As you can see, I have neglected the blog recently, to work on other projects.

This is just a preliminary response.

The first problem with every English translation I know is the transaltion as “authority.” The Greek word for “authority” is exousia. However, in Timothy 2:12, the Greek word is not “exousia,” but “authentein.” This is not the same word, and yet it is translated in English Bibles as if it were the same.

The problem of translation in 1 Timothy 2:12 is that “authentein” was a very rare word in Greek. This is the only occurrence in the Bible. The fancy scholar name for such a word is a “hapax legomenon.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

This means that it is very difficult to know how to translate the word., but what is very clear is that “authentein” does not mean “authority.”

The person who has done most to study the meaning of this word in the ancient world is Catherine Kroeger.

Do a Google search and you will find a slew of articles about her and her work on the meaning of “authentein.”

Here are a couple of other blog posts you can look at.

Authentein as Murder, http://www.christianegalitarians.org/archives/87

The Mistranslation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12

“…nor to have authority over [authentein] a man…”
Exousia is the normal word used for “authority,” a carrying out of one’s official duties. But this is not the word Paul uses here. He instead picks the word authentein and it is the ONLY time this word appears in the New Testament. Exousia, however, appears over 100 times. Other uses of authentein from the same time period show that this word does not simply mean legitimate or routine authority, but carries violent, sexual, and dominating meanings.

http://christianfeminism.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/the-mistranslation-of-1-timothy-211-12/

In other words, this is a HUGE topic, and I cannot begin to do justice to it here.

The important point is that this word is not equivalent to exousia, even though English translations treat it as if it were.

Kalinda Rose Stevenson

I can relate to what you write about the attack on homosexuals. A long time ago, I decided that if I was going to “wrong” about homosexuality, I would rather be wrong on the side of tolerance, inclusion, and love, rather than on the side of intolerance, exclusion, and hatred. I think that there is a more compelling biblical case for that approach than the ones used to attack people for their sexuality.

I suggest that the solution to your own “crisis of faith” about the authority of the bible begins with restating your question.

“What I also don’t understand is, how can a book that was not yet assembled at the time each individual book was written claim in itself to be THE authoritive book?”

The Bible doesn’t make this claim about itself. Some Christian traditions make this claim about authority. And when you look at various traditions, you realize that different traditions make different claims about the authority of the Bible.

You might give some focused attention on a different set of questions.

What is the ultimate source of authority?

If you are having a crisis of faith, what is the object of your faith? The Bible? God? Jesus? The tradition of a particular theological tradition?

My counsel to you is to recognize that claims about the Bible as Word of God as the ultimate source of authority is a faith claim of some Christian traditions, but not all.

The important point is that a faith claim is exactly that. A faith claim. No one can “prove” faith claims except by citing tradition or personal experience. Neither one is “proof” of anything.

I do encourage you on your search in finding a church where you feel more at home.

All the best,
Kalinda Rose Stevenson

You might give some focused attention on better questions.

What is the ultimate source of authority? Is it faith in a book? A t, faith in a book really the hihgest lIs And

you have mentioned in several posts that you will further dive into the Timothy 2:12 mistranslations. I am extremely eager to hear your thoughts. I know you are busy, but would you please notify me when you have posted this information- or perhaps even point me to some other resources to pacify me in the meantime?

Sincerly

Taylor

I am currently eye deep in gathering research for a relatively short (8 to 10 pages) research paper on women’s role in ministry, specifically a leadership role. I attend Lancaster Bible College’s Degree Completion program and the 5 week course is called Research & Writing.

I have been fascinated by the volumes of information and endless streams of opinion on this volatile subject. What started out to be simply an interesting subject for a good grade has turned into a mission to find the truth.

I happily stumbled onto your blog through a James Dobson quote while “Googling”. I very much enjoyed reading about your personal struggles with women and biblical authority. I also find your perspective on the Sarah Palin phenomenon among Evangelicals unique. Of course, I’m now another inch deep in trying to figure out which direction my paper should go. In the midst of my research phase I thought I would let you know that your writings on this subject were interesting to me, and who knows, may end up as a topic in my paper.

I wish you God’s very best and truly hope your journey of seeking lands you at the foot of the cross.

Ron

I don’t know the answer to this. However, the point seems to be that churches that want to maintain tax exempt status need to be careful about promoting political candidates. You can refer to IRS “Tax Guide For Churches And Religious Organizations” to see if they mention foreign candidates.

All the best,
Kalinda

Thanks for your comment.

I apologize for the delay in responding. I have been immersed in a business project, and completely focused on that.

I can’t give you exact numbers but many American Christians do think this way.

I can tell you that the 16 “Left Behind” novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have sold 65 million copies. They are based Christian dispensationalist End Times theology.

Here are a couple of articles about the Left Behind series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_(series)

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/feature/2002/07/29/left_behind/index.html

I agree with you that it is all scary, and even scarier to think that American national and international policy could be influenced by such ideas. There is evidence that at least some policy decisions by some political leaders already have been based on these ideas.

My real concern is that very little of this was made public during the election campaign, partly because few members of the media know enough about dispensationalism to write substantive articles. The other reason is that Sarah Palin is a smart enough politician to know that her beliefs are not mainstream, and so she has been careful to position herself as simply a devout Christian woman, without being specific about her dispensationalist, End Time beliefs.

Did you read my earlier blog post, “John McCain Jilts The Evangelicals and Chooses Sarah Palin From The Assemblies of God”

http://kalindarosestevenson.com/main/john-mccain-evangelicals-sarah-palin-assemblies-of-god_197

As part of this article, I refer to how Assemblies of God churches have renamed themselves, and how Sarah Palin claims to attend a non-denominational church, which is in fact an Assemblies of God church.

All the best,
Kalinda Rose Stevenson