When studying the Christian Canon, I think it’s important to understand why things might’ve been written. Understanding the cultural and historic undertones surrounding a piece of writing can go a long way.

Oh, I think we can get nuggets of wisdom out of just about any scripture. Studying mythos is beautiful in itself. But the words make a lot more sense if we understand the motives behind them.

Take Galatians 3:28 for example. There it is written, “there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” These encouraging words speak of complete equality between the sexes.

But then one can look at 1 Timothy 2:11 and read, “Let a woman learn in silence with full submission.”

Hmm…why the change?

Many scholars believe that Galatians was written by Paul early in his ministry, possibly between A.D. 48-55. It was one of the New Testament’s earliest writings, even predating the gospels.

During this time Christians gathered inside of homes, and women were noted as leaders. A few would be Phoebe (a deacon), Priscilla (a church planter and teacher), Junia (a woman who was outstanding among the apostles), and Lydia (a house church host). It makes sense that during this time all were considered one in Christ.

There is much debate about when 1 Timothy is written, however. Some believe it was written by Paul in the 60’s. However, many scholars think that it was possibly written post-Paul as late as the second century since it detailed church offices as well as touched on specific theological issues which occurred during a later church environment.

Early Christianity underwent radical changes as it developed into the religion of the Roman state. In Greco-Roman culture, the public sphere was viewed as the domain of men, where the domain of women was within the home.

Could the suppression of women’s roles in the church because Christianity began to move from the private to the public realm?

While I’m sure there were many other factors involved, I think this is one likely explanation.

With all of my heart I know that spiritually, women are not on a different “level” than men. The systematic removal of women’s voices from western spirituality has done much harm throughout the years.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Including the feminine form into spirituality will help it to become balanced.

Less judgment, more love.

Less dominance, more acceptance.

While men and women are different, we are One in God. We are complimentary. Women are needed to soften the sharp edges that institutional religion has created around itself.