Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament: Women and Gender in Ancient Religions: Interdisciplinary Approaches

Following a scholarly conference given in honor of Adela Yarbro Collins, this collection of essays offers focused studies on the wide range of ways that women and gender contribute to the religious landscape of the ancient world. Experts in Greek and Roman religions, Early Christianity, Ancient Judaism, and Ancient Christianity engage in literary, social, historical, and cultural analysis of various ancient texts, inscriptions, social phenomena, and cultic activity. These studies continue the welcomed trend in scholarship that expands the social location of women in ancient Mediterranean religion to include the public sphere and consciousness. The result is an important and lively book that deepens the understanding of ancient religion as a whole. With contributions by:Patricia D. Ahearne-Kroll, Loveday Alexander, Mary Rose D'Angelo, Stephen J. Davis, Robert Doran, Radcliffe G. Edmonds III, Carin M. C. Green, Fritz Graf, Jan Willem van Henten, Paul A. Holloway, Annette B. Huizenga, Jeremy F. Hultin, Sarah Iles Johnston, James A. Kelhoffer, Judith L. Kovacs, Outi Lehtipuu, Matt Jackson-McCabe, Candida R. Moss, Christopher N. Mount, Susan E. Myers, Clare K. Rothschild, Turid Karlsen Seim Cover Sarah Iles Johnston: Foreword Table of Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction Part I: Narrative LOVEDAY ALEXANDER: The Virgin and the Goddess. Women and Religion in the Greek Romance A. Callirhoe as Reader and Heroine B. Callirhoe Patrona: Women in the Landscape of the Gods C. Callirhoe Orans: Women as Religious Practitioners D. Callirhoe Epiphanes: Women as Sites of Divine Presence E. Women in the Sacred Landscape of Early Christian Narrative Works Cited PATRICIA D. AHEARNE-KROLL: The Portrayal of Aseneth in Joseph and Aseneth. Women’s Religious Experience in Antiquity and the Limitations of Ancient Narratives A. Rhetorical Design of the Protagonists in Greek Novels B. Aseneth in Joseph and Aseneth C. Aseneth and Women’s Religious Experience in Antiquity Works Cited MARY ROSE D’ANGELO: Roman Imperial Family Values and the Gospel of Mark. The Divorce Sayings (Mark 10:2–12) A. Rethinking the Roman Context I. Rethinking the Laws II. Philo: Reading the Law of Moses in Roman Terms B. Mark on Household Management: Excelling the Laws of Moses and of Caesar (Mark 10:2–12 within 10:2–31) I. The Public Debate: Mark 10:2–9 II. The Private Teaching: Mark 10:10–12 III. Mark 10:2–12 in the Context of Mark 10:2–31: Rethinking Household Management C. Conclusions Appendix: Roman Imperial Family Values and the Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Christian Origins (Based Largely on Susan Treggiari’s Roman Marriage) 1. Augustus’s Social Legislation 2. Some Effects of the Laws Works Cited JAMES A. KELHOFFER: A Tale of Two Markan Characterizations. The Exemplary Woman Who Anointed Jesus’ Body for Burial (14:3–9) and the Silent Trio Who Fled the Empty Tomb (16:1–8) A. Introduction B. An Unnamed Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial (14:3–9) C. The Women at the Empty Tomb as Continuation of the Persona and Failures of the Twelve (15:40–16:8) D. Conclusion: Discipleship and Gender in Mark Works Cited TURID KARLSEN SEIM: Motherhood and the Making of Fathers in Antiquity. Contextualizing Genetics in the Gospel of John A. Ancient Genetics: Observations and Paternal Claims B. Post-natal Rituals: Viability and Paternal Potestas C. Generation in the Gospel of John D. Concluding Observations Works Cited CLARE K. ROTHSCHILD: Embryology, Plant Biology, and Divine Generation in the Fourth Gospel A. Introduction B. History of Research C. Three Prolegomena I. Presumed Priority of Scientific Treatises II. The Role of “Female” in Epigenesis III. Epigenesis as Embryological Development D. Critical Analysis E. Parthenogenesis among Nag Hammadi Texts F. Conclusion Works Cited JAN WILLEM VAN HENTEN: Blaming the Women. Women at Herod’s Court in Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities 15.23–231 A. The Portraits of Mariamme and Aristoboulus (Ant. 15.23–31) B. The Order to Execute Mariamme (Ant. 15.57–87) C. Salome Scheming for Mariamme’s Death (Ant. 15.183–186, 202–231) D. Conclusion Works Cited ROBERT DORAN: To Bear or Not To Bear. The Argument for Abstinence in the Greek Gospel of the Egyptians A. The Order of the Sayings B. The Rhetoric of the Dialogue Saying 1 Saying 2 Saying 3 Saying 4 C. Conclusion Appendix Works Cited CANDIDA R. MOSS: Blood Ties. Martyrdom, Motherhood, and Family in the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas A. Introduction B. Families Rejected C. Absentee Fathers D. Families Reconstituted E. Conclusion Works Cited JEREMY F. HULTIN: A New Web for Arachne and a New Veil for the Temple. Women and Weaving from Athena to the Virgin Mary Works Cited Part II: Ritual FRITZ GRAF: Victimology. Or, How to Blame Someone for an Untimely Death A. B. C. D. E. F. Works Cited RADCLIFFE G. EDMONDS III: Blaming the Witch. Some Reflections upon Unexpected Death Works Cited STEPHEN J. DAVIS: Forget Me Not. Memory and the Female Subject in Ancient Binding Spells A. A Case of Unrequited Desire: Hermeias and Tigerous B. The Malleability of Memory: From Modernity to Antiquity C. Ancient Spells Designed to Enhance One’s Own Memory (Mnmonikai) D. Ancient Binding Spells (Agōgai) Designed to Manipulate the Memory of Another E. An Incorporating Practice: Memory, the Body, and the Female Subject in Ancient Binding Spells Works Cited MATT JACKSON-MCCABE: Women and Eros in Greek Magic and the Acts of Paul and Thecla A. Gender and the Body in Greek Love Magic B. Agōgē Spells, Thecla, and the Interpretation of Christ Devotion as Magic Works Cited CARIN M. C. GREEN: Holding the Line. Women, Ritual, and the Protection of Rome Works Cited Part III: Logos PAUL A. HOLLOWAY: Gender and Grief. Seneca’s Ad Marciam and Ad Helviam matrem A. On the Nature of Ancient Consolation B. Seneca’s Ad Marciam and Ad Helviam matrem II. The Ad Helviam matrem C. Conclusion Works Cited CHRISTOPHER N. MOUNT: Religious Experience, the Religion of Paul, and Women in Pauline Churches A. The Religion of Paul B. Apostles, Prophets, and Shamans C. The Apologetics of Religious Experience D. Spirit Possession and Women in Pauline Churches Works Cited OUTI LEHTIPUU: The Example of Thecla and the Example(s) of Paul. Disputing Women’s Roles in Early Christianity A. Paul and Women – An Ambiguous Legacy B. The Pastoral Epistles: Silencing Women with Male Authority C. The Acts of Paul and Thecla: Empowering Women to Act D. Acts of Paul and Thecla and the Social Reality of Early Christian Women E. Asceticism and Autonomy? F. Celibacy vs. Married Life G. Women as Leaders H. Conclusion: Contending for the Legacy of Paul and Thecla Works Cited ANNETTE BOURLAND HUIZENGA: Sōphrosynē for Women in Pythagorean Texts A. Introduction B. Sōphrosynē in the Texts Ascribed to Pythagorean Women I. A Treatise by Phintys, On the Sōphrosynē of a Woman II. The Letter Melissa to Kleareta C. Sōphrosynē for Men and Women D. Additional Evidence and Implications E. Conclusion Works Cited JUDITH L. KOVACS: Becoming the Perfect Man. Clement of Alexandria on the Philosophical Life of Women A. Introduction: Clement on Women B. Stromateis, Book 4 as Context of the Four Chapters on Women C. Stromateis 4, Chapter 8 and the Interpretation of Galatians 3:28 D. The Meaning of ΦιλοσοΦέω: Cultivating the Philosophical Life E. Clement and the Language of Gender in the Greco-Roman World F. Stoic Household Theory and Clement’s Citations from Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5 G. Becoming “Equal to the Angels” (Luke 20:34–36) and the “Perfect Man” (Eph 4:13) H. Stromateis 4, Chapters 19–21: Virtuous Women and the Meaning of μαρτυρία I. Conclusion: Saint Paul, the Language of Gender, and the Philosophical Life of Women Works Cited SUSAN E. MYERS: The Spirit as Mother in Early Syriac-Speaking Christianity A. Feminine Language for Spirit: A Survey of Sources I. Biblical Texts II. Mother Language for Spirit B. Earliest Sources C. Development of the Images in the Acts of Thomas D. Syrian Authors from the Classical Period E. Conclusion Works Cited List of Contributors Index of Ancient Texts 1. Ancient Greek and Latin Literature 2. Biblical Literature 3. Ancient Jewish Literature 4. Other Early Christian Literature 6. Inscriptions and Papyri Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects The Virgin And The Goddess : Women And Religion In The Greek Romance / Loveday Alexander -- The Portrayal Of Aseneth In Joseph And Aseneth : Women's Religious Experience In Antiquity And The Limitations Of Ancient Narratives / Patricia D. Ahearne-kroll -- Roman Imperial Family Values And The Gospel Of Mark : The Divorce Sayings (mark 10:2-12) / Mary Rose D'angelo -- A Tale Of Two Markan Characterizations : The Exemplary Woman Who Anointed Jesus' Body For Burial (14:3-9) And The Silent Trio Who Fled The Empty Tomb (16:1-8) / James A. Kelhoffer -- Motherhood And Making Of Fathers In Antiquity : Contextualizing Genetics In The Gospel Of John / Turid Karlsen Seim -- Embryology, Plant Biology, And Divine Generation In The Fourth Gospel / Clare K. Rothschild -- Blaming The Women : Women At Herod's Court In Josephus' Jewish Antiquities 15.23-231 / Jan Willem Van Henten -- To Bear Or Not To Bear : The Argument For Abstinence In The Greek Gospel Of The Egyptians / Robert Doran -- Blood Ties : Martyrdom, Motherhood, And Family In The Passion Of Perpetua And Felicitas / Candida R. Moss -- A New Web For Arachne And A New Veil For The Temple : Women And Weaving From Athena To The Virgin Mary / Jeremy F. Hultin. Victimology : Or, How To Blame Someone For An Untimely Death / Fritz Graf -- Blaming The Witch : Some Reflections Upon Unexpected Death / Radcliffe G. Edmonds Iii -- Forget Me Not : Memory And The Female Subject In Ancient Binding Spells / Stephen J. Davis -- Women And Eros In Greek Magic And The Acts Of Paul And Thecla / Matt Jackson-mccabe -- Holding The Line : Women, Ritual, And The Protection Of Rome / Carin M.c. Green -- Gender And Grief : Seneca's Ad Marciam And Ad Helviam Matrem / Paul A. Holloway -- Religious Experience, The Religion Of Paul, And Women In The Pauline Churches / Christopher N. Mount -- The Example Of Thecla And The Example(s) Of Paul : Disputing Women's Roles In Early Christianity / Outi Lehtipuu -- Sōphrosynē For Women In Pythagorean Texts / Annette Bourland Huizenga -- Becoming The Perfect Man : Clement Of Alexandria On The Philosophical Life Of Women / Judith L. Kovacs -- The Spirit As Mother In Early Syriac-speaking Christianity / Susan E. Myers. Edited By Stephen P. Ahearne-kroll, Paul A. Holloway And James A. Kelhoffer. Revised Versions Of Papers Given At The Conference Women In The Religious And Intellectual Activity Of The Ancient Mediterranean World : An Interdisciplinary And International Conference In Honor Of Adela Yarbro Collins Held March 15-17, 2009 At The Methodist Theological School In Ohio And The Ohio State University--introd. P. [1]. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. HauptbeschreibungFollowing a scholarly conference given in honor of Adela Yarbro Collins, this collection of essays offers focused studies on the wide range of ways that women and gender contribute to the religious landscape of the ancient world. Experts in Greek and Roman religions, Early Christianity, Ancient Judaism, and Ancient Christianity engage in literary, social, historical, and cultural analysis of various ancient texts, inscriptions, social phenomena, and cultic activity. These studies continue the welcomed trend in scholarship that expands the social location of women in ancient Me Hauptbeschreibung Following a scholarly conference given in honor of Adela Yarbro Collins, this collection of essays offers focused studies on the wide range of ways that women and gender contribute to the religious landscape of the ancient world. Experts in Greek and Roman religions, Early Christianity, Ancient Judaism, and Ancient Christianity engage in literary, social, historical, and cultural analysis of various ancient texts, inscriptions, social phenomena, and cultic activity. These studies continue the welcomed trend in scholarship that expands the social location of women i.