Ephesians 5:22“Wives, submit to your husbands…” Where It’s Often Cited: rhetoric around refusal to ordain women; fundamentalist premarital counseling, marriage retreats and/or women’s retreats, weddings, etc. In fact, a friend … Continue reading Ephesians and Submission
Tag: Paul
Chapter 16: Final Words to Corinth
Having wrapped up his points about the problems in Corinth, Paul spends the final paragraphs of this letter as he does so many of the other letters: hitting a few … Continue reading Chapter 16: Final Words to Corinth
Chapter 14: What Paul Probably Didn’t Say About Women
Jessi and I stared at the verses. We had both read those words in isolation many times before. We had wrestled with them and responded to them already, but they … Continue reading Chapter 14: What Paul Probably Didn’t Say About Women
A Personal Note about Speaking in Tongues (Prelude to Chapter 14)
What do you think of when you hear the phrase “speaking in tongues”? Do you imagine a group of people praying together in languages unique to them with a leader … Continue reading A Personal Note about Speaking in Tongues (Prelude to Chapter 14)
1 Corinthians 13 (Part 5): The Greatest of These Is Love
Love is the greatest because while faith is preached and hope pertains to the future life, love reigns. As 1 John says: ‘By this we know his love, that he … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 13 (Part 5): The Greatest of These Is Love
Chapter 13 (Part 4): A Glass Darkly
The prisoners sat in a line facing the cave wall. Their shackles not only bound them in place; the restraints prevented them from looking over their shoulders or even to … Continue reading Chapter 13 (Part 4): A Glass Darkly
1 Corinthians 13 (Part 3): Words for Love and Why They Matter
Copious ink has been spilt over the different Greek words for love in the New Testament. There’s eros, which refers to romantic love. Philia describes affection like you might feel … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 13 (Part 3): Words for Love and Why They Matter
Chapter 12: One Body
As we discussed last week, when Paul talks about worship with the Corinthians, he also emphasizes equality among Christians. The Corinthians were really messing up in this department by granting … Continue reading Chapter 12: One Body
Chapter 11: Women & Men, Bread & Wine
Paul has spent several chapters now talking about meat sacrificed to idols— a practical issue with larger implications for community and belief. Similarly, in chapters 11 through 14, Paul goes … Continue reading Chapter 11: Women & Men, Bread & Wine
Chapter 9: All Things to All People
Back in chapter 8, Paul explained to the Corinthians just because they can do something doesn’t mean they should. Specifically, just because they can eat meat sacrificed to idols doesn’t … Continue reading Chapter 9: All Things to All People