It has sometimes been argued that the social status of women in the first century prevented them from participating in Jewish religious activities, and that Christianity liberated them from this situation. The socio-historical evidence shows this is not true.
In the same way, it has sometimes been claimed that the New Testament’s guidelines concerning the role of sisters in the ecclesia, their head coverings, their relationship to their husbands, and their participation in speaking in the ecclesia, were just a concession to the first century Roman culture. It is claimed that these guidelines were only in place to avoid giving offense to the Romans. The socio-historical evidence shows this is not true.
Socio-historical context helps us understand Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:
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Author: Jonathan Burke
Keywords: Women superior to men, Women men, Women vs men, Women versus men, Women are closer to God, Women are closer to God than men, Oppression of women, Women priests, Women pastors, Women bishops, Women evangelists, Women in the church, Serving women, Feminism, Anti feminism, misogynist, misogyny, Women to be in subjection, Sexist, Women of prominence, Chauvinism, Male chauvinism, Chauvinist, Male chauvinist, Helpmeet, Help meet, Helper, Woman helper, Helper against, Helper opposite, Helpmate, Help mate, Woman help mate, Woman helpmeet, Equality of women, Women, Gender equality, Equality of the sexes, Men superior to women, Adam and Eve, Role of the woman, Role of women, Woman's role, Women in public, Women preachers, Women preaching, Can a woman preach, Female pastors, Usurping authority over man, Female teachers, Female teaching, Women teaching, Female priest, Female bishop, Role of women in the church, Woman in the church, Role of a woman in the church
Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:20, Genesis 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Corinthians 11:8, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, 1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Timothy 2:13-14, 1 Peter 3:1-6
Source: “Socio-historical Case Study: First Century Jewish Women,” Defence & Confirmation, Vol. 2, Issue 3, June 2015, pp. 17-23.
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