This paper aims at noting Corinthians 1 7:1-7; 11:2-16; 14:33-36, studying the social situation of the foreign country churches Paul has set and identifying its theological message and understanding of women who are the main members of Paul's church. ...
This paper aims at noting Corinthians 1 7:1-7; 11:2-16; 14:33-36, studying the social situation of the foreign country churches Paul has set and identifying its theological message and understanding of women who are the main members of Paul's church. Furthermore, it is to suggest right understanding and importance of women in the 21st century Korean churches. The understanding of women by Paul reflected on the text is not easy to be identified only by the text. We study through the literary criticism about the position and employment which women had in the church as the company who accompanied the mission of Paul.
I am saying that Paul neither despised nor discriminated women, and it is wrong to admit the masculine power and obedience of women as a natural theory based on the wrong viewpoint of biblical interpretation.
In chapter I, I have stated the study purpose, importance, scope, methods in study history, and in the history, what we must notice in the text related to the women of the letter of Paul, is that the texts related to women are related to the writings of Paul.
In chapter II, it is dealing with the social status and reality of women in Paul period. It looked into the status and position of women in Greek-Roman society, understanding of women by Jesus in Judaism in a detailed manner. The status of women was not improved in the patriarch structure in Hellas-Roman and Jewish society and was very restricted. But as we see the text of women who followed Jesus, Jesus permits disciplinary position to the women, and changes the customs at that time intentionally.
In chapter III, it is stating the types of status and roles of women shown in the letters of Paul. We have looked into the social situation, ambience and writing purpose of Corinthian region in the introduction. The situation of Corinthian church consists of various races and various status of people such as Hellas-Jewish, Oriental-Roman, slave-liberalist. The women in the letter of Paul were the helpers and companies of Paul's missionary.
In chapter IV, it deals with the theological presupposition of Paul when noting the text related to women. In Corinthians 1 chapter 7, Paul supports marriage from equal viewpoint of men and women, and is viewing the same ethical position between the married couples. In Corinthians 1 11:2-16, he deals with the dressing and problem of costumes, especially the problem for the women to wear lady's veil when worshiping God. Paul is demanding women to be quiet inside the church in Corinthians 1 14:33-36.
In chapter V, it is dealing with the understanding women and messages of Paul. Paul declared there is no discrimination in Jewish-Hellas, slaves-liberals, men-women in Christ, so he annulled the national, social and sexual discrimination that has divided every man in the ancient world. He says that all men are equal in God. Paul differentiated the women of foreign religion and endowed new authority to the women at the church community. It deals that women are the company and supporter in the mission of Paul's church. It is showing that the women employees went together in the pastoral duties and mission of Paul.