Thirteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

I argue that 1 Cor 14:34 & 35 is a quotation of a declaration by members to a line the Corinthian Christian ecclesiae with the patriarchal codes and practices of Greek civic ecclesial discourse so as to silence and subordinate women to men in the churches. Paul quotes their declared position in order to directly rebuke their efforts beginning in v 36 with a two-fold negative interrogation, which is followed up with a rhetorical reminder in 15:1 & 2 as to the shared circumstances by which all the congregants received the proclamation from Paul and came to believe. Paul concludes v 2 with a stinging critique that impeaches the faith of those quoted as believing in vain. I argue that the critique plays upon themes introduced in 13:1-7, which serves to qualify the value of all spiritual gifts by the features of “love” - without which faith and all forms of public spiritual presentations are assessed to be nothing. Paul’s quote and reply, serve to rebuke those who incorporate social “public” conventions and mores into the “public” gatherings of a small religious community when such established social codes serve to reinforce the insistence on advantage and disadvantage based on gendered arrogance by some men who seek to institute their entitled civic privilege in an emergent faith community that values the voices and leadership of women.

Presenters

David Odell-Scott
Professor of Philosophy, Coordinator of Religion Studies, School of Multidisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities, Kent State University, Ohio, United States