ADVANCED INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON RELIGION AND CULTURE (Hyd)

History of Christianity – M.Th -1

Subject :Women in the history of Christianity

Topic: Women in the work of Church Fathers

Facilitator: Rev.Dr. N V Grace Bhanu

Presenter:K. Hanok Deva Sujay

Introduction:
The traditions and history have been shaped by males keeping women in the background the
most of the writers made the largest tradition about women is invisible as much we got only
fragments of data about women1.By the church fathers in early centuries is a contentious issue
with in the Christianity because some people believe that the patristic writers clearly sought to
restrict the influence of women in civil society as well as in the life of the church. How ever,
others believe that the early church fathers actually tried to increase the dignity of women.

Tertullian:

The church father Tertullian was one of the prominent theologian in early centuries he called
women “The devils of gateway”. His view is from the book of genesis falling of eve in the garden
of Eden. All to easily destroyed the image of GOD, Adam. Because he of that we deserve death,
it was the son of God who had to die. Mainly he pointed to Jewish women who were all veiled
and said that this practice was not prescribed anywhere (rebekah veiling herslf when she saw
Issac it is precedent only for un married women, it was a custom that the practice the force of
law).

Tertullain argument was that custom rather than explicit scriptural teaching was the force
behind a christians refusal to wear veiling2.If they are failing then they should cut their hair as
men do, his argument like paul from the scripture . To the virgins themselves to be veiled
because they are married to Christ. He certainly followed the Pauline tradition of accepting
women inferior to men.

1
L. Swilder, Biblical affirmations of women (Philadelphia: The westmister press ,1979),26
2
Geoffrey D. Dunn, Tertullain Early church fathers (London: University of Durban,2004),96

1
Origen:

The famous Influential Theologian. He express women are full of lust, rebuked for chattering
interrupting and having their minds on domestic duties3. Origen is well Known for his hatred of
sex and women. His teachings weaved together the Christian hatred for women and
abhorrence for the sexual act into one system. He didn’t approve that widowers don’t marry
again. Origen made an interesting use of the symbol of women. On the other hand basically ,

The bride remains a symbol of the church. In a more particular sense the bride is a virgin and
the writings referred to are seemingly addressed to virgins she represents the life and order of
virgin in the church or the soul in the union word of God. The virgins have their own place in
Origen. 4

Clement of Alxeandria:

The Greek father of the church, had such a contempt for women that he belived such a
feeling must be universal. Women should also fetch from the pantry things that we need. He
consider women and marriage in early Christianity. Clement support of the equality of man and
women in the eyes of God, and the second after extolling such biblical women Susanna, Esther,
Judith and some courageous women as well how a wife shares in the responsibilities of the
couple and must take more than her share if her husband is not able to fulfill his duties. She
does so while keeping the sense that she is an associate and not the head of man. Alexandria
attested the participation of widows with the clergy in the healing of sinners and the comforting
of those in distress.5

St.Jerome:

The well known Biblical scholar and translator of the bible into Latin have a simple view of
women. The marital act of Jerome cannot be good because it only acts as a relief valve. The
only thing about marriage is that it produces virgins. And Jerome was very concern about
women and closely associated with women. women and Jerome were comfortable discussing
scripture and Christian living with each other. Jerome in constart strongly supported women
not to marrying6.

3
Ronald E. Heine, Origen scholarship in the service of church (New York :Oxford press,2010),183
4
Jean La Porte, The role of women in early Christianity (New York :Edwin Mellen press, 1982),43
5
The role of women in early Christianity,37
6
http://purplemotes.net/2014/08/18/saint-jerome-women / 18/09/20 8:20
2
Jerome observes that a distinctive mark of the priesthood is monogamy. Jerome interprets the
death of a wife or husband as an invitation of God not to seek after a second marriage , and he
argues in support of the unity of marriage from the marriage between Adam and Eve and
between Christ and the Church, which are characterized by unity. Jerome offers the example of
the holy widows of scripture :Ann the daughter of phanuel, the widow of sarepathu who fed
Elijah, Judith, Debora,etc..,

St .Augustine:

Doctor of the church and Bishop of Hippo. He extended patoral care to men and women with
equal zeal and charity. Augustine skillfully weaved the story of the fall with the theology of the
original sin. The main casualty of his Theology. The main casualty of his Theology was the
position of woman in Christian society. Thus Augustine concluded that women was created
purely for procreation and for nothing else.

Augustine also blamed women for the Fall. The expulsion of Adam and Eve from from
paradise According to him ,was purely the fault of people. He taught that satan , in the form of
the serpent , tempted Eve because she was more gullible than Adam satan turned to the
inferior of the human pair…. Supposing that the man would not be easily gullible and could not
be trapped by a false by a false move on his own part,but only if he yielded to another mistake
Thus concluded, it was the love of Eve that brought ruin to Adam. And Augustine had a respect
for women, Augustine assures that women may become philosophers Equal to Men and that all
of them wish to learn from her wisdom.7

A Husband should be ready to suffer from his wife because of her defects with out
manifesting aversion or hatred. Didn’t Christ love the Church when we were sinners and far
from him? A husband should not blame or praise his wife for her ugliness or her beauty they
are not her own work but that of God.8 He should appreciate the beauty of her soul. And one
should not marry a wife for her wealth or the prestige of her family but for that true nobility
which belongs to the soul. Husband and wife should trust each other and discard jeasouly and
suspicion.

St.Ambrose :

A Doctor of the church and bishop of Milan reminded believers that the way women was
originally created confirms her second class status. Remember that God took the rib out of

7
Henry Chadwick, Augustine of Hippo (New York: Oxford University Press ,2009),34
8
Jean La Porte, The role of women in early Christianity, 28
3
Adams body, not a part of his soul, to make her .She was not made in the Image of God , like
Man. Like all misogynists Ambrose glorified virginity.

To him virginity was the Christian virtue. He advised that marriage to be avoided like a
burden. For those who do marry he forbade inter course for any other reason except the pro
creation of children. Naturally Ambrose taught that old couple no longer Concive. For the first
thing that women who are to be married desire more than anything else is that very may boast
of the beauty of their bridegroom9.sometimes he use to say Holy women and said teach your
daughters what you should teach and teach the religion. But Young women you have the
reward of your devotion he use to encourage.

St. John Chrysostom :

Doctor of the church and Bishop of the Constantinople said that women are in general “Weak
and fligty”. He neatly put together the Twin theological ideas of anti women and anti sex. Does
not profit a Man to marry. He use to tell believers overcome the tempatation of women.

But he exalt the virgin Mother of the savior higher in honor than the cherubhim and more
glorious than the seraphim, Thus her palce in the Christian system of salvation and her pre-
emince in the heavenly hierarchy were acknowledged. 10

Thomas Aquinas:

The greatest scholastic theologian of all was the angelic Doctor Thomas Acquinas. In line with
is position of his teacher Acquinas equally convinced of woman inhernt to Man to him women
is a product of environmental pollution. Women were less intelligent than Man.

The head of every man is Christ but woman is Men. Adam was not deceived but the woman
being deceived was in the transgression. Adam was the first formed then Eve.

Conclusion:

The above church Fathers works of the women were somehow negleable and how ever
constructive. But worldly modern proverb every Man victory behind there will be a Women
hand so she is the victorious but not identified. Therefore her works were appreciative and
involved for the construction of a every system in holy scripture there are many women work
we can see and learn lesson so the women work in past and present and in future were highly
exalted.
9
Boniface Romsey O. P. ,Ambrose Early church father (London: University of Durban,2002),83
10
Jean la porte, The role of women in early christianity,93
 Biblography

Swilder. L. Biblical affirmations of women, Philadelphia: westmister press,1979

Dunn Geoffrey.D. Tertullian early church fathers, London: Durban press,2004

Heine Ronald. E. Origen scholarship in the early church, New York oxford university, 2010

Porte Jean Le. The role of women in early christisnity, New York Edwin mellen press, 1982

Chadwick Henry. Augustine of Hippo ,New York: Oxford university,2009

Romsey Boniface O. P. Ambrose Early Church father, London: University of Durban, 2002

Net sources

http// Purplemotes.net saint- Jerome-women