Feminist Hermeneutical Portrayal Of Eve In The New Testament
"Feminism is a social vision, rooted in women's experience of sexually based discrimination and oppression, a movement seeking the liberation of women from all forms of sexism, and an academic method of analysis being used in virtually every discipline." (Anne M. Clifford) From the beginning, women have often been excluded, marginalised or silenced in the Christian tradition. This is due to the fact that the bible was written during a patriarchal time where feminism did not exist. Unfortunately those beliefs have been passed down many generations later. However, Feminist hermeneutics challenges these patriarchal views of women through an analysis of the world behind, of and in front of the text. For instance, the portrayal of Eve in the New Testament can be challenged by applying a feminist hermeneutical approach.
…show more content…
For many years women have been socially dominated by men.
Due to the fact that the world behind the text was very much a man’s world, the place of women was marginalised. People often believe that these patriarchal views of women originated from Eve’s actions in the story of creation. However, her character and identity in Genesis is not a divinely ordained fact, but the misogynistic construction of Hebrew writers. These views are evident in some biblical text. For example, in the passage Timothy 2:11-15, God says, “Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. This quote from scripture highlights the view that men were granted authority over women for Eve’s
sin.
When looking at the world of the text, it is evident that the story of Adam and Eve was created during a patriarchal time. Many believe that the intention of the Adam and Eve story is to justify why men are supposedly more superior to women. However, the actual intention of this story was to communicate the understanding of original sin. Original sin is the belief that evil is supposedly a natural characteristic that is in all human beings, held to be inherited from Adam as a consequence of the fall. The story of Adam and Eve leads us to believe that Eve sinned first and then influenced Adam to sin as well, therefore causing the fall. This has positioned the readers to perceive that the author has deliberately blamed Eve for the fall of humanity, when Adam himself agreed to eat the forbidden fruit. However, the patriarchal society at the time this story was created is what influenced these interpretations.
Through Eve’s words and actions, the true nature of women was revealed. Eve’s actions have led to the belief that all women by nature are weak-willed, prone to temptation, disloyal, seductive and untrustworthy. The story of Adam and Eve has warned men not to trust them and for women not to trust themselves. However, when looking at the story of creation through a feminist reading, it is evident that Eve is not the evil temptress which we are led to believe. Although people interpret the story as God created man then God created woman, therefore Man is more superior to woman; if a feminist hermeneutical approach is applied, the story can be interpreted as God created Man and God created woman equally. Furthermore, many people look at the Adam and Eve story and note that Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit, and that is why humans suffer. However, when putting the passage back into context, the reader sees that the serpent is the one who receives the first punishment as the serpent was the first sinner. However, all three of them received punishment because they all disobeyed God’s laws. Psalms 104.35 says “Let sin[…]s cease out of the earth and let the wicked be no more” (Mechon Psalm 104.35). This psalm is highlighting the fact that God believes in punishing people who sin and not just women. When looking at the Bible as a whole instead of only Genesis 3:12, it becomes evident that God is not against women, but instead believes in punishing people who disobey God’s laws.
For many years women have been socially dominated by men.
Due to the fact that the world behind the text was very much a man’s world, the place of women was marginalised. People often believe that these patriarchal views of women originated from Eve’s actions in the story of creation. However, her character and identity in Genesis is not a divinely ordained fact, but the misogynistic construction of Hebrew writers. These views are evident in some biblical text. For example, in the passage Timothy 2:11-15, God says, “Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. This quote from scripture highlights the view that men were granted authority over women for Eve’s
sin.
When looking at the world of the text, it is evident that the story of Adam and Eve was created during a patriarchal time. Many believe that the intention of the Adam and Eve story is to justify why men are supposedly more superior to women. However, the actual intention of this story was to communicate the understanding of original sin. Original sin is the belief that evil is supposedly a natural characteristic that is in all human beings, held to be inherited from Adam as a consequence of the fall. The story of Adam and Eve leads us to believe that Eve sinned first and then influenced Adam to sin as well, therefore causing the fall. This has positioned the readers to perceive that the author has deliberately blamed Eve for the fall of humanity, when Adam himself agreed to eat the forbidden fruit. However, the patriarchal society at the time this story was created is what influenced these interpretations.
Through Eve’s words and actions, the true nature of women was revealed. Eve’s actions have led to the belief that all women by nature are weak-willed, prone to temptation, disloyal, seductive and untrustworthy. The story of Adam and Eve has warned men not to trust them and for women not to trust themselves. However, when looking at the story of creation through a feminist reading, it is evident that Eve is not the evil temptress which we are led to believe. Although people interpret the story as God created man then God created woman, therefore Man is more superior to woman; if a feminist hermeneutical approach is applied, the story can be interpreted as God created Man and God created woman equally. Furthermore, many people look at the Adam and Eve story and note that Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit, and that is why humans suffer. However, when putting the passage back into context, the reader sees that the serpent is the one who receives the first punishment as the serpent was the first sinner. However, all three of them received punishment because they all disobeyed God’s laws. Psalms 104.35 says “Let sin[…]s cease out of the earth and let the wicked be no more” (Mechon Psalm 104.35). This psalm is highlighting the fact that God believes in punishing people who sin and not just women. When looking at the Bible as a whole instead of only Genesis 3:12, it becomes evident that God is not against women, but instead believes in punishing people who disobey God’s laws.