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I was just at a meeting where the (male) speaker seemed to be saying that, according to the Bible, courage is a distinctively masculine characteristic and fearfulness a distinctively feminine one. The cited verses (1 Cor 16:13; Isa 19:16) don't seem to me to teach that. I can't get out of my head the story of Baptist missionary Lottie Moon interposing herself between an angry mob and a man they were beating to death, announcing that the mob would have to kill her first.

Perhaps it would be wiser for men not to make claims about courage until after they have given birth to a baby.

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In 1 Cor 16:13, the verb used is ἀνδρίζεσθε (andrizesthe), “to act like a man, be brave.” This is the same word used elsewhere in the Old Testament, often translated as e.g. “be strong and courageous” (Deut 31:6-7, 23; Josh 1:6-7, 9, 18; 10:25; 2 Sam 10:12; 13:28; 1 Chr 19:13; 22:13; 28:20; 2 Chr 32:7; Pss 26:14; 30:25; Mic 4:10; Jer 2:25; 18:12; Dan 10:19; 11:1). You could also look at e.g. Job 38:3; 40:7, “Brace yourself like a man” (lit. “Dress your waist like a man”). Different words, similar concept. In Isa 19:16 (LXX) it is ὡς γυναῖκες ἐν φόβῳ (hōs gunaikes en phobō), “like women, in fear …”

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Nothing like pulling a passage out of context, is there? A verse without a context is a pretext for whatever one wants it to mean. (Ben Witherington III). Now, how much research have you done into the allowed roles for women in the first-century Greco-Roman world? Women weren't allowed to fight in the military. Women weren't chosen as bodyguards. They didn't wrestle as part of the Isthmian Games, Olympics, or other sporting events. Apparently, they could participate in some sporting events, and I'd suppose it might take courage to run in a race in public showing a breast. They were not given any official roles that would require bravery, apart from women who traveled, e.g., Phoebe in Rom 16:1-2. They did have to try to be brave when their husbands abused them or clearly cheated on the wives. Therefore, why would a wife/woman need an exhortation to be brave. Your texts, out of context, then, prove nothing. In Paul's day, there was no Xena, Warrior Princess. 1 Samuel 4:9 was spoken to Philistine warriors. Was Psalm 27 only for men? That ‎ חֲזַק (Ps. 27:14 WTT) is a Piel masculine verb ‎in the singular in 27:14 does not prove that the statement is only for males. Hebrew does not have a verb form that is inclusive of both genders. In Matt 9:22, Jesus tells a woman to "take courage" (NASB). In Matt 14:30, the text tells us that Peter was frightened. Unless 2 Cor 5:8 is restricted to Paul and his companions, we should all, male and female, follow Paul's example of taking courage. I can work in Hebrew and Greek, but since many readers probably can't, I went to the NASB. It only lists two instances of "brave" and none for "bravery." In your example from 1 Cor 16:13 doesn't prove Paul's instruction is only to males. Like Hebrew, there is no verb form that encompasses both genders. Furthermore, in Paul's world, if someone addressed a group that had 1 man and 100 women, the verb form would still be masculine. That's no different than today when I hear someone address a mixed gender group as, "guys." Sorry, but you have totally failed to convince me. I looked at the context of the verses I cited. You can check them out.

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In the arguments you’re making, ad hominems abound; I cannot help but wonder if you need a hug right now.

The Greco-Roman context you were wanting to convey lacked a single source to back it (to my horrified dismay). In any case I’m pleased to see in fact you made my case for me, that women throughout history aren’t usually tied to bravery.

But then you say that I believe that Paul speaks to men only. But this, you’ll note, I never said. You missed the point entirely.

This shows, I think, myopic rage; the point was etymological. The word has masculinity baked into the encouragement. We need not quarrel over context; women can be brave. My point is that the word itself shows bravery’s tied to manliness.

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This was very well done. I you’re right that Ken’s post was unnecessarily mean-spirited and patronizing, and he seems to have missed the point. The connection between masculinity and bravery doesn’t seem that controversial, especially if Paul is writing in Ancient Greece (and I say that as a woman!).

As a side note, the smoothness of your prose is simply uncanny; I was mesmerized. The meter in your last post could literally make it a poem! :-)

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Haha, thanks!! I have been writing poetry lately, so maybe it rubbed off. :)

Love,

Samantha

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If we assume that “be courageous” is the best translation of andrizesthe in 1 Cor 16:13, there is still no trace of Paul teaching that courage is a distinctively masculine characteristic. He is not there offering teaching on differences between men and women. 1 Cor 16:13 is addressed to both men and women without distinction.

In context, it appears that his concern is maturity: he wants the Corinthians to come to maturity and act maturely (compare 14:20), in contrast to the immaturity he has mentioned earlier in the letter (3:1). In 13:11, Paul says that when he became an aner (man) he put away childish ways. This means he became a mature adult, having previously been a child: obviously it does not mean that he became a man, having previously been a woman. Aner can be used of both men and women (for some examples, see Acts 1:13-16; 17:34; James 1:5-8). LSJ confirms that andrizō, used in the middle or passive voice (as in 1 Cor 16:13) can mean “come to manhood”. So, in this context, it seems to make better sense to understand it as a reference to maturity.

In the New Testament, those who risk their lives for the gospel are both men and women, and Priscilla risks her neck to save Paul’s life (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; Rom 16:3-7). Mary is courageous in Luke 1:36-38. Likewise, the Old Testament shows women acting with great courage. Examples include Moses’ sister in Exod 2:3-7; Rahab in Josh 2; Jael in Judg 4:18-22; the unnamed woman of Judg 9:50-55; Abigail in 1 Sam 25; and Esther in Esth 4:10-5:2. (‘Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts’, 89, 330).

Isaiah 19:16 prophesies, in vivid language, a particular time when ‘Egypt will be like women’. Notice:

(1) NIV interprets this figure of speech as meaning ‘the Egyptians will become weaklings’. This appears to be a reasonable interpretation, deriving from the observable physical truth that women generally have less muscle strength than men (which is expressly recognized in 1 Pet 3:7).

(2) Some translations (including LXX) elide the first thought of v16 with the second thought, which refers to fear. But in Hebrew the two thoughts are separated by “and”, so it cannot be confidently established that in Isaiah’s mind he was directly associating women with fearfulness.

(3) However, let’s assume that Isaiah was making that association, as might appear from LXX. What follows? It would be the utilisation of a cultural stereotype as a figure of speech for the purpose of conveying something about the Egyptians, not for the purpose of conveying something about women.

When we read the parable in which Jesus uses the figure of an unjust Judge (Luke 18), we recognise the point of the parable, which is about perseverance in prayer. We don’t take this as teaching that Judges are generally unjust or as teaching that God is unjust. Likewise, we should recognise the point of what Paul and Isaiah are saying, which is not a point about whether in fact women generally lack courage.

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Indeed, if men had to give birth, the human population would have perished long ago.

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Read anything from A Mighty Girl. So many remarkable stories about women we all should know. https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/

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Josephine Butler considered the mother of feminism. Married to English clergyman her contribution to the moral fibre of Britain and Europe, according to Prof Sarah Williams was as significant as that of William Wiberforce

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Annie Dillard taught me to see the things I look at; Flannery O’Connor has helped me know and laugh at my hypocrisy and shallow judgments; I’d sit and listen to Simon Weil for days. I also adore and probably mimic the writing of Anne Lamott. Teresa of Ávila and Julian of Norwich were probably on a another plane entirely. Anna the prophetess gave me my retirement plan.

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