Ephesian Women in Greco-Roman and Early Christian Perspective

Abstract

Elif Hilal Karaman is Research Associate in the Department of History of Religions at Dokuz Eylül University in Izmir, Turkey. She is part of a growing community of scholars who are seeking to bring female voices and perspectives to the study of the ancient world, NT, and archeology. In this regard, Karaman seeks to examine the different roles of women in Greco-Roman and Christian worlds and to discuss the presentations and changing perceptions of these women. The research contained herein is based on Karaman’s doctoral dissertation, “A Change in Perspective: A Comparison between Early Christian Literature and Greco-Roman Evidence on the Lives of Ephesian Women,” completed at the University of Manchester.The volume begins with an important chapter on research samples. This chapter clarifies the scope of the project and focuses the reader on the locale of Ephesus. Karaman helpfully shows the importance of Ephesus for both the Greco-Roman and NT worlds. The chapter also clarifies the stratification of women in terms of socioeconomic categories. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the history of scholarship concerning both Ephesus and the history of women in the Roman and Christian worlds. Chapter 3 gives a social history of Ephesus, focusing on the domestic, public, ancient, and imperial. Chapters 4–7 begin to explore the social relationships of women in the ancient world. Each chapter begins with an explanation of the topic. This introduction is followed by an analysis of the topic from the perspective of the Greco-Roman evidence and then a similar treatment within the Christian writings. Chapter 4 addresses marriage. Karaman argues that the Greco-Roman and Christian evidence show more agreement of thought than previously acknowledged. In both cases, the submissive-wife motif is pervasive, but with one caveat. Whereas submission in Greco-Roman culture was for the purpose of societal praise, Christian submission was exclusively for the approval of God. Chapter 5 examines the role of widows and single women in ancient culture. Here, Karaman points out that the Christian way of living was driven by faith. Widows and single women operated within social boundaries similar to those of their Greco-Roman counterparts but with different motivations. Unlike chs. 4 and 5, which examined women in the domestic sphere, chs. 6 and 7 explore the role of women in the social sphere. Particularly interesting is the discussion of apparel with the accompanying pictures (pp. 130–31). Karaman concludes that Christian views towards head coverings and marriage were an attempt to, once again, Christianize Greco-Roman norms. Women’s attire were important markers of identity and reputation, and therefore, Christians were to be mindful of an appearance that honored God. Chapter 7 examines the role of women as teachers. The main takeaway from this chapter is the role of women to remain visual but not verbal. Karaman argues that Paul’s admonitions of women’s teaching were purposed to protect their husband’s reputations and not to condemn female public speaking in general.The monograph bears marks of both the academy and personal notes. Growing up near Ephesus, Karaman is able to provide a vibrancy to her research that speaks to her interests in the subject. Karaman is also conversant with a variety of sources. Her use of inscriptions is admirable given the difficulty of drawing conclusions from such a wide sample set. One overall benefit of this study is in showing the continuity between Greco-Roman norms and early Christian witness. Karaman is able to show that both worlds were conversant with one another and that Paul’s concern was that Christians have the proper posture in their Greco-Roman world.