Bible Study: The Puzzle of Paul
Do you find the Apostle Paul’s contradictions puzzling? How can Paul say in one place that women must keep silent and have no authority within the church (1 Timothy 2), but in another place, praise the leadership of a woman "deacon" and an "apostle" (Romans 16)? Or what about the places where Paul seems perfectly comfortable with the practice of slavery (Colossians 3, Ephesians 6, Titus 2), but in his letter to Philemon he all but twists Philemon's arm to persuade the Christian slave owner to free his runaway Christian slave, Onesimus? Or have you found it strange that there is no mention in Acts of the thirteen letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament— How could someone write the story of Paul's life without referring to any of his letters or citing at least some of their content?
This is a vexing puzzle, but there is a way to make sense of what seem to be contradictions. Join professor Bob Fowler and other facilitators Wednesday nights this Easter season, to put the puzzle together. The class will run April 12-May 10 from 7-8 p.m., Wednesday nights after Evensong in conference room A/B.
Session One — Intro to Puzzle of Paul
Session Two — Four Pauls and Household Codes
Session Three — Paul vs Paul on Gender
Session Four — Paul versus Paul on Slavery
Session Five — Paul vs Paul on Fate of Israel
Tags: Bible Study