Man & Woman in Biblical Perspective

290 Pages·1981·6.372 MB·English

by  James B. Hurley

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MAN~ ·
WOMAN .
IN BIBLICAL
PERSPECTIVE ·
James B Hurley
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Man and woman in biblical perspective

MAN AND WOMAN
IN BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
A study in role relationships and authority
James B. Hurley
Inter-Varsity Press
Inter-Varsity press
38 De Montfort Street, Leicester LEl 7GP, England
©James B. Hurley 1981
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form· or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without prior permission of Inter-Varsity Press.
Quotations from the Bible are from the New International Version,©
1978 by the New York International Bible Society, published in Great
Britain by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
First edition 1981
Reprinted 1985
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Hurley, James B.
Man and woman in Biblical perspective
1. Sex role-Biblical teaching
I. Title
220.8'30141 BS 640.S5/
ISBN 0-85111-570-5
Set in 10/12 Palatino
Phototypeset by Input Typesetting Ltd, London SW19 8DR
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Billing & Sons Ltd,
Guildford, London and Worcester
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Inter-Varsity Press is the publishing division of the Universities and Colleges
Christian Fellowship (formerly Inter-Varsity Fellowship), a student movement
linking Christian unions in universities and colleges throughout the United
Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and a member movement of the
International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about 'the
local and national activities write to UCCF, 38 De Montfort Street, Leicester
LE17GP. .
to
Phyllis
my best friend
my love
my wife
who has walked with me
step-for-step, shoulder-to-shoulder
for thirteen years
to Jamie
who thoughtfully serves God
to Andrew
who loves to hear God's Word
and
to our third child
whom I can feel
but have not yet
seen
Soli Deo gloria

Contents
Preface 13
Introduction 16
1. WOMEN IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES 20
A. Nuclear family versus tribe 21
B. Babylonian culture: c. 1775 Be 22
1. Marriage and divorce 22
2. Women in social life 24
3. Women in religious life: priestesses 25
C. Assyrian culture: 1450-1250 Be 26
1. Marriage and divorce 26
2. Women in social and religious life 28
2. WOMEN IN ISRAELITE CULTURE 31
A. Mankind 31
1. Humanity and its task in Genesis 1 and 2 31
2. The calling of Israel 32
B. Family structures and marriage laws 33
1. Her father's house 33
2. Arranged marriage 34
3. Failure of male headship 35
4. Concern for the oppressed 36
5. Inheritance 37
6. Divorce and sexual offence 38
C. Women in social life 42
1. The centrality of marriage 42
2. The importance of having children 42
3. Other activities of women 43
4. Women as subordinate authorities 44
5. Veiling customs 45
6. Women as judges and prophetesses 47
D. Women in religious life 51
1. Private worship 51
2. Public worship 51
3. Priestly service 52
E. Conclusions 53
3. WOMEN IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES 58
A. Judaism 58
1. Basic attitudes toward women 59
a. Jesus ben Sirach 59
b. Philo and Josephus 61
c. The Talmud 62
2. Marriage and sexuality 63
a. Isolation of women 63
i. Seclusion 63
ii. Not spoken to 64
b. Veiling practices 66
c. Marital relationships 68
3. Women in public life 69
4. Women in religious life 70
a. Individual worship 70
b. Public worship 71
c. Teaching and learning 71
5. Conclusions 73
B. The Graeco-Roman world 74
1. Ancient Greece 75
2. Ancient Rome 75
3. New Testament times 76
C. Conclusions 77
4. WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY AND TEACHING OF JESUS 79
A. The kingdom has come . . . and will come 79
B. Women in the personal ministry of Jesus 82
1. Women as people 82
a. 'Whosoever' does the will of my Father 82
b. A woman with whom Jesus wanted to talk 84
c. A clever, persistent woman 85
d. Two women who act upon their trust 86
e. A daughter of Abraham 87