In Roman law you were what you wore. This legal principle became highly significant because, beginning in the first century A.D., a "new" kind of woman emerged across the Roman empire 'a woman whose provocative dress and sometimes promiscuous lifestyle contrasted starkly with the decorum of the traditional married woman. What a woman chose to wear came to identify her as either "new" or "modest". Augustus legislated against the "new" woman. Philosophical schools encouraged their followers to avoid embracing her way of life. And, as this fascinating book demonstrates for the first time, the presence of the "new" woman was also felt in the early church, where Christian wives and widows were exhorted to emulate neither her dress code nor her conduct. Using his extensive knowledge both of the Graeco-Roman world and of the New Testament writings, Bruce Winter shows how changing social mores among women impacted the Pauline communities. This helps to explain the controversial texts on marriage veils in 1 Corinthians, instructions in 1 Timothy regarding dress code and the activities of young widows, and exhortations in Titus for older women to call new wives "back to their senses" regarding their marriage and family responsibilities. Based on a close investigation of neglected literary and archaeological evidence, "Roman Wives, Roman Widows" makes groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of first-century women, including their participation in public life as lawyers, magistrates, and political figures, which in turn affected women's ministry in the Pauline communities.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AThoughtful, Considered Approach,
This review is from: Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities (Paperback)
In spite of being endlessly footnoted and academically inclined, this book is well worth the effort to mine its depths in search of knowledge. A very comprehensive and interesting treatment of what life was like for men and women in Roman colonies during the first century. "Life in context" and "scripture in context" are two main objectives. In light of this, some of Paul's troubling statements concerning women have a fresh light shone upon them. The research is in-depth and current. Inscriptons, letters and various other sources were used to verify and validate the cultural context in which Paul lived, moved, and ultimately wrote his epistles. I also liked Dr. Winter's "After Paul left Corinth," a somewhat easier read. Both give an excellent glimpse into the lifestyle atmosphere of first century Christians.
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
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Very timely research!,
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This review is from: Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities (Paperback)
I have been trying to research certain passages in 1 Corinthians and this book was a wealth of information for me.
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First Sentence:
'The potential for more fruitful contact between classical studies and studies of early Christianity [on women] is great, and it provides another opportunity to look at the intersection of Roman, Greek and Near Eastern cultural traditions.' Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
marriage veil, statue types, modest wife, imperial women, honourable woman, toga virilis, marriage legislation, younger wives, federal assembly Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Junia Theodora, Ancient Rome, Grand Rapids, Dio Cassius, Valerius Maximus, Oxford University Press, Time of Ulpian, Dio Chrysostom, After Paul Left Corinth, The Digest, Cambridge University Press, Clarendon Press, Musonius Rufus, New York, Roman East, Claudia Metrodora, Epigrammata Graeca, Hellenistic Egypt, Matrona Docta, Ancient Greek World, Ann Arbor, Attic Nights, Gospel Women, Koine Greek New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
'The potential for more fruitful contact between classical studies and studies of early Christianity [on women] is great, and it provides another opportunity to look at the intersection of Roman, Greek and Near Eastern cultural traditions.' Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
marriage veil, statue types, modest wife, imperial women, honourable woman, toga virilis, marriage legislation, younger wives, federal assembly Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Junia Theodora, Ancient Rome, Grand Rapids, Dio Cassius, Valerius Maximus, Oxford University Press, Time of Ulpian, Dio Chrysostom, After Paul Left Corinth, The Digest, Cambridge University Press, Clarendon Press, Musonius Rufus, New York, Roman East, Claudia Metrodora, Epigrammata Graeca, Hellenistic Egypt, Matrona Docta, Ancient Greek World, Ann Arbor, Attic Nights, Gospel Women, Koine Greek New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
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7
books
cite this book:
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- Women in Antiquity: New Assessments by Richard Hawley on 8 pages
- The World of Roman Costume (Wisconsin Studies in Classics) by Judith Lynn Sebesta on 6 pages
- Roman Clothing and Fashion by A.T. Croom on 6 pages
- Ancient Rome (The First Book of Series) by Charles Alexander, Jr. Robinson on 5 pages
- Ancient Rome: City Planning and Administration by O. F. Robinson on 5 pages
See all 100 books this book cites
- Her Master's Tools?: Feminist And Postcolonial Engagements of Historical-Critical Discourse (Global Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship) by et al Caroline Vander Stichele (Editor) on page 287, and Back Matter
- The Lost Apostle: Searching for the Truth About Junia by Rena Pederson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Rhetorical Role of Scripture in 1 Corinthians (Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series) by John Paul Heil on page 178, and Back Matter
- Knowing Christ Together, Vol. 1 by Frank A. Viola on page 168
- From Nazareth to Patmos: The Saga of the New Testament Church by Frank A. Viola in Back Matter
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