Buried and ResurrectedBuried and Resurrected

Ben SirachBen Sirach

• A Jewish scholar, a scribe of the LawA Jewish scholar, a scribe of the Law• Circa 180-175 BCECirca 180-175 BCE• Author of Author of EcclesiasticusEcclesiasticus, aka, aka– Wisdom of Jesus son of SirachWisdom of Jesus son of Sirach– Wisdom of Ben SiraWisdom of Ben Sira

• Included in the Included in the Septuagint Septuagint and the and the VulgateVulgate– Thus afforded a degree of authorityThus afforded a degree of authority

““Wisdom” Regarding Wisdom” Regarding WomenWomen

• Ben SirachBen Sirach– If you don’t like your wife, don’t trust herIf you don’t like your wife, don’t trust her– Be careful to keep records of the supplies Be careful to keep records of the supplies

you issue to heryou issue to her– Deed no property to her during your Deed no property to her during your

lifetime and do not let her support youlifetime and do not let her support you– Women are responsible for sin coming Women are responsible for sin coming

into the world and their spite is into the world and their spite is unbearableunbearable

Intertestamental ViewIntertestamental View

• One high pointOne high point– Book of JudithBook of Judith• Courageous, daring, and brave woman that Courageous, daring, and brave woman that

saves her city and peoplesaves her city and people

• Otherwise, quite negativeOtherwise, quite negative

It Gets WorseIt Gets Worse

• Ben SirachBen Sirach– A daughter is a total loss and a constant A daughter is a total loss and a constant

potential source of shamepotential source of shame– List of heroes only includes menList of heroes only includes men– Women discussed only in relation to Women discussed only in relation to

menmen

Low PointLow Point

• Ben SirachBen Sirach– Do not sit down with the womenDo not sit down with the women

for moth comes out of clothes,for moth comes out of clothes,and a woman’s spite out of a and a woman’s spite out of a

womanwomanA man’s spite is preferable to a woman’s A man’s spite is preferable to a woman’s kindnesskindness

Women give rise to shame Women give rise to shame and reproachand reproach

Is This Right?Is This Right?

• This is the environment in which This is the environment in which Jesus and the gospel writers livedJesus and the gospel writers lived

• What is Jesus’ (God’s) view of What is Jesus’ (God’s) view of women?women?

• Do the gospel writers reflect His Do the gospel writers reflect His view?view?

• What does the history of the apstolic What does the history of the apstolic era church show?era church show?

Women in the OTWomen in the OT

• Some high pointsSome high points– RuthRuth– EstherEsther– DeborahDeborah– The “good woman” of Proverbs 31The “good woman” of Proverbs 31

• But generally not very positiveBut generally not very positive– Women considered “property”Women considered “property”– Though not as bad as Ben SirachThough not as bad as Ben Sirach

Jesus and WomenJesus and Women

• He welcomed women disciplesHe welcomed women disciples• He traveled with them and respected He traveled with them and respected

them just as he did the menthem just as he did the men• Jesus features both men and women Jesus features both men and women

equally in his parables and teachingsequally in his parables and teachings• He taught both men and womenHe taught both men and women• The gospel writers record all these The gospel writers record all these

thingsthings

Mark 15:40-16:8Mark 15:40-16:8

• Burial AccountBurial Account• Resurrection AccountResurrection Account

Role of Women in Burial and Role of Women in Burial and Resurrection AccountsResurrection Accounts

Mark 15:40-47Mark 15:40-47• Women WatchWomen Watch• Joseph Joseph

– Seeks JesusSeeks Jesus

• Pilate and Centurion Pilate and Centurion – Confirms Jesus is DeadConfirms Jesus is Dead

• Joseph Joseph – Receives Jesus’ Body Receives Jesus’ Body

and Buries Himand Buries Him

• Women WatchWomen Watch

Mark 16:1-8Mark 16:1-8• Women GoWomen Go

– Talking and UncertainTalking and Uncertain

• Women Enter TombWomen Enter Tomb– Seeks JesusSeeks Jesus

• Young Man (Angel)Young Man (Angel)– Jesus is RisenJesus is Risen

• Women CommissionedWomen Commissioned– Jesus is FoundJesus is Found

• Women Exit TombWomen Exit Tomb• Women ReturnWomen Return

– Silent and AfraidSilent and Afraid

Beginning of the GospelBeginning of the Gospel

• Mark 1:1 (ESV)Mark 1:1 (ESV)– The beginning of the gospel of Jesus The beginning of the gospel of Jesus

Christ, the Son of God.Christ, the Son of God.

• Functions as Title for the BookFunctions as Title for the Book• Mark 16:8 (ESV)Mark 16:8 (ESV)– And they went out and fled from the And they went out and fled from the

tomb, for trembling and astonishment tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.to anyone, for they were afraid.

Women at Center of New Women at Center of New ChurchChurch

• In all four gospel accounts of the In all four gospel accounts of the resurrectionresurrection

• They are the first “apostles”They are the first “apostles”– ““Apostles to the Apostles”Apostles to the Apostles”

Women in Early ChurchWomen in Early Church

• ActsActs depicts women as equal depicts women as equal partners and leaders in the churchpartners and leaders in the church– Men and women disciples in the upper Men and women disciples in the upper

roomroom– DorcasDorcas– LydiaLydia– PriscillaPriscilla– Philip’s prophetess daughtersPhilip’s prophetess daughters

Galatians 3:27-29Galatians 3:27-29

• 2727For as many of you as were For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Christ. 2828 There is neither Jew nor There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. are all one in Christ Jesus. 2929And if And if you are Christ’s, then you are you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.to promise.

Burial and ResurrectionBurial and Resurrection

• Old distinctions, ideas, and traditions Old distinctions, ideas, and traditions about role of women in church to be about role of women in church to be buriedburied

• Equality and partnership to be Equality and partnership to be resurrectedresurrected

• Jesus came to restore relationships Jesus came to restore relationships between men and women alsobetween men and women also

• Could the rite of baptism symbolize Could the rite of baptism symbolize this also?this also?

Original IntentOriginal Intent

• Genesis 1:27Genesis 1:27– So God created man [So God created man [humankindhumankind] in his ] in his

own image, in the image of God he own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created created him; male and female he created them.them.

• Genesis 2:18Genesis 2:18– Then the LORD God said, "It is not good Then the LORD God said, "It is not good

that the man should be alone; I will make that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper [him a helper [completenesscompleteness] fit for him."] fit for him."

New FamilyNew Family

• The church is God’s new familyThe church is God’s new family• Jesus inaugurated it as His new creation Jesus inaugurated it as His new creation

at the cross and resurrectionat the cross and resurrection• Ideally it should resemble the family as it Ideally it should resemble the family as it

was intended at Creation in Edenwas intended at Creation in Eden• How well are we doing in meeting that How well are we doing in meeting that

ideal?ideal?• How can we move closer towards it?How can we move closer towards it?• Jesus broke cultural norms and traditionJesus broke cultural norms and tradition