The Hermeneutics of Evangelical Feminism¹

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Definitions and Differences

The significant changes for women in society that began about thirty years ago have not bypassed the church. The changes have challenged the Christian community to consider afresh the role of women in their relationship to men in the church and in the home. The instigators of this challenge call themselves "feminists."

Feminism is a broad term that includes several groups. "Secular feminists" are those who do not accept the Bible as authoritative.² "Religious feminists" are "individuals who do not identify with Christianity, but whose beliefs nevertheless include a religious worldview."³ "Christian feminists" work from the standpoint of a commitment to the Christian faith but accept the authority of Scripture in only a limited way.⁴ A final classification of feminists includes those identified as "evangelical feminists." An evangelical feminist has a high view of Scripture and is "one who believes that the Bible teaches the full equality of men and women without role distinctions based on gender."⁵ The focus of this essay is on this last group.

A group that best represents the position of evangelical feminism is Christians for Biblical Equality (C.B.E.), organized in late 1987. A position paper-"Men, Women, and Biblical Equality"-published in 1989 stated the beliefs of this organization. The paper contained twelve "Biblical Truths" and five points of "Application."⁶ Rebecca Merril Groothuis expresses the goal of this organization and of evangelical feminism well: "The goal of evangelical feminism is that men and women be allowed to serve God as individuals, according to their own unique gifts rather than according to a culturally predetermined personality slot called ‘Christian manhood' or ‘Christian womanhood.'"⁷

The individuals primarily responsible for laying the foundation of evangelical feminism are Nancy Hardesty, Letha Scanzoni, Paul Jewett, Virginia Mollenkott, and Dorothy Pape. Prominent names currently associated with the movement are Linda L. Belleville, Gilbert Bilezikian, Mary Evans, Gordon D. Fee, W. Ward Gasque, Kevin Giles, Patricia Gundry, E. Margaret Howe, Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, Craig Keener, Catherine Clark Kroeger, Walter Liefield, Alvera Mickelsen, David Scholer, Aida Besancon Spencer, and Ruth Tucker.

The purpose of this article is to examine certain hermeneutical principles being implemented among those who are evangelical feminists.⁸ As much as possible, the evaluation of these principles will use the standard of the grammatico-historical method of exegesis. The scope of this study necessitates focusing only on principles that differ from the hermeneutics of those called "hierarchialists,"⁹ the ones frequently used in the Pauline "hard passages."¹⁰

There are two primary reasons why the role of women and their relationship to men in the church and the family is one of the "great divides" among Christians today. The first reason is a difference of opinion with regards to the exegesis of the relevant biblical texts. The second reason is the role of hermeneutics in the debate. Robert K. Johnston believes that the second reason lies behind the first reason: "For behind the apparent differences in approach and opinion regarding the women's issue are opposing principles for interpreting Scripture-i.e., different hermeneutics. Here is the real issue facing evangelical theology as it seeks to answer the women's question."¹¹

This essay will examine and evaluate seven relevant principles of hermeneutics of evangelical feminists and, thereby, provide a heightened mutual understanding of the basic difference between the two sides.¹² Understanding these will hopefully lessen the "great divide" that exists in Christendom concerning a woman's role in the church and the home.

The Principle of Ad Hoc Documents

A prominent characteristic of evangelical feminism is its insistence that understanding the literary form of a passage plays a major role in adequate interpretation.¹³ Sometimes the phrase describing this axiom is the "hermeneutics of ad hoc documents."¹⁴ The principle is prominent in the interpretive scheme of 1 Timothy 2:8-15 by evangelical feminists.

The literary form of 1 Timothy closely relates to the purpose of the epistle. According to Scholer, Paul writes the letter to help Timothy handle the problem of false teachers in Ephesus: "The purpose of I Timothy is to combat the Ephesian heresy that Timothy faced."¹⁵

To some, a necessary corollary to this view of 1 Timothy's purpose is to perceive the epistle as an ad hoc letter.¹⁶ The implication of this ad hoc perspective is to restrict the teaching of 2:9-15 to an individual situation experienced by the original audience. Concerning the instructions in 2:9-10 and 15, Gordon D. Fee writes,

All of these instructions, including 2:11-12, were ad hoc responses to the waywardness of the young widows in Ephesus who had already gone astray after Satan and were disrupting the church.

It simply cannot be demonstrated that Paul intended 1 Tim 3:11-12 [sic, 1 Tim 2:11-12] as a rule in all churches at all times. In fact the occasion and purpose of 1 Timothy as a whole, and these verses in particular, suggest otherwise.¹⁷

It is impossible to deny the ad hoc nature of 1 Timothy. The inroads of false teachers into the church under Timothy's leadership are the evident occasion of the epistle. More questionable, however, is the ad hoc interpretation that limits the teaching of 2:11-15 based on an ad hoc literary style. Paul's epistle to the churches of Galatia is ad hoc in nature. Yet no one limits the teaching of Gal 2:16 to the original recipients.¹⁸ Also, Douglas J. Moo's observation is valid: "The isolation of local circumstances as the occasion for a particular teaching does not, by itself, indicate anything about the normative nature of that teaching."¹⁹

A further problem with the ad hoc interpretive principle is that it rests upon the assumption that Paul's sole reason for writing 1 Timothy's was to combat false doctrine. This purpose does find some support in Paul's words in 1:3: "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines." Yet it ignores the other purpose statement in 1 Tim 3:14-15: "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth."

These two verses support the view that Paul writes to his spiritual son to instruct him on how to order and direct the life of a Christian congregation. Hurley expresses this perspective:

It is universally accepted that 1 Timothy was intended to provide a clear statement concerning certain issues which its author, whom I take to be Paul, felt needed attention. The letter forms a "spiritual will" from Paul to Timothy. In the letter Paul indicates that he hopes to be able to come soon to Timothy, but fears that he will be delayed (3:14-15a). He writes, "I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God."²⁰

A "church manual" approach to 1 Timothy views the teaching of the epistle as normative.²¹ Even if one agrees with this analysis of 1 Timothy, it does not follow that everything within the epistle is normative. Most agree that Paul's emphasis in 2:8-"I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension"-is upon the manner of life of the one praying, not upon his posture.²²

But neither of the above proposed purposes of 1 Timothy is preferable. It is best to understand 3:15 as the overarching purpose that embraces the purpose stated in 1:3.²³

The Principle of an Interpretive Center

One of the hermeneutical questions related to the ecclesiastical and domestic roles of women is whether or not a single text determines the interpretation of all the other passages. Stated another way, is there a clear text,²⁴ an interpretive center,²⁵ a theological and hermeneutical key,²⁶ a "locus classicus,"²⁷ a defining passage, a starting point that serves as a filter in analyzing the New Testament view regarding these female roles?²⁸

Most evangelical feminists affirm the existence of such a starting point when seeking God's will on the role of women. Yet they do not agree on what that starting point is. They agree that the interpreter should not start with the Pauline "hard passages." The comment of W. Ward Gasque is informative:

The Egalitarian View also takes these texts [I Cor 11:2-16; 14:33-35; I Tim 2:11-15; Eph 5:22-33; I Pet 3:1-7] seriously, but it does not begin with these. It points out that if you leave these texts to the side until the end of the discussion, you will come out with a different conclusion. If you look at these texts first, you have basically programmed yourself to come to the Traditional View; but if you put these texts aside for the time being and first study all else that the Bible has to teach theologically about the role of men and women-in society and in the created order, in the Old Testament people of God and the New Testament people of God, in the church and the home-then you come to a different position.²⁹

One recommended starting place has been Galatians 3:28, where Paul declares to the Galatians that there is "neither male nor female." Some see this as an interpretive filter that determines the meaning of the other passages. F. F. Bruce represents this view: "Paul states the basic principle here; if restrictions on it are found elsewhere in the Pauline corpus, as in 1 Cor 14:34f. or 1 Tim 2:11f., they are to be understood in relation to Gal 3:28, and not vice versa."³⁰

Scanzoni and Hardesty concur with Bruce in stating,

The biblical theologian does not build on isolated proof texts but first seeks the locus classicus, the major biblical statement, on a given matter. (The doctrine of creation and fall, for example, is to be found most clearly spelled out in Gen. 1-3 and Rom 5:12-21, not in 1 Cor 11:2-16 or 1 Tim 2:13-14.) Passages which deal with an issue systematically are used to help understand incidental references elsewhere. Passages which are theological and doctrinal in content are used to interpret those where the writer is dealing with practical local cultural problems. (Except for Gal 3:28, all of the references to women in the New Testament are contained in passages dealing with practical concerns about personal relationships or behavior in worship services.)³¹

Creation-Redemption is another recommended interpretive center. Timothy P. Weber explained, "Egalitarians, then, organize their understanding of the sweep of redemption history in terms of creation and redemption and believe that the women's issue should be seen in that context."³²

To illustrate the lack of agreement among feminist writers further, a third suggested theological key identifies the highest norms or standards taught in the Bible as the starting point and begins there. The source of these norms is usually the lofty standards emphasized by Jesus, as well as the statements about the purpose of Christ's ministry and the purpose of the gospel.³³

Evangelical feminists have not listened to one of their own, David Scholer, on this subject. Scholer says it is wrong to identify a controlling text regarding women's role and status in the church. His words are, "What I want to stress is that from a hermeneutical point of view the question of where one enters the discussion is really an open question to which no canonical text speaks with clarity."³⁴

In essence, Scholer says that, instead of attempting to identify an interpretive center, each text should have equal weight in developing a biblical theology of the role of women. Biblical theology should build upon all relevant texts. For several reasons, Scholer's proposal is the preferred solution to this hermeneutical issue. First, as already stated by Scholer, the New Testament does not specify a starting point for this or many other doctrines.³⁵ To choose a theological and hermeneutical key often reflects one's personal presuppositions.

A second reason why an interpretive center is a bad idea, as Craig L. Blomberg points out, is the evangelical doctrine of the plenary inspiration of Scripture: "I think that if we as evangelicals take seriously our doctrine of the plenary inspiration of Scripture, then it is hermeneutically impossible to set up one text as the interpretive grid through which everything else must be filtered."³⁶

A third reason for favoring Scholer's proposal is that it allows for the hermeneutical principle universally agreed upon among those with a high view of Scripture: it is necessary for all relevant texts to harmonize with each other.³⁷ This allows for input from each text that touches on the subject, without excluding the unique contribution of each to the doctrine.

Finally, to use Galatians 3:28 or any other starting point as an interpretive grid through which all other passages are understood automatically colors the meaning emerging from other passages. As Robert L. Thomas argues, "It is impossible to deal with literature accurately if one's mind is already preconditioned to discover something that the literature does not relate to."³⁸

The Prinicple of the Analogy of Faith

Closely related to the issue of a controlling text is the principle of "the analogy of faith." The principle of the analogy of faith says that Scripture cannot contradict Scripture.³⁹ In light of this internal agreement, no verse or passage can have a meaning isolated from the rest of Scripture.⁴⁰ Yet the role of the analogy of faith in the context of "clear" and "obscure" passages is debatable. The issue is how to handle "unclear" texts in light of the agreed upon truth that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. A resolving of this issue is key in the interpretation of women's place in the church and home.⁴¹

Evangelical feminists advocate that the analogy of faith principle means the clearer passages should determine the interpretation of the less clear ones.⁴² They hold that the "clear" text on women's roles is Galatians 3:28⁴³ or one of other starting points; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34-35; and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 are identified as obscure passages.

Another way of applying the analogy of faith principle is to refrain from preferring one passage over another. The basic approach of this variation is to give equal attention to "obscure" or "disputed" texts.⁴⁴ This technique does not disregard the analogy of faith principle, but instead employs it after completion of the exegetical procedure, as a "double check" on the results of one's exegetical investigation.⁴⁵

Two strong considerations make this second approach to the analogy-of-faith principle preferable. First, it keeps the influence of the interpreter's personal biases to a minimum. John Piper and Wayne Grudem are correct: "We are all biased and would very likely use this principle of interpretation to justify neglecting the texts that do not suit our bias while insisting that the ones that suit our bias are crystal clear."⁴⁶

Second, interpreting a passage in this way forces the interpreter to consider seriously all relevant passages. This prevents exegetical laziness by requiring an exegetical accounting for all passages germane to the issue. The following recommendation is fitting: "Our procedure should be rather to continue to read Scripture carefully and prayerfully, seeking a position that dismisses no texts but interprets all the relevant texts of Scripture in a coherent way."⁴⁷

The Principle of Slavery as a Model 

A predominant concept in the literature of evangelical feminism is that the relationship between slaves and masters parallels that between wives and husbands and speaks to the issue of women in church leadership.⁴⁸ Proponents have offered two other justifications of the same principle. First, "scriptural interpretation must allow for continuing actualization as necessary implications are drawn out."⁴⁹ Second, "one is informed by the history of biblical interpretation, which may shed light on a passage at hand."⁵⁰

Keener states the rationale of the principle clearly:

Those who today will admit that slavery is wrong but still maintain that husbands must have authority over their wives are inconsistent. If they were consistent with their method of interpretation, which does not take enough account of cultural differences, it is likely that, had they lived one hundred fifty years ago, they would have had to have opposed the abolitionists as subverters of the moral order-as many Bible-quoting white slave owners and their allies did. Many of the traditions which today use Scripture to subordinate women once did the same for slavery before that idea was anathema in our culture. In contrast, the method of interpretation we favor in this book is closer to the methods favored by the abolitionists.⁵¹

The basis for treating the male/female relationship like the master/slave relationship is the scriptural similarity between the two. Boomsma points this out when he says,

There are several comparable elements that suggest such a parallel. As we have seen, in Galatians 3:28 the distinctions between slave and free and male and female, although they continue to exist, are superseded by equality in Christ in the church. The instructions in Paul's letters prominently modify the relations between slaves and masters, and between husbands and wives, as in Ephesians 5:22-33. Similarly Paul places restrictions on both slaves and women by instructing slaves to obey their masters and women to be subservient to their husbands and to refrain exercising equality in the authoritative offices of the congregation.

What is of great significance is the parallelism between the grounds on which the apostle supports his instructions to both slaves and women. In 1 Timothy 6:1 he urges slaves to respect their masters "so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered." In Titus 2:5 he requires women to be subject to their husbands "so that no one will malign the word of God."⁵²

Despite these impressive parallels, one major setback confronts this principle: "The existence of slavery is not rooted in any creation ordinance, but the existence of marriage is."⁵³ Additionally, Paul laid down principles in the book of Philemon that would ultimately destroy the institution of slavery. This is not true of the male/female relationship. Vern S. Poythress is correct:

In the New Testament, there are too many passages that never "drop the second shoe." The passages say that women must submit to their husbands. But they never say explicitly that husbands must submit to their wives. They explicitly instruct Timothy and Titus about appointing men as elders, but they never explicitly mention the possibility of women elders.⁵⁴

Mary A. Kassian states a final stumbling-block for the slavery analogy when she writes,

Biblical feminists view the Bible as open to alteration. One of the basic presuppositions of Biblical feminist theology is that the Bible is not absolute and that its meaning can "evolve" and "transform." Since the Bible presents no absolute standard of right and wrong, feminists maintain that they must decide this for themselves. This basic premise allows them to interpret the Bible in any manner appropriate to their immediate circumstances.⁵⁵

The Prinicple of Culturally Biased Interpretation 

A recurring question in a quest to understand the biblical teaching on the role of women is, "Can there be an objective understanding of Scripture?" Is it possible to set aside biases and prejudices for the purpose of ascertaining the meaning of the text? The response of several in the evangelical feminist camp is "No." Scholer illustrates the negative answer: "Now, however, I feel that I have come to understand for myself, along with many others, that in fact objective interpretation and objective hermeneutic is a myth."⁵⁶ One of the "many others" is Johnston. His conviction is that the reason for the continuing spate of evangelical literature on women's role in the church and family is the role of the reader/interpreter in determining the meaning of the text: It is the reader who uses incomplete knowledge as the basis of judgment. It is the reader who chooses between equally valid possibilities based on personal preference. It is the reader who develops criteria for what is universal and what is culturally specific, what is translatable and what is transcultural. It is the reader who brings to a text a specific understanding of Scripture's overarching unity. It is the reader who finds it difficult to remain vulnerable to the text as it confronts Christian and pagan alike.⁵⁷

In light of this he concludes that evangelicals hide themselves behind "the veneer of objectivity."⁵⁸

The position that objectivity in interpretation is a false notion does not demand the abandonment of all attempts to determine the meaning of a text. What it does dictate is that, first, the exegete must recognize personal biases,⁵⁹ and, second, the interpreter must carefully use proper hermeneutical procedure.⁶⁰

The view of the mythological nature of objective interpretation is contrary to the traditional grammatical-historical method of interpretation. It is a standard corollary of the long-honored approach that one can investigate a passage in an unbiased manner. Walter C. Kaiser Jr.'s definition of interpretation declares this: "To interpret we must in every case reproduce the sense the Scriptural writer intended for his own words. The first step in the interpretive process is to link only those ideas with the author's language that he connected with them. The second step is to express these ideas understandably."⁶¹

Dockery concurs: "The goal of biblical interpretation is to approach the text in terms of the objective ideal. This goal does not mean approaching the Bible without any presuppositions at all, for the Bible itself provides the interpreter with certain presuppositions. Yet, the interpreter is expected to strive as diligently as possible for objective understanding."⁶²

Is it possible for the interpreter to exclude bias in the hermeneutical process, or is this simply a delusion of grandeur or a veneer of objectivity? However one may answer these questions, all agree that the interpreter has prejudices in approaching the Word of God. Yet the grammatical-historical method advocates the possibility and necessity of excluding these prejudices. The Reformers were well aware of this and consequently geared their approach to exegesis along lines of the tabula rasa idea. Sproul says,

The interpreter was expected to strive as hard as possible for an objective reading of the text through the grammatico-historical approach. Though subjective influences always present a clear and present danger of distortion, the student of the Bible was expected to utilize every possible safeguard in the pursuit of the ideal, listening to the message of Scripture without mixing in his own prejudices.⁶³

What response can a person offer to the claim that objective interpretation is a myth?⁶⁴ What procedures will exclude personal background and culture from hindering an understanding of the intent of the authors of Scripture? Piper and Grudem offer five suggestions to provide interpreters with confidence to interpreters that they have excluded their biases and prejudices from the hermeneutical process:

1. Search your motives and seek to empty yourself of all that would tarnish a true perception of reality.

2. Pray that God would give you humility, teachability, wisdom, insight, fairness, and honesty.

3. Make every effort to submit your mind to the unbending and unchanging grammatical and historical reality of the biblical texts in Greek and Hebrew, using the best methods of study available to get as close as possible to the intentions of the biblical writers.

4. Test your conclusions by the history of exegesis to reveal any chronological snobbery or cultural myopia.

5. Test your conclusions in the real world of contemporary ministry and look for resonance from mature and godly people.⁶⁵

To speak of objective interpretation is not to diminish the reality of the exegete's background and culture. As Thomas states,

It must be granted that twentieth century exegetes are outsiders to the cultures in which the Bible was written and for this reason can never achieve a complete understanding of the original meaning of the Bible in its historical setting. An undue emphasis upon this limitation, however, loses sight of the fact that all historical study is a weighing of probabilities. The more evidence we have, the higher degree of probability we can attain. The practice of exegesis, therefore, is a continued search for greater probability and a more refined understanding.⁶⁶

The Prinicple of Cultural Relativity 

The major hermeneutical issue in interpreting the Pauline "hard passages"-1 Timothy 2:11-15 in particular-is whether the teaching is culturally specific or normative. Quarrels about the meaning of the 1 Timothy passage are one issue, but even those who agree on its meaning disagree about how to apply it. Fee, who argues that the passage does not apply to women in ministry today, agrees with the interpretation of those who see it as restricting what women can do when the church meets for public worship. He writes, "My point is a simple one. It is hard to deny that this text prohibits women teaching men in the Ephesian church; but it is the unique text in the New Testament, and as we have seen, its reason for being is not to correct the rest of the New Testament, but to correct a very ad hoc problem in Ephesus."⁶⁷

The comment of Fee illustrates that the debate involving 1 Timothy 2:11-15 consists not only of how to interpret this passage but also of how to apply it. The primary hindrance to discerning the application is how to ascertain whether the text is culture limited or transcultural. To state it another way, the concern is "discerning between the permanent, universal, normative teaching of Scripture on the one hand and, on the other hand, that which is transient, not applicable to every people in every culture, not intended to function as a mandate for normative behavior."⁶⁸ This important topic in contemporary studies of hermeneutics particularly relates to determining women's roles in the home and church.⁶⁹

Evangelical feminist hermeneutics advocate widespread distinctions between universal principles and localized applications. In fact, Weber identifies this as one of the three distinguishing marks in the egalitarian reading of the Bible.⁷⁰ The problem is not with the principle but with how extensive its implementation should be. How to determine what is "cultural" or "normative" requires further discussion.

Resolving this matter requires answers to two important questions: First, does Scripture convey universal principles or culture-limited application? Second, what method can distinguish the normative from the cultural in Scripture?

Three alternatives of how to answer the former question are conceivable.

The first recommendation is to view Scripture as conveying what is normative for all believers at all times unless the text explicitly expresses the limitation. J. Robertson McQuilkin represents this view when he writes, "My thesis is that a fully authoritative Bible means that every teaching in Scripture is universal unless Scripture itself treats it as limited."⁷¹ Identifying hermeneutical criteria for nonnormativeness is the focus of this approach to distinguishing what is normative from what is cultural.⁷²

The second recommendation is to see Scripture as conveying what is limited in application to its original context. Instead of Scripture relaying what is normative, it relays that which is culture bound. The crucial question to be asked in discerning between the time-bound and the eternal is, "How can we locate and identify this permanent element or essence?"⁷³ This view assumes that Scripture is time bound, not that which conveys what is basically normative.

The third recommendation mediates between the first two. Instead of assuming that Scripture conveys either what is normative or what is culture bound, it assumes neither. This view allows the criteria to make this decision. Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard write,

We detect problems, however, with both of these views. The former [Scripture conveys what is normative] makes it difficult to establish the timelessness even of fundamental moral principles such as prohibitions against theft or murder; the latter [Scripture conveys what is cultural] would seem to require us to greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Thes 5:26) or drink wine for upset stomachs (1 Tim 5:23).⁷⁴

All three recommendations take seriously the need to distinguish between what is permanent and what is transient. Yet the assumption that Scripture conveys what is culture bound does not harmonize with Paul's significant statement in 2 Tim 3:16. Recommendations one and three take into account the importance of this verse in their view. George W. Knight III, who agrees that Scripture relays what is normative, says of McQuilkin's thesis, "In such a thesis, he is articulating the same absolute and universal language that the apostle Paul has used in asserting the Scripture's comprehensive didactic significance (2 Tim. 3:16). Since Christ's apostle indicates that this is true of all Scripture, then only it itself can teach us what it regards as limited and not universally normative."⁷⁵

Likewise, the third recommendation that each passage must be judged on its own merits to determine what is normative or cultural, regards 2 Tim 3:16 as crucial to its formulation. Representatives of this position declare,

With 2 Tim 3:16 and related texts, we affirm that every passage (a meaningful unit of discourse that makes one or more points that can be restated, if necessary, in a proposition) has some normative value for believers in all times and places. But we presuppose nothing about whether the application for us today will come by preserving unchanged the specific elements of the passage or whether we will have to identify broader principles that suggest unique applications for new contexts. Instead we ask a series of questions of the text.⁷⁶

The caveat offered in the last portion of the above quotation is what distinguishes this view from the position that Scripture presents what is normative. The distinction is that those who take Scripture as normative suggest "both the form and meaning of Scripture are permanent revelation and normative,"⁷⁷ but those who let the criteria determine what is normative accept the meaning as normative, but not the form. Elaborating on this difference, William J. Larkin, Jr. explains why taking both the form and meaning of Scripture as normative is the best position: "The obvious reason for adopting the more comprehensive position affirming both form and meaning is that it best upholds the full authority of Scripture and to the same extent that Scripture itself does."⁷⁸

The question of "what method should be followed to distinguish what is normative from what is cultural"⁷⁹ finds its answer in two primary methodologies that are foundational but work from different perspectives, the ones proposed by McQuilkin⁸⁰ and Alan F. Johnson.⁸¹ Since the answer to the first question has ruled out Johnson's initial assumption that Scripture is culture bound, it is unnecessary to review his proposal. Since Scripture conveys what is normative, McQuilkin's list is best in reflecting how to determine what is normative as opposed to cultural.⁸² To discern this, the interpreter must ask:

1. Does the context limit the recipient or application?

2. Does subsequent revelation limit the recipient or the application?

3. Is this specific teaching in conflict with other biblical teaching?⁸³

4. Is the reason for a norm given in Scripture, and is that reason treated as normative?

5. Is the specific teaching normative as well as the principle?

6. Does the Bible treat the historic context as normative?

7. Does the Bible treat the cultural context as limited?⁸⁴

Patriarchal and Sexist Texts

Another hermeneutical mark of evangelical feminism is its detection of patriarchal and sexist texts in the Bible. The loudest advocate of this principle is Scholer, who writes, "Evangelical feminist hermeneutics must face patriarchal and sexist texts and assumptions within biblical passages and understand them precisely as limited texts and assumptions."⁸⁵

The sample texts that Scholer sees as reflecting patriarchy, androcentrism, and possibly misogynism are: Rev 14:1-5; 1 Tim 5:3-16; 1 Cor 11:2-16; Eph 5:24. Concerning Revelation 14:1-5, he states:

I submit that most of us have never really noticed how dramatically androcentric the text is: the redeemed are men, explicitly men. Nor do I think that most of us have noticed the sexual or sexuality assumptions behind the text: men who have not defiled themselves with women. This is a view of sexuality that most of us would like to explain away or ignore. It is a view rooted in the reality of the ancient world that women were always understood to be the one primarily to blame for sexual sin. This view has haunted the question of rape even to this day.⁸⁶

His comments on 1 Timothy 5:3-16 are along the same lines: "I submit again that the assumption behind this view is a view of sexuality that probably none of us really share or would admit to sharing. Again, it is rooted in the assumption that women are sexually irresponsible. If a 59-year-old or younger widow does not remarry, the odds are very great that she will follow Satan."⁸⁷

The nature of these passages leads Scholer to the conclusion that they are limited texts reflecting historical-cultural assumptions and realities.⁸⁸ In essence, this hermeneutical principle allows him to affirm evangelical feminism by limiting the passages that speak against it. Such a perspective toward the identified texts has several problems. First, it implies that the Bible cannot be interpreted in a regular fashion because of its male authorship.⁸⁹ Second, it adds a further dimension to the historical aspect of the grammatical-historical method of interpretation, that the interpreter concern himself or herself and know about the biases of the author. This requires much guesswork on the part of the exegete. Third, this principle is unacceptable because it presents a writer of Scripture, such as Paul, in a contradictory light. On one hand, Paul advocates the full equality of men and women (Gal 3:28). On the other, he capitulates to societal norms and writes from a sexist position (1 Tim 5:3-16).

Further, Scholer's stance assumes an evangelical feminist presuppositional perspective of the Old and New Testaments. He labels certain passages as sexist and patriarchal because an egalitarian position on the role of women in the church and home is a foregone conclusion.

Finally, a patriarchal culture does not necessarily mandate an improper view of women. Poythress is helpful in this area when he states,

Note also that the patriarchy of OT and NT cultures did not necessarily exclude women from ever occupying a role of social and religious prominence. Prov 31 illustrates the breadth of scope possible even in ordinary circumstances. Moreover, Esther was a queen. Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Isaiah's wife were prophetesses (Exod 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Isa 8:3). Deborah judged Israel (though this role functioned to rebuke the inadequate male leaders: Judges 4:8-9; Isa 3:12). Salome Alexandra, wife of Alexander Jannaeus, ruled over the Jews from 76 to 67 B.C. Women played an important role in Jesus' earthly ministry and as witnesses to his resurrection. Lydia, Priscilla, Phoebe, and others obviously had significant roles.⁹⁰

Results of the Evaluation

This completes the evaluation of seven major principles that distinguish the hermeneutics of evangelical feminism from those of hierarchialists and, in many cases, from the grammatico-historical approach to interpreting Scripture.⁹¹ This evaluation has shown the weaknesses of the hermeneutics of evangelical feminism. An ad hoc hermeneutic that limits the teaching of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is inadequate, because it fails to consider both the purpose of 1 Timothy and the ad hoc nature of other Pauline epistles. Any attempt to establish one passage as the interpretive grid for all other passages is inconsistent with two standard tenets of the grammatico-historical method of interpretation: (1) the plenary inspiration of Scripture; and (2) the necessary harmonization of texts. The principle of the analogy of faith is valid, but not when it is brought into the interpretation process too early, as evangelical feminists tend to do.

Furthermore, to parallel the role of women with the role of slaves is to assume that God ordained slavery, a teaching not found in Scripture. The role of women has its roots in the order of creation, however (Gen. 2). To argue that objective interpretation is a myth and that the Bible contains sexist and patriarchal texts is to differ again from the grammatico-historical method of exegesis. This preferred procedure for understanding Scripture has argued that objective interpretation is possible and that it is not necessary for the interpreter to be concerned with and knowledgeable of "the biases" of the author.

Evangelical feminists are correct in observing that certain biblical texts are cultural. Yet their procedure for determining which ones is questionable. In light of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it is best to consider all Scripture as normative, unless answers to the above questions presented by McQuilkin prove otherwise.

Evangelical feminists must take a hard look at their hermeneutics in view of evident weaknesses in the system, many of which contradict the grammatical-historical method of interpretation. Since these defects are present, the position of evangelical feminism on the role of men and women in the church and home rests on less than a solid biblical foundation.

Summary of the "Hermeneutics of Evangelical Feminism" 

Principle	Evangelical Feminist Perspective	Grammatical-Historical Perspective
Ad Hoc Documents	teaching restricted to original audience; no universal application	teaching is normative, with application to Christians of all times and places
An Interpretive Center	a starting point as a filter for other texts in analyzing the NT view	equal weight given to each text in arriving at the NT view
Analogy of Faith	clearer passages determine the meanings of less clear ones	equal attention to obscure passages; analogy of faith used only after exegesis
Slavery as a Model	cultural growth in applying biblical principles brings change of understanding	role of women rooted in Creation ordinance, not culture; role of slaves different
Culturally Based Interpretation	objective interpretation a myth; each reader determines what is universal and what is culturally specific	advocates objectivity in interpretation; interpreter strives to eliminate cultural prejudices
Cultural Relativity in Revelation	text is culture limited; widespread distinction between universal principles and localized applications	text is transcultural; Scripture presents what is normative unless Scripture itself indicates otherwise
Patriarchal and Sexist Texts	recognized as limited texts and assumptions with negative view of females	patriarchal culture not synonymous with bias against females

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