Following closely from “it's only Paul, and who cares about him?” came the thought, “and he hates women anyway!”. For, in prohibiting women from teaching or having authority over men he is preventing them from exercising God-given gifts, thwarting the Holy Spirit, denying them their rights and oppressing them.
This is a serious charge... but it's a serious offense and is clearly contrary to the new commandment that we love one another (John 13:34).
Furthermore, it is different from Jesus' towards women. Jesus affirms women. He heals women (Mark 5:21-43). He teaches women (Luke 10:38-42) and praises their faith (Mark 7:24-30). He first revealed himself as the Messiah to a woman (John 4:16-27), and it was to women that he first appeared after the resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10). Women followed him, even supporting him out of their own means (Luke 8:1-3).
In denying women authority in the church, Paul is going against the Lord. Jesus affirms and loves women, Paul oppresses and hates them.
I just could not accept his teaching.
At this point, the easiest thing for me to do was to keep my bible closed. And if I had to open it, well, I keep well away from the tricky parts.
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