An Intersectional Approach to Early Christian Memory: The Case of the Pastoral Epistles

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntersectionality has become the primary analytic tool that feminist and anti-racist scholars deploy for theorising identity and oppression. This article aims at using an intersectional approach to the Pastoral Epistles as memory of Paul in order to highlight issues of power and dominance. Instead of examining gender, race, class, age, and sexuality etc. as separate categories of difference, intersectionality explores how these categories mutually construct one another modifying and reinforcing each other. In addition, intersectionality not only helps to reveal complexities and dilemmas in what we study, but also challenge interpreters and scholars to be critical to their own positions. For intersectional theorists, marginalised subjects have an epistemic advantage. I ask: How can the Pastoral Epistles' various statements about wives, Jews or slaves be understood by help of intersectionality? And how can we as interpreters deal with the intersecting power structures constructed by these epistles?