Apostle Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. This fact makes many people, including elders and ministers, believe that Paul was a very special apostle even though our Lord Christ Jesus did not teach Paul personally as he did the 12 Apostles he chose. Our Lord Christ Jesus taught each of the 12 apostles himself and introduced them to his and our Lord God's ways. Our Lord Christ Jesus was with his 12 apostles most of the time, night and day until they were ready to begin teaching the Good News and performing miracles on their own. However, Paul never had the personal training and teaching the original 12 apostles had, so he had trouble maintaining his discipline and often fell back into his Jewish religion. We can see this in some of his writing.
I do not want to take away from all the incredible work that Paul did for our Lord Christ Jesus. He brought many thousands of Gentiles into the Christian faith and worked tirelessly and was often beaten severely for his faith and desire to continue to spread the Good News. Most of us would have given up and stopped teaching about the Good News, but not Paul. Paul actually describes the many hardships he endured during his ministry. Paul was beaten three times with an iron rod, five times he was lashed 39 times across his bare back, and untold numbers of times he was whipped. He endured sleepless nights, enraged mobs, went without anything to eat, and was shipped wrecked three times. Can you imagine how much it must have hurt to be beaten with an iron rod? I would not be surprised to find that Paul had suffered broken bones during a beating with an iron rod. Few would have the faith to take a harsh beating like Paul and get up the next day and continue to preach the Good News. I am sure our Lord God forgave Paul for the few errors he did make during his ministry. Our Lord Christ Jesus; however, was the perfect teacher of the Good News. I am certain the 12 apostles also made some errors; however, they had our Lord Christ Jesus to correct them and set them straight where they went wrong. So, Paul was a great Christian and I will not take that away from him. I have always enjoyed readings what the Apostle Paul has written, for the most part, and found him to be a very intelligent man. Still, Paul was a former Pharisee and was a Pharisee since he was a small boy. It was very difficult for Paul to set his former life aside as a Pharisee, and sometimes he failed to do so. For example, in 1st Timothy 2:11-15, Paul wrote the following.
"Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty" (NLT).
In the above quote, Paul was writing a letter to Timothy. It is clear from Paul's writing that he believes women are subordinate to men because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. However, what Paul has written to Timothy is clearly wrong. It is also clearly wrong the Church has not pointed out this false statement by Paul and made it clear to all of its members that Paul was in error in regards to how women would be saved. Unfortunately, in over 2,000 years of history, this has still not happened.
John 3:16 tells us how we are saved. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (NRSV).
If we believe and have faith in our Lord Christ Jesus' teachings, follow his ways, and love one another as we love ourselves, we will have eternal life. All women are saved in this say way. However, Paul makes it appear women will only be saved through childbirth and living an almost saintly life.
Paul and those who practice the Jewish religion felt women must be subjugated to men because of what transpired in the Garden of Eden. Paul makes this clear in 1st Timothy 2:11-15. Unfortunately, this same belief of what transpired in the Garden of Eden was passed on to the Christian faith as well. Even today, we treat women in the Christian faith as if they are not to be trusted with the Good News, and often many women are still not allowed to take part in Church services, such as in the Church of Christ. Some Christian Churches forbid women to be pastors, priests, or ministers. Although, some Christian Churches are beginning to allow this to happen. Still, the way women are treated in many Christian Churches is due to what transpired in the Garden of Eden. And, there is some doubt the Garden of Eden existed at all. I have written an article based on my theory the story of the Garden of Eden was actually a parable. In my article, I describe how the language and symbolism used to describe the Garden of Eden sound more like a parable than an actual event. If you would like to explore that possibility, then I invite you to read my article titled, "Is The Story of Adam and Eve a Parable?" I will provide a link below to those who may be interested. It sheds new light on our beginnings on Earth.
https://www.booksbywaynehill.com/post/is-the-story-of-adam-and-eve-a-parable?
I do hope you enjoyed reading what I had to say in defense of women and their present role in many Christian Churches. They are not made to feel very loved or respected because of what Paul has written in the holy Scriptures of the New Testament. I can assure all women that our Lord God and our Lord Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit love them as must as they love men. And, women will be saved in the same way men will be saved.
Inspired by The Holy Spirit.
Typed by Wayne Hill
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