Our epistle reading for Trinity 13 in this Year C is 1 Tim 1.12–17. (It is not clear why the lectionary omits the opening verses of 1 Tim.)
There are very good reasons to believe (against some scholarship) that this was indeed written by Paul. His personal testimony matches what we know from elsewhere; the theological position fits well with his other letters; and the variations in vocabulary are no more than the variations in other letters—and of course Paul will have used an amanuensis to write the letter.
The passage puts together some key issues around the gospel, including the summary in ‘this saying is trustworthy’. Paul makes use of his own testimony to illustrate the nature of God’s love and grace to us. And Paul’s own response to God is a mirror response to God’s grace to him.
Commentary on the gospel reading for Trinity 13, Luke 15.1–10, can be found here.
The Vineyard song ‘The Lord is gracious and compassionate’ can be found here.
You can find the work of Jermo van Nes here or articles free on academia.com
The commentary by Aida Besancon Spencer can be found here or anywhere you buy books online.
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So, how do you reconcile Paul’s comments on the ministry of women with his obvious approval of it in other Pauline epistles? There are extra-biblical references to women leading congregations and being ministers in the early church, but here Paul explicitly forbids the practice. As a female preacher, I am regularly faced with frankly misogynist comments about my ministry. I am not ordained, but I am both a biblical scholar and a Chaplain. I find it extremely tiresome personally and theologically, as I preach in some 14 churches of different denominations and rarely have a Sunday off.
Hi Lesley
I am very sorry that you experience this, which I don’t think it rooted in Paul’s theology at all!
In next’s week’s video discussion we will touch on this, so do tune in. Although the reading next week is only the first verses of 1 Tim 2, we couldn’t discuss this without at least alluding to the verses that follow.
In that video, I will point out the very helpful treatment in Aida Spencer’s commentary, where she notes the context of Ephesus and the cult of Artemis, but also gives a good exploration of the key term authentein, and its actual meaning in the ancient world.
You might also be interested in my Grove booklet on the subject: https://grovebooks.co.uk/product/b-59-women-and-authority-the-key-biblical-texts-2011/
Tom Wright’s treatment of 1 Tim 2 is also very helpful. see his ‘for everyone’ series and elsewhere (NT Wright online)
Grateful for these discussions. I usually check them every week.
Sorry. I don’t see the video. Am I missing something?
Thanks. Yes, you are! It is there, and it is on YouTube.
Have you scrolled down…?
Here once again the lexicographer arrows in on the key verses of the chapter; Paul’s conversion and ministry.
Paul was a zealous orthodox theologian who really thought he was “doing God a service” by persecuting any who were less than orthodox, until Christ opened his eyes.
First his ears were opened to hear the Christ, and then smitten with blindness, and remained so until God sent an obedient minister to open his eyes and give him a ministry which amazingly was “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me
This eye-opening doctrine of “the revelation of the mystery” and “dispensation of the grace of God” is what Christ sent Paul to preach among the Gentiles (Eph 3:2).
“Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you… To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (Gk. musterion, secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Col 1:25-27)
Paul did not waste his time denouncing heresy and false teachings
[though he did warn of them] his sole aim seemed to be making the Gospel more attractive than paganism, philosophies and current orthodoxies.
In essence, being entrusted with the gospel is a sacred privilege and calling that involves the privilege of receiving God’s truth and the responsibility beyond speaking to share it faithfully and live by it as acting as faithful stewards of God’s grace.
Many are confused and even misled as to what our calling is.
The current declension of the preaching of the Gospel in all it’s glory is, I feel, why the Church languishes in much confusion in many quarters.
On the ministry of “opening eyes” see:-
https://artlicursi.com/articles/paul%E2%80%99s-cure-blindness
Or the superb
.austin-sparks.net/pdf/Spiritual Sight – T. Austin-Sparks.pdf
For those eager to be entrusted with the preaching
of the glorious Gospel of the grace of God.
Shalom.
As a p.s.
Not forgetting Paul’s earnest prayer for the Ephesus Church;
Eph 1:18 [That]The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
In general the condition of many out side of the Kingdom is:
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Even some of us in the Kingdom need a second touch of grace;
at first we only see “men as trees walking” and often have a distorted blurred view and understanding.
Many “Doctors” in the Church can easily observe blindness in others and sensure and mock their blindness perhaps labeling them as untutored and unlettered as some might treat the
physicaly blind.
How are the theologicaly blind are not just diagnosed as is often the case.
We need the kind of Doctors who know how to cure blindness
Hence Paul’s earnest prayer for the Ephesian Church
is very significant.
How is blindness dealt with in the Scriptures?
Tom Austin-Sparks has some great insights on sight and seeing
@.austin-sparks.net/pdf/Spiritual Sight –
Instead of shouting from the side-lines what is so obvious to
the common herd why not do the spadework and seek the cure?
Shalom.
Dr Spencer was born in the Dominican Republic and when she was a pre-teen or teen the family moved to New Jersey. She was my professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. I can recommend her book “Beyond the Curse (Women Called to Ministry)”.