Misogyny and Patriarchy

           Old Testament Survey Series in the Koinonia Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) at Cornerstone Baptist Church

           
            Lesson Four

         Misogyny and Patriarchy

1.       Introduction: Thinking about thinking about God’s Word (What are we doing here?)

           a.        Magisterial Misuse of Reason (See Isaiah 55:8–9; Romans 9:19–21)

                      i.        Example: Paul at 1 Corinthians 2:2

           b.        Ministerial Use of Reason (See Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 22:36–38; Romans 12:2;1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5; 1 Peter 3:15)

                      i.        Example: Paul at Mars Hill (Acts 17:22-34)

2.        Quick Review: Why Blame Adam?

           a.        Direct: Biblical/God’s Declaration: Genesis 3:17-19; Isaiah 43:27; Hosea 6:7; Job 31:33; Romans 5:12-19

           b.        Thoughtfulness (Mind of Christ): Breaking Adamic Covenant (Not Attending to God’s Word)

                      i.        God’s command given directly to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17)

                      ii.       Do not add: Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18

                      iii.      Responsibilities of Adam and Eve to each other

3.        Opening Discussion (Thought Provokers): What do the following words mean? (How) Are the following words used in criticism of the Old Testament?

           a.        Misogyny

           b.        Patriarchy (Genesis 18:12; Exodus 21:3,17, 22; Lev. 12:2–5; Leviticus 22:13)

4.        What can be said in response to criticisms of the Old Testament that draw from (or point to) these words/concepts?

           a.        Misogyny

           b.        Patriarchy (Exod. 22:22; Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 24:17, 19)

5.        Equality of Adam and Eve: How and to what extent was Eve equal to Adam?

           a.        How did this equality between man and woman appear to change over time in the Old Testament?

                      i.        Commonly cited examples:

                                 (1)      Numbers 5:11-31 adultery trial (but see Numbers 5:2; 5:6; 6:2)

                                 (2)      Leviticus 12 purification after childbirth [40 days/80 days] (but see purification offering at Leviticus 12:6)

                                 (3)      Family name/lineage, leverite marriage (Deut 25:5-6)

                                 (4)      Legal capacity to contract (Numbers 30)

                                 (5)      Initiation of divorce (Deut 25:1-4; cf Matt. 19:7)

                      ii.       Compare: Parity/equality of men and women – Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12, 1:15; Deut. 5:16; 21:18–21; 27:16; Leviticus 19:3; Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 19:26; Proverbs 23:25; Song of Songs 6:3, 7:10.

                      iii.      Compare: Strong women and influential women in the Old Testament: Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, and Tamar (all in Genesis); the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exod. 1); the Egyptian princess (Exod. 2); Miriam and Jethro’s seven daughters, including Zipporah, Moses’s wife (Exod. 2, 4, 15); the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27); Deborah, Ruth, Naomi, Abigail, and Bathsheba (Judg. 4–5; Ruth 1–4; 1 Sam. 25; 1 Kings 1–2); and the Proverbs 31 woman.

                      iv.      Some other examples:

                                 (1)      Purity laws: Men (Lev. 15:16–18, 32; 22:4; Deut. 23:10)

                                 (2)      Laws addressing incest and adultery: Leviticus 18, 20

           b.        How are divorce and polygomy addressed in the Old Testament and, by comparison, in the New Testament? (Matt. 19:3-9; 1 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31)

           c.        How does the New Testament elevate the status and role of women?

                      i.        E.g., Resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55-24:5; John 20:1)

6.        What is the difference between “authority” and “responsibility”?

           a.        Which stems from (or emerges from, or is dependent upon) the other?

           b.        From a Biblical perspective, which is greater? (Genesis 3)

7.        How is the importance of individual responsibility for our own actions highlighted:

           a.        In the Old Testament (See Leviticus 20:24, 19:2-6; Deut. 26:16-19)

           b.        In the New Testament

8.        What is the ultimate responsibility of a follower of Christ?

9.        

           Old Testament Survey Series in the Koinonia Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) at Cornerstone Baptist Church

           
            Lesson Four

         Misogyny and Patriarchy

1.       Introduction: Thinking about thinking about God’s Word (What are we doing here?)

           a.        Magisterial Misuse of Reason (See Isaiah 55:8–9; Romans 9:19–21)

                      i.        Example: Paul at 1 Corinthians 2:2

           b.        Ministerial Use of Reason (See Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 22:36–38; Romans 12:2;1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5; 1 Peter 3:15)

                      i.        Example: Paul at Mars Hill (Acts 17:22-34)

2.        Quick Review: Why Blame Adam?

           a.        Direct: Biblical/God’s Declaration: Genesis 3:17-19; Isaiah 43:27; Hosea 6:7; Job 31:33; Romans 5:12-19

           b.        Thoughtfulness (Mind of Christ): Breaking Adamic Covenant (Not Attending to God’s Word)

                      i.        God’s command given directly to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17)

                      ii.       Do not add: Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18

                      iii.      Responsibilities of Adam and Eve to each other

3.        Opening Discussion (Thought Provokers): What do the following words mean? (How) Are the following words used in criticism of the Old Testament?

           a.        Misogyny

           b.        Patriarchy (Genesis 18:12; Exodus 21:3,17, 22; Lev. 12:2–5; Leviticus 22:13)

4.        What can be said in response to criticisms of the Old Testament that draw from (or point to) these words/concepts?

           a.        Misogyny

           b.        Patriarchy (Exod. 22:22; Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 24:17, 19)

5.        Equality of Adam and Eve: How and to what extent was Eve equal to Adam?

           a.        How did this equality between man and woman appear to change over time in the Old Testament?

                      i.        Commonly cited examples:

                                 (1)      Numbers 5:11-31 adultery trial (but see Numbers 5:2; 5:6; 6:2)

                                 (2)      Leviticus 12 purification after childbirth [40 days/80 days] (but see purification offering at Leviticus 12:6)

                                 (3)      Family name/lineage, leverite marriage (Deut 25:5-6)

                                 (4)      Legal capacity to contract (Numbers 30)

                                 (5)      Initiation of divorce (Deut 25:1-4; cf Matt. 19:7)

                      ii.       Compare: Parity/equality of men and women – Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12, 1:15; Deut. 5:16; 21:18–21; 27:16; Leviticus 19:3; Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 19:26; Proverbs 23:25; Song of Songs 6:3, 7:10.

                      iii.      Compare: Strong women and influential women in the Old Testament: Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, and Tamar (all in Genesis); the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah (Exod. 1); the Egyptian princess (Exod. 2); Miriam and Jethro’s seven daughters, including Zipporah, Moses’s wife (Exod. 2, 4, 15); the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27); Deborah, Ruth, Naomi, Abigail, and Bathsheba (Judg. 4–5; Ruth 1–4; 1 Sam. 25; 1 Kings 1–2); and the Proverbs 31 woman.

                      iv.      Some other examples:

                                 (1)      Purity laws: Men (Lev. 15:16–18, 32; 22:4; Deut. 23:10)

                                 (2)      Laws addressing incest and adultery: Leviticus 18, 20

           b.        How are divorce and polygomy addressed in the Old Testament and, by comparison, in the New Testament? (Matt. 19:3-9; 1 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31)

           c.        How does the New Testament elevate the status and role of women?

                      i.        E.g., Resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55-24:5; John 20:1)

6.        What is the difference between “authority” and “responsibility”?

           a.        Which stems from (or emerges from, or is dependent upon) the other?

           b.        From a Biblical perspective, which is greater? (Genesis 3)

7.        How is the importance of individual responsibility for our own actions highlighted:

           a.        In the Old Testament (See Leviticus 20:24, 19:2-6; Deut. 26:16-19)

           b.        In the New Testament

8.        What is the ultimate responsibility of a follower of Christ?

9.        How are we also responsible for nurturing and attending to the flourishing of (church, family) as followers of Christ?

10.      Conclusion / Closing Prayer: Psalm 119:121-128

10.      Conclusion / Closing Prayer: Psalm 119:121-128