• Last lesson
    • How women were regarded in Old Testament times
    • What changed going into the 1st century
  • This lesson
    • What changed going into the 1st century
    • How that contrasted with Jesus’ ministry
  • Rabbinical justification
    • What???
      • Rabbis were not mentioned in the Old Testament. It was not an office created by God.
      • Matthew 15:1-9
    • Sometimes scripture, sometimes “reasoning”
    • Examples
      • Psalms 45:13 – Interpretation: A woman’s place is in the home.
      • Deuteronomy 4:9 – Interpretation: Don’t teach your daughters the law.
      • Rabbi Jose ben Johanan – Don’t talk to women!
      • Rabbi Rabbah – Women are to stay at home.
      • Rabbi Erubin – Women are to be covered and shut up at home.
      • Women’s court in the temple
        • Women limited to only the women’s court in the temple.
    • Contrasting tradition with gospels and epistles
      • Women not relegated to the home
        • Workers in the home, yes – Titus 2:3-5
        • But no mandate to exclusivity – Acts 16:11-15, 40
      • Women present in much of Jesus’ ministry
        • Not part of the 12 or of the 70
        • Almost constantly present during His ministry
        • Never chided or degraded in New Testament writings
    • The woman at the well
      • John 4:1-45
      • Brings up rift between Jew and Samaritan
      • Jesus proves His perfect knowledge
      • She decides to use that knowledge
      • Leads her to the knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah
      • She takes the message to the village
    • More about women
      • Matthew 12:46-50
        • Women included
        • Could be disciples
      • Luke 7:36-50
    • Coming weeks
      • Social strata of Jerusalem
      • Religious sects
      • Temple
      • Priesthood