ASmith Essay 5

Amy Smith

WGS 3464/5960

Essay/Blog 5

First Timothy 2:1-15 outlines acceptable behavior for second century Christians in the context of the church, the home, and also in wider society.  Beginning in verse 9, the author of the book, speaking with the authority of Paul, prescribes conduct for women which is much more narrow in scope than previously asserted by Paul in the first century.  In this passage (and subsequent verses), women are instructed to model their Christian faith in outward appearances of modesty, reverence, and silence in the presence of men (1 Tim. 2:9-12).  One of the most important declarations of 1 Timothy 2 regarding women is found in verse 15, in which the author argues women are saved through the act of childbearing.  In this verse, the author situates women’s salvation in the home, though the traditional cultural roles of wife and mother.  It is here that the character of Thecla, in the Acts of Paul and Thecla, demonstrates a wide divergence in theological doctrine, as Thecla completely rejects the traditional model of womanhood presented in First Timothy. 

In the Acts of Paul and Thecla, Thecla becomes a fanatical follower of Paul, and severs ties with virtually all aspects of her former life.  In paragraphs 5-7, Thecla listens carefully to the Beatitudes of Paul, and takes to heart the statement that virgin bodies are blessed (and perhaps preferred?), and this physical purity will be rewarded by God.  Later, Thecla is so entranced by Paul’s message, she does not even respond to her fiancé’s presence and direct questions (Acts of Paul, 10).  As a result, Thecla’s household reacts as if she is dead, and rituals of mourning occur (10).  Her rejection of the proper female role of wife and mother is tantamount to death in the culture, and this reaction would reflect the social conventions promoted by the author of First Timothy.    Ideologically, Thecla and the author of First Timothy are diametrically opposed, as McGinn argues, “In the apocalyptic perspective of the Acts of Thecla, moral purity (which in this case includes sexual abstinence) becomes grounds for salvation” (McGinn, 808).  Not only do Thecla’s actions not conform to proper standards for women’s behavior described in First Timothy, the fundamental methodology of achieving salvation is in conflict.  Interestingly, both First Timothy and the Acts of Paul and Thecla are based on the authority of the teachings of Paul. 

McGinn, Sheila, E.  “The Acts of Thecla”, Searching the Scriptures Volume Two: A Feminist Commentary, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, ed., Crossroad, 1993.