Synopses & Reviews
This study explores the role of women in New Testament times. Beginning with the woman's place in Judaism, in the Hellenistic world, and in the Roman Empire, Witherington demonstrates how Jesus broke significantly with convention in how he viewed women, offering as he did a wholly new conception of the legitimate rights of women in society. The book then examines the apostle Paul's attitude toward women, which both agreed with, and differed from the ideas of his contemporaries. Finally, the author looks at the evangelists' presentation of material on women, which sheds light on the early Church's understanding of women and their roles.\[P\] This comprehensive survey, which avoids slanting its material to serve a modern patriarchal or feminist bias, comes to the exciting conclusion that we can see in the New Testament an attempt to reform the patriarchal orientation of the day.
Review
'\"Ben Witherington\'s book is one of the most honest and least ideological works about women and Christianity I have read in a number of years.\" The Christian Century'
Synopsis
This study explores the role of women in New Testament times. Beginning with the woman's place in Judaism, in the Hellenistic world, and in the Roman Empire, Witherington demonstrates how Jesus broke significantly with convention in how he viewed women, offering as he did a wholly new conception of the legitimate rights of women in society.
Synopsis
Women and their roles in the New Testament and early Christianity.
Synopsis
This book presents as clearly as possible all significant passages in the New Testament which deal with women and their roles. It puts forward the exciting case that we can see in the New Testament an attempt to reform the patriarchal orientation of the day and invest women with a new kind of authority in religious contexts. This comprehensive survey, which avoids slanting its material to serve a modern patriarchal or feminist bias, comes to the exciting conclusion that we can see in the New Testament an attempt to reform the patriarchal orientation of the day.
Table of Contents
Part I. Women in First Century Cultures: 1. Women in Judaism; 2. Women in Hellenistic settings; 3. Women in Roman settings; Part II. Jesus and Women: 4. Teachings on family and single life; 5. Women in the parables and judgment sayings; 6. Stories of help and healing; 7. Women in the Ministry of Jesus; Part III. Paul and Women: 8. Women and the physical family; 9. Paul and the household tables; 10. Women and the family of faith; 11. Paul and his female co-workers; 12. The pastoral Epistles; Part IV. Women and the Evangelists: 13. Women and the Third Evangelist; 14. Women and the Evangelists Matthew, Mark and John; Conclusions.