In Women in the Biblical World: New Testament, Dr. Mark Chavalas provides a historical survey of the status of women in the Graeco-Roman world, from the advent of alphabetic texts in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean regions during the late eighth century BC, to the first century AD. He looks at Greek and Roman documents as well as classical-period documents from Egypt and other regions of the Near East. Dr. Chavalas presents a rich historical context for understanding how women were treated in the New Testament, and closes the course by evaluating many of the New Testament passages concerning women.
“If we look at this in the context of chapter 14, not being permitted to speak must be talking about what he said earlier in the chapter. He’s already said that they’re praying and prophesying, so evidently, they may be speaking out of turn.” (source)
“But for the Romans, virtus was clearly something that males had. It’s the word for ‘manliness.’ In fact, in English the word ‘virility’ and the word ‘virtuous’ are from the same root, which doesn’t necessarily seem that it would fit.” (source)
“The same holds good of animals in relation to men; for tame animals have a better nature than the wild, and all tame animals are better off when they’re ruled by man’—meaning the human—‘for they are better preserved. Again, the male is by nature superior, and the female inferior.’ Perhaps, I shouldn’t go any further after I say that. ‘The one rules, and the other is ruled; this principle, of necessity, extends to all mankind.’” (source)
“And, of course, he’s clearly in affirmation of these things. ‘It is also written, regarding the right to kill: ‘If you catch your wife in adultery, you can kill her with impunity;she, however, cannot dare to lay a finger on you if you commit adultery, nor is it the law.’ ’” (source)
“he says. But in verse 27, she says ‘After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and” (source)