Loading...In my previous post I tried to show that women – contrary to what one might think – were quite prominent in the ministry and churches established by Paul. One naturally wonders why that might be, given the fact that women came to be silenced in later Christian traditions (continuing on in some rather notable circles today). One answer for why women played important roles in the life of the early church is that they may have played an important role in the life of the historical Jesus.
As readers of this blog know,
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What were the requirements to become a rabbi in Jesus’s time?
“Rabbi” in Jesus’ day simply meant “my teacher” — it wasn’t an official office like it was later. So the only qualifications were that someone considered you their teacher.
Concerning the woman who anointed Jesus with the expensive perfume at the house of Simon and also in the spirit of this week’s MJ podcast … might that episode have just been the straw that broke the camel’s back for Judas? Jesus reclining in his chair while a woman douses him with luxurious perfumes? Maybe Judas was one of the people that thought it was just too decadent- and then for Jesus to add that there will always be poor people around but since he’s here now, it’s party time.
And then there’s the added significance of being “anointed” also meaning Messiah, which could be used against him to the Romans…
As a point of reference, this story comes right before Judas betrayed Jesus in both Matthew and Mark..
It’s possible. Some Hollywood movies do it this way (implied, for example, In JC Superstar).
Given the prominent roles women seemingly played in the early Christian communities, how and why do you think their roles diminish in the later traditions and structures of the Christian church?
It’s a complicated issue. The short answer is that as the church grew it moved from the private sphere of the home (women’s domain) to the public sphere (the man’s). And that affected how everythng was run and organized.
Why in the ressurection accounts from mark and matthew the women are portrayed as errand girls and never praised for their faith in sticking around ? these women risked their lives , but the man in the tomb said “go tell peter he is going to galilee”
This is the same peter who lied, denied and apostated.
I suppose they are implicitly, in comparison with the men who fled?
the women fled aswell, is it possible that’s the reason why mark does not have them praised for their faith because they stick around for a while and when heat is on , they flee?
in matthew, you would expect the women being praised for their great faith , but they seem to be errand girls.
I don’t think Mark says the women fled, except from the tomb itself. They were told to go and they did, just with some haste.
Speaking of women, It would seem that Jesus had an odd, maybe even a little strained relationship with his mother? By my count she is mentioned only around 10 times in the gospels during his ministry. 3 of those involved the same story in the synoptics where he seemed uninterested when told that his mother and brothers were outside, instead responding “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” In John at the wedding in Cana when his mother told him they were out of wine he responded “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you?” Not exactly warm and fuzzy. In Luke 11 a woman said to him “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” He did not express agreement with her statement but said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” Only in John was his mother reported present at the crucifixion and did not appear at the tomb in any of the gospels.
Maybe I’m reading too much into this. Any thoughts?
In our earliest surviving account she appears to think he’s gone out ofhis mind (Mark 3:21). So it’s not unlikely theire relationshipwas strained, or at lesast that she did not understand what he was doing.
Family dynamics are complicated, and I suspect the same was true in antiquity. Maybe fewer issues with the kids not leaving home? I can imagine that fear of the risk of what her son was doing would cause tension reflected in the story, even though Gabriel did give her a heads up. I also wonder how living in a society with such high infant, child, and maternal mortality impacts relationships.
Hello!
1) In many places of the NT books, christians after Jesus death are told to be put to trial or persecuted. What happened? By whom, why and in what countries were they persecuted?
2) In 2 Thessalonians 2, we are told the end will come when the lawless one is revealed. Is this the antichrist and if not who is he?
2 Thessalonians 2:4 NRSV
[4] He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 NRSV
[7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed.
=Who is “the one who now restrains it” ?
This is the most confusing verse in the chapter:
2 Thessalonians 2:11 NRSV
[11] For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,
= Can you explain what the author meant by God deluding to falseness?
Sorry for the many questions. I am very hooked into understanding these passages.
Let’s stick to just two questoins at a time, if possible. C’est possible?
1. Do a word search for “persecution” onthe blog and you’ll see a number of posts. Short story: in NT times persecutions were always local and sporatic, and appear to have arisen from the grass roots level, never by Roman officals, and often amounted to such things as name calling and physical attack or even small mob violence.
2. It’s a much debated passage. Most interpreters just say that the author doesn’t tell us. Could it be the Holy Spirit? God? Possibly.