Heather Albright
Essay/Blog
5
In the book of 1 Timothy it talks about how men should
pray to God with holy hands lifted up to God and he wants women to be modest in
their appearance. He says that women should wear the appropriate clothing and
not draw attention to themselves. Women
are not to fix their hair, wear expensive clothing, or wear gold or
pearls. It says if women are devoted to
God they will make themselves attractive by the good things that they do. He
also says that women should learn quietly and submissively. Women are not allowed to teach men just to
listen (1 Tim 2: 8-12). “For God made
Adam first, and afterward he made Eve.
And it was the woman, not Adam who was deceived by Satan and sin was the
result (1 Tim 2: 13-14)”. He says that
even though it was women who sinned that they may be saved through childbearing
and living a life of modesty.
I personally do not think that Thecla conforms to
Timothy’s idea of a woman. Although the
narrative about Thecla does not discuss the way she dresses she certainly does
not worship modestly. She believes
everything that Paul preaches and she goes out and follows him. She directly disobeys her betrothed and goes
to see Paul in prison. She speaks the
word of Paul knowing that it risks her life.
She is hung on a cross to burn and threatened by multiple beasts; all of
this to me does not seem to be worshipping modestly. She also does not save herself of her sin by
child bearing. Thecla believes that
celibacy is more important than marriage or bearing children. She believes that celibacy is the way to
worship God and God saves her life many times in return for her celibacy.
Thecla also goes to many towns to tell her story and to teach others about the
word of God, this differs from Timothy because he says that women are only to
listen and not to teach others. I think
that these are two completely different views on the way that women should
behave and worship. One believes women
should be modest and bear children and the other believes women should be
celibate and go out and spread the word of God.
You should have an opening paragraph, even if it is just a sentence or two. Briefly mention the texts you are discussing and over what topic. Your opening line should have a citation, since you are paraphrasing the text. Rather than summarize in one paragraph and critique in the other, I think it would be beneficial if you broke it down side by side. 1 Timothy says this but Thecla does that, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI think you nicely set up the binary of action between the two texts. Thecla doesn't say much, but, as you point out, her actions scream her protest against what is expected of women in 1 Timothy. The author in 1 Timothy silences women literally and physically, too, emphasizing modesty and quiet decorum in clothing and outward appearance. The differences are obvious and implied in your essay. Very good job!
ReplyDeleteI like your perspective of the story. Even though Thecla lives the life of celibacy to worship God it was shown to her that her worshiping of him in this way wasn't lost. She was saved many times from death through her own acts. The way you laid everything out ran well together, from your excerpt of 1 Tim 2:8-12 you made if flow well by giving us a reason and then an example. Great job on this post.
ReplyDelete