A master stroke of gender-biased-hierarchical-English-translation-theology

Matthew 24:45-46

Who then is a faithful and wise slave whom the master has appointed on behalf of HIMSELF to the service of HIS household to nurture them in season Happy are those slaves whom their lord when he comes shall find so doing

Comments: ^{Matthew 24:45} Jesus is speaking to all people in this verse, and not just to men. Contextually, in Matthew 24:45, the Greek word, doulos [slave], though generally defined as a masculine noun, refers to both sexes.

In most Bibles, this verse is a master stroke of gender-biased-hierarchical-English-translation-theology, erroneously translated to undergird a non-existent hierarchical model for New Testament Believers and to erase women from both leadership and from the congregation at large.

Women, who along with men are contextually present in this verse, have been rendered virtually invisible by semantic burqas.

The Koine Greek text of Matthew 24:45 (the New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek) shows that Jesus did not set faithful and wise slaves over people to rule them—the words over and rule are not present in the Greek—but rather, these slaves have been appointed to a healing and nurturing service of God to those they are sent to.

Contextually, the faithful and wise slaves in this verse are not limited to men. Jesus was speaking to all—either women or men—who would be his slaves.

Even under the Old Covenant, the woman of valor in Proverbs 31 was a faithful and wise servant who rises “while it is yet night and gives nourishment to her household.” The nourishment referred to in Proverbs 31 was not about cooking breakfast, The Proverbs 31 Woman had servants of her own to cook breakfast. It was spiritual food she provided. Jesus used food allegorically when he said that to do the will of His Father was nourishment (food) to Him ^{John 4:34}.

Jocelyn Andersen writes and speaks about a variety of topics with an emphasis on the subjects of domestic violence awareness and God and Women. She is the author of several non-fiction books including, "Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence" and "Woman this is WAR! Gender, Slavery, and the Evangelical Caste System."

Her work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television. She is open to requests for writing assignments, anthology contributions, and speaking engagements.

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