2008 Woodie Awards
RSSThe Letter of Paul to the Ephesians is not as "oppressive" or one-sided as Peter Bond's letter "Achieving love through oppression" (March 28, 2008) implied.
There is indeed a passage (5:22) referencing wives should be "subject" to their husbands, but it must be read in the context of the whole letter. The section is followed by a lengthy command to husbands to love their wives to the point of sacrificing their own lives for their wives' well-being, just as Jesus died for mankind.
Paul concludes the chapter with the summary: "[A husband] should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband." (5:33) The two commands are very complementary and equalizing.
The next chapter has Paul telling children to obey their parents, but also telling parents not to antagonize their children in return. Masters are to "stop threatening" their slaves because they are equal before God. Far from being a scripture of subjugation, this particular letter from the Bible just wants us to be nice to each other as the key to peace.
Letters: Bible passage was taken out of context
By Chanda Choun, '11
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Opinion
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Richard Earl
posted 4/01/08 @ 8:56 AM EST
I read the complete text of Rev Green's message and I think Peter Bond gave Rev. Green a bad rap. The straw man of Christian male puritannical oppression is set up again and again for the purpose of placing Christianity in a bad light. (Continued…)
Benjamin Wright
Benjamin Wright, Professor, Religion Studies
posted 4/01/08 @ 11:06 AM EST
Both the letter by Peter Bond (March 28, 2008) and the letter by Chanda Choun published in this issue of the Brown and White amply demonstrate the desperate need for informed study of the biblical texts and the social-cultural-religious worlds from which they came. (Continued…)
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