that which is immediately imagined; important new methodological, theological, and hermeneutical directions are being explored, often resulting in significant contributions to the world of biblical scholarship. It is an exciting time for the academy as engagement in biblical studies continues to be heightened.
This series seeks to make available to scholars and institutions, scholarship of a high order, and which will make a significant contribution to the ongoing biblical discourse. This series includes established and innovative directions, covering general and particular areas in biblical study. For every volume considered for this series, we explore the question as to whether the study will push the horizons of biblical scholarship. The answer must be yes for inclusion.
In this volume, based on a revised version of the author’s Ph.D. dissertation, Alex Carr examines the meaning and role of Paul’s reference to the silence of women in I Corinthians 14:34–35. This study will focus primarily on the meaning of σιγάω within the I Corinthians 14:34–35 text and in the larger context of the Bible and the Greco-Roman world. Carr challenges the established scholarly norm that the silence of women in I Corinthians 14:34–35 is inconsistent with the wider Pauline writing. He provides a cogent and detailed overview of the scholarship focusing on the principal proponents and their various literary ←xiii | xiv→and theological arguments. Employing literary, historical and their theological interpretations, Carr argues that Paul’s use of σιγάω and the role of women as portrayed in his other letters and the church is entirely coherent, and is indeed consistent. He argues that when silence is contextually defined, consistency in Paul is evident. In his examination and assessment of both biblical and extrabiblical texts, Carr notes that only 7.8% of texts may be understood as pointing to absolute silence while 75.9% may be construed as selective silence. Noting that silence in Paul is not meant to be understood as absolute, Carr provides an exhaustive examination of both texts and contexts to underline his argument and conclusion.
This is an important and significant scholarly examination which might sometimes be viewed as a thorny and divisive issue. This exhaustive investigation will have meaningful implications for both biblical scholarship and the Church. The result is a study that is certain to generate ongoing discourse, and will not only further expand the biblical horizon, but will do so in a direction that invites further conversation.
The horizon has been expanded.
Hemchand Gossai
Series Editor
Author Preface
This book presents a revision of my doctoral dissertation completed under Professor Benjamin L. Merkle at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2021. I thank Dr. Merkle for his own model of scholarship for the church. Several others have reviewed the book, especially my dissertation committee. I am grateful for each one who read the manuscript and offered detailed feedback. Any remaining errors are my own.
I could not have completed this work without the enduring support and love of my wife, Nicole. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Christian missions. I am glad to support her research now as she did for me. This book is dedicated to her.
I am grateful to God for two schools that have shaped my education. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina is a school dedicated to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16–20. Also, I thank Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. The library staff at each institution were very helpful.
Finally, I give sincere thanksgiving to my Savior Jesus Christ who gives meaning both to this work and my own life. I hope the research edifies his church. To God be the glory.
Alex Shane Carr
1
History of Research
General Introduction
Paul instructed God’s church in Corinth, “Women in the churches are to be silent [σιγάτωσαν], for it is not permitted for them to speak, but let them be in submission, just as also the law says. And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church” (1 Cor 14:34–35).1 This book will argue that Paul’s intended meaning in 1 Cor 14:34–35 is consistent with the context of 1 Corinthians and the rest of Pauline theology and practice. Some scholars have claimed that the passage is inconsistent with the rest of Paul’s writing and practice. This study will primarily focus on the meaning of σιγάω in order to prove consistency.
Chapter One will show the need for this study and the history of research. The history of research will be divided into literary, historical, and theological interpretations of 1 Cor 14:34–35.
Chapter Two will explore the semantic range of σιγάω, including literary arguments in favor of consistency. First, there will be a review of lexical works and dictionaries to discover how they take the term in 1 Cor 14:34. Second, this ←1 | 2→study will broaden to usage in ancient Greek literature (narrowed by date and priority given to works closest in time to the New Testament). Third, the usage of σιγάω will be discussed throughout the New Testament. Finally, this chapter will show how σιγάω and the silencing of women in the church in 1 Cor 14:34 is consistent with Paul’s other comments in 1 Cor 14:26–40 (men and women speaking); 12:11 (the work of the Spirit); and 11:5 (women praying and prophesying). This chapter will be based upon the data in the Appendix with hundreds of occurrences of σιγάω in Greek literature that are in closest proximity to the New Testament. These occurrences will assist in reexamining the context of 1 Corinthians itself.
Details
- Pages
- XXIV, 268
- Year
- 2023
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9781433194917
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9781433194924
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9781433194894
- DOI
- 10.3726/b19348
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2023 (February)
- Keywords
- Paul women silence 1 Corinthians 14:34 Pauline theology male and female lexicography education speech interpolation textual criticism law, 1 Timothy 2:11–12 Lydia Phoebe Junia Euodia and Syntyche Nympha Paul, Women, and the Meaning of Silence A Contextual Reading of 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 Alex S. Carr
- Published
- New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Oxford, Wien, 2023. XXIV, 268 pp., 3 b/w ill.
