We had another lively and fun discussion on Monday, January 10, 2022. Jo Ann, Dan, Karen, Odette, Randy, Robin, Dave, Diana, David, Merrill, and Alain attended. It was the first time Alain joined us and we were so glad he took part in our group.
Below is a summary Dan wrote right after the class:
“We surveyed the last chapter of the Paul’s letter to the Romans, Romans 16. In this section Paul sends closing greetings to people he knew in Rome. Robin pointed out that Tertius, the scribe who actually physically wrote the letter, sent a greeting.
One of the topics discussed was what light this chapter shed on the role of women in this early Christian community. There was a contrast, regarding the status of women, between this writing and another letter, I Timothy. Although Paul in Romans did not directly address the status of women, he did greet several women in this passage for whom he obviously had great respect. One woman he greeted held the office of deacon, another, the position of apostle. In I Timothy, women were told to be silent in church and that women must never teach with authority over men. The subordinate role of women in I Timothy seems to align more closely with both Greco Roman and ancient Jewish views than what is surmised from Romans chapter 16. Dan mentioned that he had read that some of the letters in the New Testament ascribed to Paul were written by other people and that I Timothy is one of those letters.
David pointed out that the Talmud had less mention of women than the Tanach did. He said there was only one female scholar mentioned in the entire Talmud, versus women such as Miriam, Deborah, Abigail, Ruth, Esther, etc., of the Tanach.”
Jo Ann noticed that some of the names Paul mentions in Romans Chapter 16 are really long and strange names, but some names are still used today. Narcissis and Rufus were even used! That is where the term “Narcissist” comes from Dan explained. He was a character that fell in love with himself. Also…who, besides dogs, are named Rufus today?
Jo Ann also remembered a biblical fiction novel she read years ago called Priscilla and Aquila that made an entire story about some of the people Paul sent greetings to in this last chapter of Romans.
We are done with the book of Romans now and will skip to James now. Next week we will read the introduction to James in the Jewish Annotated New Testament. After James, we may discuss some of the essays in the back of the Jewish Annotated New Testament.
