Essay 5

Within the passages of 1 Timothy we are painted a picture of women who are told to be submissive to men. “Let a woman learn in silence with full submission” (1 Tim 2:11). We are given examples of an obedient woman who must dress modestly, and without flashy jewelry.  A women is permitted to have no “authority over a man; she is to keep silent” (1 Tim 2:12).  These passages demonstrate the oppression of women within a church.

        Within The Acts of Paul and Thecla we are told the story of Thecla, who we observe in the beginning conforming to what is expected of women according to 1 Tim. She conforms by being drawn to Paul and his teachings, remaining silent and listening intently for days. But then Thecla does the opposite of how a woman should act according to 1 Tim. Thecla goes against her families wishes; she does not wish to be with Thamyris who so dearly wants Thecla as his wife. Her mother is not happy with her actions, claiming “for she is betrothed to thee” (McGinn, 240). Thecla also becomes a teacher of the gospel, and by doing this she is going directly against the teachings of 1 Tim. Thecla shows characteristics of independency, determination, and a loyalty to God that she feels is so strong she must become a teacher of his word.

            The author of 1 Tim describes a woman who is Godly, which Thecla does demonstrate. But Thecla also shows many characteristics that go against a woman within 1 Tim: independent, strong, non-submissive, and a woman with a voice. Through this demonstration we are shown that Thecla does not fit into a woman as described in 1 Tim.