[Greek] αὐθεντέω (authenteō), [Latin] dominari, [French] regner: to govern, to exercise authority over, to dominate, to usurp authority, to teach, to murder, to act on one’s authority, to claim to be the author; 1Tim.2:12
Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) in Ephesus. The pagan cultural values clash with the patriarchal society values
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term, taking on a negative sense, means to control, to dominate, and to usurp one’s authority. The object of this authority is a person.
Ephesus:
- Like many cities, patriarchal attitudes, paganism, and Gnostic beliefs permeated the culture.
- The Temple of Artemis was located in Ephesus. The goddess Artemis was the patroness of fertility, midwives, and women in labor.
- Artemis was referred to as “Mother of All.” This had possibly contributed to for some to have skewed and heretical beliefs about Eve.
- These pagan beliefs shaped these women’s beliefs and attitudes. Some women were heavily influenced by the temple practices (temple slaves, prostitutes, and priestesses)
- Paul responding to the rebellious attitudes of some women. Such examples may include immodesty, displaying control over others, women’s liberation, lack of self-control, elaborate hairstyles, expensive clothing, and atypical behavior of women in general.
- A prostitutes seduction over a customer (man) can be considered a form of control or domination.
- Paul may have been responding to specific couple (man and woman)
- It is instructive to look at scriptures before and after 1Tim.2:12 to provide a clearer context.
New Testament: This term means to authority over someone.
Scripture:
1Tim.2:9: “Women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles, gold ornaments, or expensive clothing.” (Paul may be referring to temple prostitutes and liberated single women, who flouted traditional cultural values.)
1Tim.2:10: “But rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.” (Paul may be referring to the ideal faithful wife who took a secondary role of prominence in marriage relationship. It has to be acknowledge that this role the wife assumed in a patriarchal society.)
1Tim.2:11: “A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control.” (The husband was the head of the family in family issues. The women received instruction separately in women -lead groups.)
1Tim.2:12: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet.” (It must be acknowledged women held a subservient role in their duties and station in life. Societal norms suggested that women were to be fruitful in bearing. Refusal to bear children would be seen as exercising authority over the husband. Prostitutes could exercise seduction (authority) over customers)
1Tim.2:13-14: (Paul had to remind others that Eve followed Adam and eventually transgressed. Paul responding with progressive women who elevated Eve’ status and power. In reality, both Adam and Eve transgressed.)
1Tim2:15: “But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” (Paul was praising the the tradition role of the wife. Paul also indirectly criticizes liberated women and prostitutes.)
Conclusion:
Authentic, authenticate, dominate, domination, reign
I was very surprised by the very negative and violent sense of this Greek term throughout history. Those who engaged in this controlling behavior were called authentes. Clement of Alexandria wrote a scathing refutation against these authentes who turned love feasts into orgies and who taught women to give “to give to every man that asketh of thee.” In recent times, the Greek term authenteo has taken on a more positive sense in meaning. Now an authority is someone (or something) who is considered an expert in their field.
It can often very useful to examine scripture from the modern day perspective. However, there are some times we need “to peal away all the many layers of the onion” to get a complete and authentic picture of Early Christianity.
Update: Paul provides us with a timely reminder for all us [men and women] to adorn ourselves with proper conduct and modesty at liturgical celebrations. Yet, there will continue those decide to act or dress inappropriately, out of ignorance or perhaps defiance.
In this post-Christian secular world, there are many progressive or womens’ right people seek to change or flout the traditional role of women in the Church. These people continue to insist that women deacons remained as a ministry. They are seeking to revive the notion of women deacons. choosing to selectively interprets Church history concerning women in ministry.
Feeling that women’s rights and power have been hindered, they seek to find greater authority in Church affairs. These advocates unfortunately see this as a rights issue rather than vocations issue. Vocations have been historically defined by mens’ and womens’ role in the Church. There is no historical scriptural support for women deacons.
There continues to be a modern day bias toward the traditional role of the wife in a marriage. The tradition remains essentially a countercultural role in today’s modern way. The financial realities for two incomes often make the idea of a stay at home mom practically impossible.
The husband-wife relationship is liked to the relationship of Jesus to the Church. The husband and wife each have a sub-mission to serve their spouse. The husband is the head of the house as Jesus is head of the Church. The wife also a sub-mission to allow her husband to serve, to protect, and to support her wife and family.
Unfortunately, modern day feminism has helped to undermine the traditional role of the wife in the marriage relationship. The wife is often encouraged by societal pressure or necessity to work. The traditional role of the wife in remaining at home has become countercultural or stigmatized.
On social media, many people have become offended and triggered by ‘Trad wives’ who support and illustrate their lifestyle remaining at home.
Traditional families who seek to have large families are often criticized by social media and progressives for being irresponsible for this lifestyle. Many of these activists are upset as to how could these families could do this in light of environmental concerns and issues of today.
Many progressive and liberal women believe it is their right to have more power and decision-making authority in the Church. This includes being allowed to become deaconesses and women priests. They believe that they have been disenfranchised by the patriarchal Church structure. This must change.
Unfortunately, not much changed in that we now have a highly sexual and permissive lifestyle with prostitution and hook up culture. Paul also reminds many women to get back to basics in having traditional families.