Seeing the percentage of references devoted to the NT authors crystallizes the issue. Many of us assume or intuitively know there is too much focus on Paul, but to see it laid out mathematically is something else. And we'd be so much better off not underappreciating the Johaninne community. Great article!
Thanks Bobby, really appreciate you reading and offering feedback. Since you are currently studying this stuff at a more rigorous level than I ever have, I’m curious: do you see/sense that over-focus on Paul in egalitarian scholarship? Or is that just a complementarian imbalance?
I think that it's there on the egalitarian side, but as a reactionary measure. Egalitarian scholars know that if they are going to change any minds, they have to show that they are not afraid to deal with the "clobber" passages in Paul. But many are focusing more on the Gospels. A couple of good examples are Gospel Women by Richard Bauckham and Women Who Do by Holly Carey.
That’s helpful, thanks! I also stumbled across this book last night from Francis Moloney, published way back in 1986: Woman: First among the Faithful. Looks like a similar study to Bauckham and Carey, but maybe less known because it’s from a Catholic scholar. Moloney has one ch. on women in Paul, but 4 chapters on women in the gospels, and 1 chapter on women (or “woman”) in Revelation. https://archive.org/details/womanfirstamongf00molo/mode/1up
I think this is a profoundly important point. Like you, I don't think there is actually a Jesus-Paul conflict. But I know too many people who seem functionally to perceive a conflict, make barely any attempt to resolve it, and simply take (what they perceive to be) the side of Paul.
Thanks Katherine, I appreciate hearing that I’m not the only one who sees that pattern, at least in ecclesiology. There’s a longstanding Jesus vs Paul debate about soteriology and the kingdom of God etc, but when it comes to ecclesiology, it seems like all sides of the debate just focus on Paul.
I’ve read an article from Leeman. He strongly believes in hierarchy within the home (husband leader over wife). I was disappointed when my university brought him in as a guest speaker on leadership earlier this fall (sponsored by our leadership studies program).
“How do you think we should wrestle with the diversity in the New Testament regarding the church?” This is a good question! I would like to see more pastors emphasize the context of the Pauline epistle (or other NT book being preached) before immediately implying all is relevant to/appropriate for application for their congregation in the pews. It is hard to parse out the general, applicable-in-all-places principles from the specific-to-a-place-and-time ones. Complicated for sure.
As regards authority, I have contended that not all authority is equal and the mistake of not recognizing this has led to all sorts of confusion. In these discussions it seems that authority is usually thought of as a definite thing but in our churches there are all kinds of authority. For example, in the church I pastored the secretary had authority to do all sorts of things on a daily basis.
It sticks out to me, too, how John describes himself in Revelation: "I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." Brother and partner.
Yes, absolutely. One of my theories is that Revelation is primarily aimed to help Christians navigating empire in the Roman world, whereas John and the Epistles are aimed to help Christians navigating empire within their local Jewish & Christian communities. Which is why the Johannine corpus as a whole is so applicable to are present day. John’s answer to empire, in any form, is not more empire; his answer to “bad authority” is not “good authority.” If only we would have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Seeing the percentage of references devoted to the NT authors crystallizes the issue. Many of us assume or intuitively know there is too much focus on Paul, but to see it laid out mathematically is something else. And we'd be so much better off not underappreciating the Johaninne community. Great article!
Thanks Bobby, really appreciate you reading and offering feedback. Since you are currently studying this stuff at a more rigorous level than I ever have, I’m curious: do you see/sense that over-focus on Paul in egalitarian scholarship? Or is that just a complementarian imbalance?
I think that it's there on the egalitarian side, but as a reactionary measure. Egalitarian scholars know that if they are going to change any minds, they have to show that they are not afraid to deal with the "clobber" passages in Paul. But many are focusing more on the Gospels. A couple of good examples are Gospel Women by Richard Bauckham and Women Who Do by Holly Carey.
That’s helpful, thanks! I also stumbled across this book last night from Francis Moloney, published way back in 1986: Woman: First among the Faithful. Looks like a similar study to Bauckham and Carey, but maybe less known because it’s from a Catholic scholar. Moloney has one ch. on women in Paul, but 4 chapters on women in the gospels, and 1 chapter on women (or “woman”) in Revelation. https://archive.org/details/womanfirstamongf00molo/mode/1up
That does look interesting!
I think this is a profoundly important point. Like you, I don't think there is actually a Jesus-Paul conflict. But I know too many people who seem functionally to perceive a conflict, make barely any attempt to resolve it, and simply take (what they perceive to be) the side of Paul.
Thanks Katherine, I appreciate hearing that I’m not the only one who sees that pattern, at least in ecclesiology. There’s a longstanding Jesus vs Paul debate about soteriology and the kingdom of God etc, but when it comes to ecclesiology, it seems like all sides of the debate just focus on Paul.
I’ve read an article from Leeman. He strongly believes in hierarchy within the home (husband leader over wife). I was disappointed when my university brought him in as a guest speaker on leadership earlier this fall (sponsored by our leadership studies program).
It’s all about the hierarchy 😒.
“How do you think we should wrestle with the diversity in the New Testament regarding the church?” This is a good question! I would like to see more pastors emphasize the context of the Pauline epistle (or other NT book being preached) before immediately implying all is relevant to/appropriate for application for their congregation in the pews. It is hard to parse out the general, applicable-in-all-places principles from the specific-to-a-place-and-time ones. Complicated for sure.
Amen. Sadly, that kind of interpretive move sounds “dangerous” to many, is if it’s limiting the authority of God’s word.
The Spirit has convicted me that I am a son of God and I don't belong in a gender hierarchy. Thanks for writing this, Aaron
Amen Sarah, and thank you 🙏.
Thank you Aaron for this.
As regards authority, I have contended that not all authority is equal and the mistake of not recognizing this has led to all sorts of confusion. In these discussions it seems that authority is usually thought of as a definite thing but in our churches there are all kinds of authority. For example, in the church I pastored the secretary had authority to do all sorts of things on a daily basis.
That’s a great point, Cal. Reminds me of Andy Crouch’s study of power in Playing God.
It sticks out to me, too, how John describes himself in Revelation: "I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." Brother and partner.
Yes, absolutely. One of my theories is that Revelation is primarily aimed to help Christians navigating empire in the Roman world, whereas John and the Epistles are aimed to help Christians navigating empire within their local Jewish & Christian communities. Which is why the Johannine corpus as a whole is so applicable to are present day. John’s answer to empire, in any form, is not more empire; his answer to “bad authority” is not “good authority.” If only we would have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.