Theology in the Raw

Women and Slavery in the New Testament and Early Church: Dr. Lynn Cohick

14 snips
Aug 8, 2024
Dr. Lynn Cohick, a distinguished New Testament professor at Houston Christian University, dives into her research on the role of freed women in the early Christian community. She explores the historical context of household codes and the dynamics of master-slave relationships. Lynn highlights influential female figures like Phoebe and their impact on church leadership. The conversation also challenges traditional gender norms and emphasizes women's significant contributions, advocating for a reevaluation of their influence in early Christianity.
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INSIGHT

Freedwomen and Marriage

  • Freedwomen often married their former owners, creating a complex patron-client relationship.
  • This dynamic influenced Paul's call for husbands to love their wives as their own bodies.
INSIGHT

Violence in Greco-Roman Culture

  • Greco-Roman culture was inherently violent, extending to treatment of slaves, children, and even free individuals.
  • Power imbalances, like in the Stanford Prison Experiment, often lead to abuse, highlighting the systemic nature of violence.
INSIGHT

Women's Roles in the Early Church

  • Early church roles for women included widows/virgins who prayed and potentially participated in church operations.
  • Female deacons played vital roles, especially in baptisms due to their gender, and may have even served communion based on artistic evidence.
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