BI702 Gender in Biblical Hermeneutics Dr

BI 730 Gender in Biblical Hermeneutics Dr. Barbara Worden

Bridge Term 2008-09 with Dr. Ronald Worden

Course Description:

BI 730 Critical Biblical, Hermeneutic, and Theological approaches to difficult and controversial issues in relation to women and biblical theology. Considering the biblical critical method and approaches to specific passages of feminist and womanist biblical scholars such as Elizabeth Fiorenza, Amy-Jill Levine, Phyllis Trible and Renata Weems. Special emphasis on Genesis, historical books of OT, plus Women in the Gospels and in the early church as recorded in the Pauline Epistles and Acts. Prerequisite—OT 501 or NT501

Course Objectives

1. Describe and evaluate issues in the history of biblical interpretation and contemporary biblical interpretation regarding equity in matters of gender, race and social status.

2. Describe and evaluate the issues and arguments presented in support of the traditional, hierarchical view of the relation between genders.

3. Describe and evaluate the issues and arguments presented in support of radical feminist rejection of male superiority.

4. Describe and evaluate the issues and arguments presented in support of an evangelical egalitarian understanding of the relation between genders, and other aspects of social status.

5. Understanding the effects of historical, cultural, denominational, and family influence on one’s attitudes regarding equity in matters of gender, race and social status.

Texts: A good study Bible, preferably NRSV

Groothuis, Rebecca Merrill. Good News for Women, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1997. abbreviated as GNW

The IVP Women’s Bible Commentary, abbreviated as IVP-WBC

Course requirements:

Regular class attendance, completion of assignments and

participation in class discussion 100

Two Examinations, 100 each 200

One paper 100

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400

B=320-360A=360-400C=280-320

The paper will require a detailed examination and analysis of a short scriptural passage from the Old and New Testaments. The passage should be 5 verses or less. And it is recommended that the passage be chosen from one of those listed on the course schedule portion of the syllabus. Another passage may be chosen with the permission of the instructor. The papers must use at least two of the commentaries on the reading list for each paper.

Writing the Exegetical Paper;

Steps in the Process (cf. fuller handout)

1. Determine the Canonical Context

2 Establish the Text

3. Establish the Translation

4. Establish the Meaning

5. Establish the Historical and Geographical Context

6. Establish the Original Theological Meaning

7. Establish the Application for today.

Presentation of Elements

Introduction

Passage Selected

Reasons for choosing Passage

Setting

Author

Date

Audience

Literary interrelations

Historic, geographic and socio-economic context

The Text

Translation with specific information on:

Textual Problems

Grammar and Syntax

Important words

Interpretation:

Meaning for original readers

Meaning for Today’s readers

Bibliography

Attendance Policy

Regular and prompt class attendance is expected. One or two absences may be necessary for emergency reasons, but excessive absences will cause your work to suffer and the grade to be reduced accordingly. When a class meets for one session per week, as both sections of this class do, one session is a week's work for the class.

Policy on Late Work

Timely work is essential to professional success. Assignments should be submitted when due. Late work will be lowered in grade proportionally. It is seminary policy that Incomplete grades are only given in unusual circumstances and must in any case be made up within sixty calendar days following the end of the term. Within the term difficulties are compounded by untimely work.

Note the statement on examinations not taken when scheduled (above, under Course Requirements). There will be reduced credit for examinations taken late. One should attempt to take an examination in advance when absence is anticipated.

Any student who requests an extension for this course must complete a “Request for Extension/Grade Change” form, which can be obtained from the Registrar. The form must be signed by both the student and the instructor and returned to the Registrar’s Office along with a fee of $25.00 before the deadline for extensions (May 13, 2005). Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances and may not exceed thirty calendar days from the end of the semester (August 9, 2005). All extensions are subject to review by the Dean of the Faculty.

Grades and the HGST Policy on Incompletes

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is presenting the work of another person as your own without giving proper credit for the use of the information. Students must not quote books, articles, essays, or internet sites without giving proper credit to the author(s) of the work. Any student who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to a range of consequences including failure of this course work and dismissal from HGST.

Course Schedule

October 15, 2008 Course Introduction

Women and Men Reading the Bible, complimentarian vs. egalitarian

History of Feminist Approaches to the Bible, chart, Biblical Authority and Feminism

The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Christians for Biblical Equality

Theology & Worship, Response to Inclusive Language, PCUSA (Presbyterian)

Part 1, The Biblical Case for Gender Equality (GNW)

Oct. 22 GNW, chap. 1, One in Christ and Heirs of God

Gender vs. Equity Feminism

Hermeneutics of Suspicion

“Having Faith in Women,” by; Oliver “Buzz” Thompson, Yahoo News Opinion, http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/04/post_21.html

Genesis 1-3; 6-9; Galatians 3:26-28

Oct. 29 GNW, chap. 2, Equal in Being, Unequal in Function?

Issues in Biblical Interpretation: Universally Valid Principles versus Accommodation to Prevailing Culture and Society

“A Case Study in Biblical Interpretation: Women in Ministry,” Arthur M. Climenhaga, Brethren In Christ HISTORY and LIFE, XIII, (April, 1990, no. 1, 64-72). www.whwomenclergy.org/artricles/article41php

“The Inspiration & Interpretation of Scripture,” J. J. Johnson-Leese and David M. Scholer, IVP-WBC, xxix-xxxvii.

Gen. 14-Exod. 1

Nov. 5 GNW, chap. 3, Issues in Inequality

“Men and Women as Stewards of the Environment,” Lily Yun Chu Chong, IVP-WBC, 4-5

“Parental Influence,” Kathleen W. Stuebing, IVP-WBC, 749-750

Law and Gender: Exod. 1-40; Lev. 12, 15:19-33; 18; 20; Deut. 22:13-24:5

“Occupations, Skills & Crafts of Women,” Marsha Ellis Smith, IVP-WBC, 337-338.

Nov. 12 GNW, chap. 4, Sexuality in God and in the Image of God

“Women in Ministry,” Ben Witherington III, The Asbury Herald, no 108 (Winter, 1997), 1, 3-7. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article61.php

“God’s Will for the Family: Marital and family relationships in Ephesians,” Alex Deasley, Preacher’s Magazine (June-August, 1979, 21-25, 58. www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article66.php

God’s gifts and callings, Rom. 12:3-8; 1Cor. 12, 14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Acts 2:17-18

Texts of Terror: Violence Against Women, Gen. 38; Hosea; Judg. 19-21; Women who Scare Even the Wolves, Women Warriors: Judg. 4-5, 14-, 21; 2 Sam. 11-13.

“Deborah,” Robin Gallaher Branch, IVP-WBC, 134-135

Part 2, Assessing the Traditional Proof Texts (GNW)

Nov. 19 GNW, chap. 5, In the Beginning

“Women in Ministry: What does the Bible Say?” Sharon C. Pearson, Vital Christianity (May, 1989), 222-26. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article3.php

Deut. 32:18; Isa. 42:14; 46:3-4; 49:15; 66:13; Jas. 1:18 (GNW, p. 93)

Genesis 1-3

Foremothers and Heroines: Ruth, Esther, Hannah, Prov. 31; Joel 3.

Rejoicing in Sexuality: the Song of Solomon

Nov. 26 - No class

Dec. 3 Review

Dec. 10 Mid-term Exam

Dec. 17 GNW, chap. 6, “The Husband is the Head of the Wife”

“Women in Ministry: A Biblical, Historical Perspective,” Lee M. Haines, The Wesleyan Advocate (March 1992), 3-4. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article4.php

1Corinthians 11:3-16; Ephesians 5:21-23

There’s Something About Mary, Matt. 5:27, 33; 12:46-55; 27:55-56; 28:1-10; Mark 10:2-12; 12:18-27; 15:40-41; 16:1-8; Lk. 1-3; 11:27-28; 23:49-24:12

Christmas Break

January 7, 2009 GNW, chap. 7, Marriage and Mutual Submission

‘Ezer Cenegdo: A Power Like Him, Facing Him as Equal, Joseph E. Coleson, 2^nd ed.; Grantham, PA: Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy, c. 1996. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/booklets/power_like_him.php

Ephesians 5:1-33; 1 Peter 2-3; Titus 2; 1 Timothy 5

“Hierarchicalism & Equality in the Home,” Alice P. Matthews, IVP-WBC, 702-703

Jan. 14 GNW, chap. 8, The Bible and Women in Leadership

“The Biblical Mandate for Women in Ministry,” David L. Thompson, The Wesleyan Advocate (May, 1999), 22-23. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article5.php

Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5)

Women Prophets: Huldah (2 Kgs. 22; 2 Chron. 24)

Jan. 21 GNW, chap. 9, “I do not Permit a Woman . . .”

“Women in Mission,” Sakhi M. Athyal, IVP-WBC, 611-612

“Women Disciples,” Sylvia Wilkey Cullinson, IVP-WBC, 571-572

Priscilla and Aquila, Andronicus and Junia, Phoebe

Jan. 28 GNW, chap. 10, Ending the Stalemate

1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Ending the Stalemate (GNW, Chap. 10)

“Women in Worship,” Clarence J. Vos, IVP-WBC, 739-740

Feb. 4 Paper Due

Review

Feb. 11 Final Exam

Reading

I. Commentaries, Concordances and Biblical Study Tools

Kroeger, Catherine Clark, and Mary J. Evans, ed. The IVP Women’s Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2002.

Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe (eds). The Women's Bible Commentary. Revised edition. Westminster John Knox, 1998.

II. Biblical Theology and Hermeneutics

Pierce and Groothis, essays between 79 and 238.

Bach, Alice. Women in the Hebrew Bible. Routledge, 1999.

Bird, Phyllis A. Missing Persons and Mistaken Identities: Women and Gender in Ancient Israel. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Fortress, 1999.

Brenner, Athalya, and Carole Fontaine, eds. A Feminist Companion to Reading the Bible: Approaches, Methods and Strategies. Sheffield, 1997.

Climenhaga, Arthur M. AA Case Study in Biblical Interpretation: Women in Ministry.@ Brethren In Christ HISTORY and LIFE, XIII, (April, 1990, no. 1, 64-72). www.whwomenclergy.org/artricles/article41php

Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schussler. Wisdom Ways: Introducing Feminist Biblical Interpretation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001.

Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schussler, and Fernando Segovia. Toward a New Heaven and a New Earth: Essays in Honor of Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza. Orbis Books, 2003.

Gottwald, Norman K. The Bible and Liberation. Orbis Books, 1983.

Grenz, Stanley J. Women in the Church. InterVarsity, 1995.

Groothuis, Rebecca Merrill. Good News for Women. Baker Books, 1997.

Rashkow, Ilona N. Taboo or not Taboo. Fortress, 2000.

Sakenfeld, Katherine Doob. Just Wives. Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Seitz, Christopher, and Kathryn Greene-McCreight, eds. Theological Exegesis. Eerdmans, 1999.

Thisleton, Anthony C. New Horizons in Hermeneutics. Zondervan, 1992.

Trible, Phyllis. God and the Rhetoric of Sexuality. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Augsburg Fortress, _______________.

. Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Fortress, 1984.

Tucker, Ruth. Women in the Maze. InterVarsity, 1992.

Watson, Natalie K. Feminist Theology. Guides to Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

III. Feminist Theology and Women and Ministry in the Church

Clouse, Bonidell and Robert G., Edd. Women in Ministry Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 1989.

Coleson, Joseph E. >Ezer Cenegdo: A Power Like Him, Facing Him as Equal. 2^nd ed.; Grantham, PA: Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy, c. 1996. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/booklets/power_like_him.php

Deasley, Alex. AGod=s Will for the Family: Marital and family relationships in Ephesians,@ Preacher=s Magazine (June-August, 1979, 21-25, 58. www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article66.php

Haines, Lee M. AWomen in Ministry: A Biblical, Historical Perspective,@ The Wesleyan Advocate (March 1992), 3-4. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article4.php

Hull, Gretchen Gabelein. Equal to Serve. Fleming H. Revell, 1987.

Pape, Dorothy R. In Search of God’s Ideal Woman, InterVarsity, 1976.

Pearson, Sharon C. AWomen in ministry: What does the Bible say?@ Vital Christianity (May, 1989), 222-26. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article3.php

Pierce, Ronald W. and Rebecca Merrill Groothuis. Discovering Biblical Equality. InterVarsity, 2004. Essays between pages 241 and 508.

Thompson, David L. AThe Biblical Mandate for Women in Ministry,@ The Wesleyan Advocate (May, 1999), 22-23. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article5.php

Witherington, Ben, III. AWomen in Ministry,@ The Asbury Herald, no 108 (Winter, 1997), 1, 3-7. http://www.whwomenclergy.org/articles/article61.php

Websites

Biblical Studies on the Web. www.bsw.org/top.php/I=71841 several highly technical articles on women and the bible. Knowledge or Greek and Hebrew would really help.

Christians for Biblical Equality. www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles.shtml. Excellent group of articles on a variety of topics related to biblical equaliaty including, family violence and abuse as well as theological and biblical articles.

Diotima. www.stoa.org/diotima/ This and the Fordham Internet Women’s History Sourcebook are probably the best as far as both extra biblical sources and interpretive commentary on Women in Early Judaism and Christianity.

ICL net . Guide to Early Church Documents. www.iclnet.org/puh/resources/christian-history.html Not specifically oriented to women and biblical studies, but contains a lot of source material from church fathers and other extra biblical writings.

Internet for Religious Studies. www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/t…/religion?sid=503 1798&op=preview&manifested=112&itemid=1062 some ancient sources

Internet Women’s History Sourcebook. www.fordham.edu/halsall/women/womensbook.html This is one of several history sourcebooks for Ancient World, Middle ages and Early Modern. They are outstanding

Sunshine for Women. www.pinn.net/~sunshine/booksum.html. Book summaries of feminist classics including Fiorenza, also list of articles related to variety of subjects .

Vocanda. www.vocanda.com/women_christianity.htm Good articles and links on a variety of specific women in church history. The first section of general articles has some good links on issues in early Christianity and feminism.

Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy. www.messiah.edu/whwc/articles/aarticles.htm. This is the articles index look through author and titles there are a number of articles dealing with same biblical passages and issues this course deals with as well as Wesleyan holiness women’s history.

Technical Terms GNW

Chapter 1. traditionalism, priesthood of the believer, cultic, patriarchy and patriarchal order, role distinctions, gender hierarchy, salvific status, covenantal theology, Schussler-Fiorenza, four-fold hermeneutics—hermeneutics of suspicion, of remembrance, of proclamation, or creative actualization. Exegesis, isogesis and retrogesis.

Methodist Quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Experience, Reason; in essentials unity, in non essentials liberty, in all things, charity

Chapter 2 norm, normative vs. permissive. Female subordination vs. functional subordination, being and functional inequality. value neutrality, Trinitarian subordination, voluntary submission of Christ, analogic reasoning.

Chapter 3 Sexual identity and gender identity., ontological inequity, “servant leadership,” Unearned and unaccountable authority.

Chapter 4 God and gender. God as masculine and/or feminine, androcentric cultures, what is priestly role. Mary Daly, if God is male then the male is God.

Chapter 5, dual creation of women, consequences of fall, woman as man’s helper, who bears primary responsibility for fall

Chapter 6 Fundamentalism and biblical interpretation, three views of religious language, what is “headship” in New Testament.

Chapter 7 submission and mutual submission, household code in Classical society.

Chapter 8 Women in leadership in the Bible, OT women prophets, Huldah and Deborah. NT women disciples/apostles—Junia, Phoebe and the others., hermeneutical template, “silence in the churches”

Chapter 9 Women Preachers universal vs. culturally relative prohibitions, priority of Adam, saved through childbearing, Paul and women’s blame for fall

Chapter 10 Gender, exclusion and limitation