A Practice of Christian Unity Adult Small Group Bible Study the Faith Formation Ministries Team, with Special Thanks to Coauthors Irene Bakker (D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Practice of Christian Unity Adult Small Group Bible Study the Faith Formation Ministries Team, with Special Thanks to Coauthors Irene Bakker (D | 1 A PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN Unity ADULT SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY The Faith Formation Ministries Team, with special thanks to coauthors Irene Bakker (d. 2012) and Syd Hielema, offers churches this five-session, downloadable Bible study based on 1 Corinthians 11. We pray that it will serve to enrich and strengthen your congregation’s participation in the Lord’s Supper and lead to a healthy discussion of the topic of children’s participation in the sacrament. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations in this publication are from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. A Practice of Christian Unity © 2015 Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407. All rights reserved. With the exception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this curriculum may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. For information or questions about use of copyrighted material please contact Permissions, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407; phone: 1-800-333-8300; fax: 616-726-1164; e-mail: [email protected]. We welcome your comments. Call us at 1-800-333-8300, or email us at [email protected]. CONTENTS Introduction 4 This is Church 5 “And When Your Children Ask You…” 7 Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in the CRC 10 Joyfully Obeying Paul’s Instructions Part 1 14 Joyfully Obeying Paul’s Instructions Part 2 17 4 | INTRODUCTION Participating in the Lord’s Supper is one of the highlights in our walk with God. Every time I hold out the bread to a worshiper and say those precious words, “The body of Christ, broken for you,” I’m deeply moved by what I see in the person’s eyes: longing, hope, peace, hunger. What a miracle! Through that little piece of bread comes nourishment that provides healing for the past as well as “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” (“Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” st. 3). The main goal of this Bible study is to strengthen your congregation’s participation in the Lord’s Supper. Part of the blessing of communion is regular, frequent observance, but frequency may also serve to diminish the wondrous mystery of the sacrament. These five lessons reflect on the character of the church, the Old Testament roots of the Lord’s Supper, and the traditional and contemporary practices of Reformed denominations, paying special attention to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. A secondary goal is to enhance the scriptural literacy that participants will need in order to address the topic of children at the Lord’s Supper. Christian Reformed synods have examined the issue of children’s participation in the sacrament many times in the past thirty years, and we have never been able to come to a clear consensus concerning this matter. Other Reformed denominations have also examined and debated the presence of children at the table. The issues are complex and are further complicated by the wonderfully deep emotional freight that the sacrament carries. It is our prayer and hope that these Bible studies will make space for gentle reflection on this important matter. DISCUSSION TIPS If you are working through this study with a preexisting group, dive in! If you are new to each other, begin by taking some time to share the things that have led you to this study. Are there particular convictions or experiences that are especially motivating you to examine issues related to the Lord’s Supper? The lessons do not assume that one person is the official leader of the group, but you may find it helpful to appoint a leader or take turns facilitating. These lessons do not require homework before meeting, but it would be wise to appoint one person to study each lesson in advance to provide guidance during the discussion. These lessons provide suggested time limits for each section, and if you take them too seriously, you will likely find these suggestions frustrating. Your group will know which parts of each lesson need more time, and will adjust accordingly. If a particular lesson evokes a great deal of interest and discussion, feel free to use two sessions to complete it. | 5 1 THIS IS CHURCH CORE POINT The church is called to be (among other things) the family of God where people find welcome and community. FEELING WELCOME (10 MINUTES) Some say the combination of good food, lots of fun, and loving friends makes for a welcoming atmosphere. I’m sure you have fond memories of times like that. Growing up, I experienced many celebrative Chinese banquets seated at round tables with family and friends. Conversation and laughter flowed freely as we enjoyed traditional ten-course meals. n Take time to share a memory or two of a time when you felt welcomed, accepted, and at home. Recall the details: What specifically did people do that created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere? Unfortunately, many of us have also experienced times of inhospitality. Once when I was visiting a church, no one extended their hand to me when it came time to pass the peace. What a contrast to another congregation in which all leave their seats to pass the peace to everyone else. n Describe a situation in which you felt unwelcome and awkward at a worship service. What effect did those feelings have on your time of worship? WHAT IS CHURCH? (5 MINUTES) One of the finger plays that I recall reciting as a little girl goes like this: “This is the church, this is the steeple, open the door and see all the people.” My mother would help me clasp my small hands to create a church building: the index fingers formed the steeple, the thumbs served as the door, and the rest of the fingers were the people. Some of the many biblical images that describe the church include “the people of God” and “the family of God.” Being part of a church community means being there for each other through life’s circumstances. One night I listened intently as a friend shared her fears. Her daughter was about to leave home and start college. Would she make the transition? Would she seek out Christian friends? Just a few years earlier, I had been in the same space. After we talked and prayed together, I thought, “This is church.” 1. Describe an incident or situation in which you thought, “Yes, this is church!” 2. How would you define church? What do you mean when you say, “I’m going to church?” COMMUNITY IN THE EARLY CHURCH (10 MINUTES) Let’s take a step back to the beginning of the church and look at some of its earliest stories recorded in the book of Acts. Before Jesus left this earth to ascend into heaven and sit at the right hand of his heavenly Father, he promised to send his Holy Spirit to empower his disciples to be his witnesses. On the day of Pentecost this promise was fulfilled, and the Holy Spirit filled the disciple Peter with such bold speech that about 3,000 people believed and were added to the church. The believers then formed a community. 6 | Read Acts 2:42-47 aloud. 1. List behaviors of members of the early church. Which words and activities emphasize the unity experienced in those days? 2. Many biblical commentators agree that the phrase “breaking of bread” in verse 42 refers to communion. How does participating in communion complement all the other activities that Luke mentions in this passage? Is there a direct connection? 3. How does the church in Acts 2 compare with the way you defined church in the previous section? 4. What positive behaviors were evident in the church of your childhood or the church you now attend? UNITY IN THE EARLY CHURCH (10 MINUTES) The importance of unity in the early church community is shown in the extreme discipline exercised in the case of Ananias and Sapphira and the revision of the “church order” when the Grecian widows were overlooked. 1. Read Acts 5:1-11. One of the central characteristics of the early church in Acts was caring for the poor and needy. Recognizing this, Ananias and Sapphira pretended to give all that they had earned to the church, thereby turning what was intended to be a selfless pointer to the deep love in the church into a selfish attempt to receive admiration. What does the severity of the discipline they received tell us about the character of the early church? 2. Read Acts 6:1-7. The “church order” was revised when the Grecian widows were overlooked. What does this indicate about the unity of the early church? 3. Recall a time when your church restructured its way of being church together in order to include everyone more fully in the blessings of life in Christ. What was done? What effect did this change have? UNITY AND HOSPITALITY (10 MINUTES) This series of Bible studies focuses on the relationship between unity in the church and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The specific Bible passage that deals most concretely with this issue 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, and subsequent lessons in this series carefully look at the ways in which this teaching addresses divisions in the Corinthian church. To prepare for that discussion, this first lesson has focused on unity and hospitality. We’ll end by reading several New Testament passages. Invite various members of the group to read the following passages: John 17:20-26; Hebrews 13:1-3; Ephesians 4:1-5; Romans 12:9-16; James 2:1-13.
Recommended publications
  • 1 a Survey of the History of the Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:2
    A Survey of the History of the Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 A. Philip Brown II, PhD Aldersgate Forum 2011 This essay examines two aspects of the history of how 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 has been interpreted:1 (1) What did Paul mean when he said men should not be covered and women should be covered when praying or prophesying, and (2) What do Paul’s requirements regarding men’s and women’s hair mean. The aims of this survey are, first, to orient the interpreter to the ways in which this passage has been understood, thereby guarding against an interpretation uninformed by church history. Second, it will demonstrate that the church has historically understood Paul to teach that women should have long hair and men should not. Third, it will provide what I hope is a plausible explanation for how the dominant understanding of this passage developed, that is, that Paul requires women’s heads to be covered with both hair and a material head-covering. The history of interpretation divides naturally into three periods: early and medieval interpretation (AD 120-1500), reformation, post-reformation, and Wesleyan interpretation (AD 1500-1850), and modern interpretation (AD 1850-present). In each period, the identity, setting, and views of the major interpretive figures are discussed, and the distinctive characteristics of that period are summarized. Early and Medieval Interpretation (A.D. 120–1500) The majority of extant commentators from the early and medieval periods identified the covering Paul requires in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 as a material veil of some sort.
    [Show full text]
  • Sunday School Notes June 14, 2020 Apollos, Aquila and Pricilla and Paul Signing Off Read: 1 Corinthians 16:12-24 Aquila and Pr
    Sunday School Notes June 14, 2020 Apollos, Aquila and Pricilla and Paul Signing Off Read: 1 Corinthians 16:12-24 Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly (1 Corinthians 16:19-20) Acts 18:1-11, 18-21; Romans 16:3-5a Apollos (1 Corinthians 16:12) Acts 18:24-19:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, 21-23 A great exhortation (1 Corinthians 16:13) Paul signs off the letter, in his own handwriting. (1 Corinthians 16:21-24) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 4:13-16; 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Acts 22:30-23:5 June 7, 2020 Read: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 Giving, Hospitality, and news about Paul’s friends About giving and hospitality (1 Corinthians 16:1-9) Acts 11:27-29; Romans 12:13 and 15:23-29; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; 9:6-8, 12-15; Galatians 6:10; Philemon 1-2, 20-22; Hebrews 13:1-2; 1 Peter 4:8-9 News about: Timothy (1 Corinthians 16:10-11) Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:3-8; 1 Corinthians 4:15-17; Philippians 2:19-24 The household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15-18) Most scholars assume these three men Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus carried the Corinthian’s letter with questions to Paul and then returned to Corinth with 1 Corinthians from Paul. May 31, 2020 Living in the Natural Life with our Eyes on our Glorious Future Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 → Compare to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1-10; Romans 8:18-27; Galatians 5:16- 26; Ephesians 6:10-18 May 24, 2020 Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 Compare 1 Corinthians 15:18-19 with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
    [Show full text]
  • Paul's Arguments from Creation in 1 Corinthians 11:8–9 and 1 Timothy 2
    JETS 49/3 (September 2006) 527–48 PAUL’S ARGUMENTS FROM CREATION IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:8–9 AND 1 TIMOTHY 2:13–14: AN APPARENT INCONSISTENCY ANSWERED benjamin l. merkle* For many Bible students, pastors, and scholars the main reason for not allowing women to hold the office of pastor (i.e. elder or overseer)1 is primarily based on Paul’s arguments from creation in 1 Tim 2:13–14. It is maintained that Paul’s prohibition cannot be limited due to cultural conditions since Paul does not argue from culture but from creation. He argues from the order of creation (“For it was Adam who was created first, then Eve”) and from the order of accountability in creation (“Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived”). Based on Paul’s reasoning, it is therefore concluded that women cannot “teach or have authority over men” in the context of the local church. But can the above method of interpretation also be applied to 1 Cor 11:8– 9 where Paul employs similar arguments from creation to bolster his position? In the context of 1 Corinthians 11 Paul demonstrates that women need to have their heads covered while praying or prophesying. To prove his point, he argues from creation that the woman was created from man (“For man does not come from the woman, but the woman from man”) and for man (“For man was not created for the woman but the woman for the man”). The question must then be raised if it is inconsistent to reject Paul’s appeal for women to wear head coverings and, at the same time, affirm his command for women not to teach or have authority over men since in both contexts Paul uses virtually the same reasoning.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 11:29 — "Discerning the Body"
    1 CORINTHIANS 11:29 - "DISCERNING THE BODY” AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CLOSE(D) COMMUNION "For anyone who eats of the bread and drinks of the cup without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself" (NIV).[i] I. INTRODUCTION Beginning with Martin Luther, the Lutheran Church has consistently understood 1 Corinthians 11:29 as referring to the Real Presence of the body of Jesus Christ in His supper. Luther makes this abundantly clear in such writing as Against the Heavenly Prophets[ii] and Confession Concerning Christ's Supper.[iii] The "Second Martin", Martin Chemnitz, also made this clear in his writings.[iv] And this understanding of 1 Corinthians 11: 29 is the teaching of The Book of Concord[v]. Such an understanding of 1 Corinthians 11:29 has implications for the teaching of close(d) communion. A communicant who partakes of the Lord's body without "discerning" or "recognizing" its presence with the bread eats judgement to himself. Thus, one of the reasons for close(d) communion is the pastoral concern to prevent such unworthy eating (1 Cor. 11: 27). The !Lutheran Church has consistently associated unworthy eating with "not discerning the body". However, some have understood "not discerning the body" as referring to the Church and not to the Real Presence: "In the centre stand not the elements or substance of bread and wine but the action of the fellowship as the body of Christ in the knowledge that it is dependent upon his blessing and subject to his Lordship. To be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (v.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 - the Hair Question
    1 Corinthians 11:1-16 - The Hair Question Practical Holiness (Standards) – Lesson 3 • Begin by reviewing some holiness principles that we have looked over the last couple of weeks: o Holiness – separate, apart, consecrated unto something or someone. Means to withdraw from something, so you can draw near to something else. o We are not separate in order to make others look unholy. Instead, we are withdrawing from and to, so we can get back to man’s original state, communion with God. o Salvation is a process. We receive JUSTIFICATION (innocent, guiltless, forgiven…………just as if I’d) at the time of our initial salvation. If we allow God to lead us, he then begins to perform the work of SANCTIFICATION (making us holy) which keeps us safe from sin. As long as we continue in sanctification, one day we will receive GLORIFICATION. o Remember, the Bible teaches us that we are not saved BY good works, but we are saved UNTO good works – Ephesians 2:10. Therefore, holiness is not a means of salvation, but it is always a result of salvation. o Most issues of holiness are not salvation issues; they are Christian maturity or sanctification (separation) issues. Meaning they don’t relate to our being saved or lost so much as they relate to how mature we are, how separated unto Christ we are willing to be. They only become salvation issues when our willful disobedience gets involved and we don’t obey God. o It is always dangerous to know God’s commandments and not obey them – James 4:17.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 11:2 - 16 and the Ordination of Women to Pastoral Ministry Teresa Reeve Andrews University, [email protected]
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Faculty Publications New Testament 1-2014 1 Corinthians 11:2 - 16 and the Ordination of Women to Pastoral Ministry Teresa Reeve Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/new-testament-pubs Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Reeve, Teresa, "1 Corinthians 11:2 - 16 and the Ordination of Women to Pastoral Ministry" (2014). Faculty Publications. Paper 63. http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/new-testament-pubs/63 This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the New Testament at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 and the Ordination of Women to Pastoral Ministry 7 Teresa Reeve 8 Andrews University 9 Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary 10 11 The purpose of this paper is to explore what guidance the instruction of Paul to the 12 Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 may give regarding the ordination of women to pastoral 13 ministry. Some lament that we are wasting time and money in our sustained pursuit of the 14 ordination question. However, the issue is one of significant gravity, for we all deeply wish to 15 honor God by doing His will in this matter as revealed in Scripture, and to do it in a way that will 16 bless and unite the church.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 11:2-16: an Interpretation,” W
    William J. Martin, “1 Corinthians 11:2-16: An Interpretation,” W. Ward Gasque & Ralph P. Martin, eds., Apostolic History and the Gospel. Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F.F. Bruce. Exeter: The Paternoster Press, 1970. Hbk. ISBN: 085364098X. pp.231-241. CHAPTER XV 1 Corinthians 11:2-16: An Interpretation William J. Martin [p.231] I Many and various are the interpretations that have been put upon this passage in Paul’s writings, and not all have been complimentary to Paul’s logic or his lucidity. That this passage is difficult no one would deny. The source of the difficulty is two-fold: the infrequency of occurrences in the koine in general of some of the terms used, and our usual inability to reconstruct with any degree of certainty the contemporary background to the actual situation within and without the church. No one familiar with the literary remains of Paul would lightly assume that he would be guilty of either inconsistencies or illogicalities. It would, therefore, be an unaccountable lapse in the light of his extraordinary linguistic gifts and his avowed principles if there occurred here any evident contradiction to statements elsewhere in this letter or even in any other of his writings. The passage (11:2-16) occurs within a framework of a discussion on the significance and observance of the Lord’s Supper and its place as the central theme in the act of worship. The first thing to note about this passage is that it is an “approving” passage (“Now I praise you” etc. v. 2), whereas the next section beginning at verse 17 is a “disapproving” section (“I praise you not” etc.).
    [Show full text]
  • The Biblical Role of Woman with an Exegesis of First Corinthians 11:2-16
    THE BIBLICAL ROLE OF WOMAN WITH AN EXEGESIS OF FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 James A. F en Submitted for the May 1980 ABBREVIATIONS KJV The King James or zed Version LXX The Septuag (a an era -trans- lation the 0 Testament) NASB The New can S B NIV The B Ie: New Internat 1 Vers RSV Revised S Vers iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION 1 The Need r This Study . , 1 The Scope of This S 4 The Problems to be Solved This S 5 The Method of Procedure 'This Study 6 (~~) II. THE OLD TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE ON WOMAN 8 The Creation , . 8 The Fall 23 'l'he Mos Law 37 The Practices of 0 Testament Women 42 Conclus .... 47 III. THE G~yEL PERSPECTIVE CONCERNING WOMAN . 51 The Teachings Jesus 52 The Practices J"esus ... 54 The Training His Apostles . 65 Conclusion 67 I~' IV. THE CULTUPiliL PERSPECTIVE REGARDING WOMAN 69 Greek and Roman Culture of the F t C 70 Jewish Culture the F st 78 Post-Apostol Chris an Cu 87 .. Conclus ........... 92 V. THE EXEGETICAL PERSPECTIVE--l CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 BACKGROUND STUDIES ... ..... 94 The Primacy of · · · 94 The Context of · · · 99 The Prob of . · · · 102 The P lem . · · · III \/ VI. THE EXEGETICAL PERSPEC'rIVE--l CORINTHIANS 11: 2-16 THOUGHT DEVELOPMENT AND SIGNIFICANCE 125 The Proposition: Headsh , Verses 2-3 . 125 The Result: Di Roles, Verses 4-6 . 133 b The Reasons: G es Authorities, Verses 7-10 . · 138 The Caution: Beware Independence, Verses 11~12 · . 153 The Logical s, Verses 13-16 .
    [Show full text]
  • Paul Taught Peter UNIT VERSE but You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You, and You Will Be Something Is Not Right
    UNIT 3. SESSION 5 Paul Taught Peter UNIT VERSE But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be Something is not right . Find a What’s Wrong? friend and share together what is my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea wrong with each of these pictures . and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Circle the part that needs to change . Choose one picture and talk ACTS 1:8 (ESV) together about how you could help that person make a better choice . Knowing Read 2 Timothy 2:15 . Then mark out all the red letters . Write the blue What’s Right letters on the lines below, to summarize the verse . Your answer will tell you what you can do to know how to live in ways that honor God . M H D K S R Q P N D K K K S F R T X B D O O L R S M A D U I E H D I I C D K K S I D E I O D J M E N B O M Y D K K S H O C K C H O D K T R S T N L L H D K L S M E N L A L K J L K E R E S C O I B D L K J S D D I W O I O U C B C O L I A H F L E K L H C O I E A O I H Bible Studies for Life 3rd & 4th Grade 29 © 2019 LifeWay UNIT 3.
    [Show full text]
  • REGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT of WOMAN's STATUS in PAULINE EPISTLES by Ho Lai Han Under the Supervision of Dr. Eric KC Wong .T
    REGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMAN'S STATUS IN PAULINE EPISTLES by Ho Lai Han under the supervision of Dr. Eric K. C. Wong .t . • 4 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Divinity Division of Theology Graduate School The Chinese University of Hong Kong June 1993 Ul w im CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 111 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IV ABBREVIATIONS Chapter INTRODUCTION II. EGALITARIAN PAULINE PASSAGES 6 A. In General (Gal 3:28) 6 1. Equality through Baptism 8 2. Casting off Gnostic Influence 8 a. Traces of Alteration 8 b. The Myth of Androgyne 10 3. Assertion of Sexual Equality 14 4. Social-ecclesial Implication 17 B. In Social-ecclesial Contexts 21 1. In Marriage (1 Cor 7:1-7) 21 a. Sexual Abstinence in Marriage 21 b. Mutual and Equal Rights 24 2. In Worship (1 Cor 11:3-16) 25 a. Insistence on Proper Head Attire 27 i. Jewish Argument 27 a) Meaning of KecpaX ("head") b) Implication of Ke0a ("head") ii. Stoic Arguments 31 iii. Argument of Church Practice 32 b. Meaning of Proper Head Attire 33 i. Proposal of Bound Hair 33 ii. Proposal of Veil 34 iii. Conclusion about Meaning of Proper Head Attire 36 c. Prevalence of Pagan Cults 39 d. Assertion of Sexual Equality 41 i. Repudiating Connotation of Woman's Subordination 41 ii. Correcting Jewish Thought of Woman's Subordination 42 C. Concluding Remarks 44 11 III. MALE CHAUVINIST DEUTERO-PAULINE PASSAGES 45 A. In General (1 Tim 2:11-15) 45 B. In Social-ecclesial Contexts 48 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Roman Portraiture for Head Coverings in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
    Tyndale Bulletin 41.2 (1990) 245-260. THE IMPORTANCE OF ROMAN PORTRAITURE FOR HEAD-COVERINGS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 David W.J. Gill The Corinthian correspondence presents an insight into one of the earliest Christian churches. The issues with which Paul deals have helped to mould our current views on a variety of subjects. Although the epistles speak about topics such as liti- gation, which is a subject familiar to us, one of the barriers to the understanding of these letters and their application for a late twentieth century church is the coming to grips with the original cultural context. Paul's teaching on the use of law courts, for example, needs to be understood against the back- ground of litigation against the social elites of the Roman world.1 If we are to understand the background or cultural con- text of these letters we need to read them against the backdrop of a Roman colony,2 not a Greek city.3 Institutions, legal procedures, social customs, architecture, public images and to some extent language owed more to Rome than to the Greek world. This paper will explore the issue of head-coverings and hair-styles in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 against the background of Roman portraiture and forms a response to C.L. Thompson's recent discussion in the Biblical Archaeologist (1989).4 It is _______________________________ 1 B.W. Winter, 'Civil Litigation in Secular Corinth and the Church: The Forensic Background to 1 Corinthians 6', NTS (forthcoming). 2 E.g. R. Oster, 'When men wore veils to worship: the historical context of 1 Corinthians 11:4', NTS 34 (1988) 481-505: the Corinthians were reflecting customs that were 'totally indigenous to Roman pietistic and devotional ethos' (p.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Revisited A
    Volume 62: Number 3 July 1998 Table of Contents Howard Tepker (1911-1998) .................... 163 What Does This Mean?: A Symposium Introduction William C. Weinrich ............... 165 A Hermeneutics Text for the Advanced Student Walter A. Maier I11 ................ 167 A Valuable Service in Addressing Hermeneutical Issues of the 1990s Gregory J. Lockwood .............. 175 A Strikingly Theological Hermeneutics Dean 0.Wenthe .................. 183 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Revisited A. Andrew Das .........................187 Finding Better Ways to Clergy Competence Than Mandatory Continuing Education David Zersen ........................... 209 The Image of The Wheat Stalk and the Vine Twig in the Adversus Haereses of Irenaeus of Lyons William C. Weinrich ..................... 219 Books Received ............................... 228 Theological Observer ......................... 229 Gold, Silver, and ~rbnze- And Close Communion ....................... Kurt E. Marquart Book Reviews ................................233 Anthology of the Wrih;ngs of J. Michael Reu. Edited by Paul I. Johnston .................. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. Caesarius ofArles: The Making of a Christian Commzmiiyin Lafe Antique Gaul. By William E. Klingshirn. ................................. Paul W. Robinson Characfer in Cisis: A Fresh Approach fo the Wisdom Liferature in fhe Old Tesfamenf.By William P. Brown. ................................. Douglas H. Spittel 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Revisited A. Andrew Das Recent scholarship on 1Corinthians 11:17-34 has emphasized the social
    [Show full text]