Summary of Lesson One-Nov. 10, 2019

Introduction to Women in the Church

Summary: Lesson One

Reading Assignment: 

I Cor. 1-4:21

Purpose of Lesson One:

·       Introduce “Group Discussion” with Rules of the Road

·       Begin Introduction of the three Step Process of Biblical Interpretation with an in-depth Exegesis of the Corinthian passages

·       Begin to provide the background in Corinth that is the “back-drop” of the controversial passages in Corinth concerning women in the church.

Note:

The questions given for Step One and Two for exegesis are representative questions one should ask. They are not inclusive of all questions that should be poised.

Exegesis Step One:

A.     What Does the Text Call Them to Do?

o   To whom is the text addressed? 

o   Identify the social setting in which these models or commands appear? 

o   What is the Context of this address in the document in which it appears?

o   Identify the meaning of the words involved in the text.

o   Identify what the text models or commands

Group Summary of the Answers to the Above to Date:

The genre of the is an “occasional” letter addressed to the Corinthian church.  It was written by Paul the apostle in the reign of the emperor Claudius and after the expulsion of Paul from Corinth. This occurred when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (Acts. 18).  From these reigns (Claudius 41-54 C.E.; Gallio 51-52 C.E.) we can deduce 1 Cor. was written shortly after 52 C.E. Paul traveled to Ephesus after fleeing from Corinth where the letter was written.  From 1 Cor. 5.

Information about the context in which the letter was written may be deduced from the history of Corinth.  The city was reestablished by Julius Caesar in 44 B.CE. It was populated by freedmen, his veterans, urban trade persons and laborers.  Corinth was a port city on an isthmus with access to the West (Rome, etc.) and to the East (modern Turkey, etc.).  Therefore, the city was joined  those from Achaea, Macedonia, and the East. Core culture was trade, business, and entrepreneurial pragmatism in pursuit of success. Later, when Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, the thoroughly Roma city was joined by Jews from Rome.

In Roman culture “prestige’—using the word brought out in our group discussion was paramount.  Oratory was prized with citizens following leaders from philosophical schools.  From the text you brought these some of the words that show what the Corinthians valued these same things:  Wisdom, teachers, philosophers, those influential, noble birth, eloquent speech, persuasive word, etc.

The church at Corinth was addressed by Paul using the words you brought out: sanctified, enriched in speaking and knowledge, given grace, not lacking spiritual gifts.

The purpose was to address problems and/or questions in Corinth “as some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.”  These quarrels were the result of “divisions” among them.  These divisions resulted from the Corinthians following “leaders” (“I am of Paul; I am of Apollos”) just as Roman culture followed the philosopher/orators of the time.

The Following Are the Discussion Areas for Lesson Two, Nov. 17, 2019

From Exegesis Step One:

o   What did Paul call them to do? (Identify what the text models, appeals to or commands)

Exegesis Procedure Step Two:

A.     Why did the text in this setting, call for this behavior?

o   What rationale is present in the text

o   To what does the writer appeal as the basis of the command or behavior to model

o   What cultural factors are involved in the context?

o   Does the writer appeal to or echo any biblical text?