Book Of Galations

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. , since it could be viewed that Paul was challenging creation beliefs, internal criticisms most likely also existed. It could have been for these reasons that Paul rethought what he expressed in his writings after Galatians. On a more specific level a certain situation in Corinth could have given rise to Paul reevaluating his stance on the role of women. In Corinth there were some women who were not upholding traditions and instead were wearing their hair unbound.

At the time a woman who wore her hair unbound was often seen as type of cult member. Paul most likely understood the dire effects that this could have on the early church. If other people saw this unbound hair that was often connected with worshiping of oriental divinities, the Christian faith would lose creditability in the community. It would present an image of ritual madness, an image that the early church was not trying to portray. Paul wanted to make sure that the Christians in Corinth were not putting themselves at risk due to the actions of some women.

He therefore reaffirmed the idea that women must have their hair bound up as a sign of prophetic power. He is not making attempts to control the women of Corinth but certainly bring to the attention of all that certain things must be upheld as a sign of proper worship.No matter the reason why Paul slightly changed his writings, it is obvious that he took the role of women quite seriously in many different aspects of life and faith. These roles included both married and celibate roles, which Paul defines differently. Paul deals with the idea of marriage in 1 Cor 7. He clearly states that in a marriage of two Christians both sexes have obligations to each other, Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

Although this is not saying that the woman is equal to the man in all aspects of the relationship, it does give the women equal sexual rights.Much like in a marriage role, both man and woman have important roles in the church. However, the role of a married woman in the church is not seen to be as important as a single woman. Once a woman is married she is to have different priorities in life. Taking care of her husband and eventually children is more important than other things. On the other hand, Paul writes And the women who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

in 1 Cor 7:34. Paul is somewhat limiting the role of married women in the church, by affirming that unwed women are to play a key role in the Lords community.It is under this belief that Paul lived his life without marriage and does not discourage others from this lifestyle. He felt that marriage could ultimately take away from the amount on could give to God on a daily basis.

If one was distracted and held down by worldly interferences, they may not set God as the first priority in their lives. Those women who were not preoccupied with the needs of their husbands and family could be called to missionary work in the community. The role of women that Paul expressed in Galatians can also be found in subsequent early Christian writings.One of these is know as the The Nag Hammadi.

These texts contain a large number of primary Gnostic scriptures -- transcripts that most believed were entirely destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define orthodoxy -- scriptures such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth. The Tripartite Tractate, which is part of this collection, also presented radical ideas and was often seen as heretical in the early church. It was for this reason that most copies of it were destroyed. However, it too voices the same opinion as Paul did in Galatians, For the end will receive a unitary existence just as the beginning is unitary, where there is no male nor female.It is possible that writers these tests knew Pauls writings.

The writers attempted to convey a message that was quite similar to that of Pauls. However, they did not tone down the writings like Paul did. The fact that most of The Nag Hammadi was destroyed shows that some people in the early church were not ready for the ideas that were presented. There were also famous writers that used Pauls teachings to convey their beliefs to the people of their time.

These writers were able to reinforced Pauls beliefs while presenting their own message.Clement of Alexandria uses Pauls opinions to try and eliminate distinctions drawn between men and women in the church. Clement encouraged the teaching of both men and women in his school at Alexandria. This was a theme that was slowly growing in the early church but still had quite a way to go. The letters of Paul served as a comprehensive guide for most of the early Christians.

He was able to confront and tackle many significant issues that concerned the churches he established.One of these sensitive issues was the role of women in the early church. Based on the idea of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, Paul contested that all people were equal and should serve God through their faith and actions. He used both a baptismal formula and the teachings of Jesus to convey his message to the people of his time.

This view was one that had not been openly presented prior and probably resulted in controversy. Therefore, aware to the needs of the early church Paul adapted his teachings while still holding his basic beliefs in tact. Pauls teachings still have contemporary consequences when dealing with the role women in present-day Christianity.This text can be seen as something that the world is now ready to fully implement in the 21st century. While Pauls view that women were equal in the church was radical at the time, it is now an accepted view by most educated people. Therefore, Pauls teachings that God made us all equal through baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may carry on into new roles of women in years to come.

Religion Essays.