01.16.23 - Topic Tuesday: Women In the Bible
- tmaley
- Jan 23, 2024
- 15 min read
Updated: Feb 6, 2024
Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics
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Every Tuesday, 7PM-8PM
This meeting format is lecture and Q&A. It is free.
House rules/notes…
Our meeting/classes are In-Person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ (usually held downstairs in Room 5), or ONLINE via Zoom (see #2).
To sign up for Zoom notifications and to receive the Meeting Recaps, go to www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy and join us! The Zoom Logon is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952.
After each meeting, I send out Meeting Recaps of what we discussed. These recaps are unedited and without the pictures. The edited version with pictures will be posted before the next class on the Website – https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website. Taylor will notify everyone and provide a link.
Questions highly encouraged. If you have questions, we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask in the zoom chatbox during the class, or email through Meetup.com, or email me directly at ron@hallagan.net afterwards.
Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them!
No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith.
Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week? Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/.
“The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!
We will review a different apologetics or exegesis term each week...
Apologetics and Exegesis Terms
Apologetics – to defend a belief.
Catholic Apologetics– to defend the Catholic faith using reason, tradition, & Scripture.
Exegesis – the study and interpretation of Scripture (it’s what we do here every week; you are all exegetes).
Eschatology (Greek, eschaton=last/end): the study of the End Times: the Second Coming of Christ (called Advent in Latin,
Parousia in Greek), Judgement Day, Heaven & Hell. In exegesis, you will hear Parousia (pair-oo-sia) more than Advent.
Bible = The OT = The Torah (Pentateuch, Books of Moses), the Prophets, the Writings (Wisdom, Novellas)
The NT = The Gospels and the Epistles (Epistles: New Test Letters (Paul), Catholic Letters, and Revelation).
Best Bibles – The Didache Bible, Ignatius Edition; Ignatius RSV 2nd Catholic edition; Augustine Bible; Douay Rheims (Jerome). Starters: Bible Basics for Catholics-Ave Maria press.
Church – Greek kyriakon house of the Lord: building for Christian worship; the whole body of Christian believers.
Ark of the Covenant: a) The golden chest holding the 10 Commandments; b) Mary’s womb holding the Word of God
Tabernacle - the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites in the wilderness during Exodus the from Egypt and then in the Temple in Jerusalem by Solomon (and again later by Herod). Latin tabernaculum – tent; temporary dwelling place.
Temple – Latin templum - space set aside for sacrifice/worship; replaced the Tabernacle; the Temple in Jerusalem.
Synagogue – Jewish house of worship often w/facilities for religious instruction. Greek synagogue: assembly/gathering.
Church Authority – The Church is the only authority given by Jesus Christ to interpret the Word of God: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven" (Mt 18:18-20). Otherwise, there could be a different interpretation for every Scriptural passage for every person who ever read them, resulting in division vs unity (which is why there are 10,000 different Protestant churches and 17+ Eastern Orthodox churches). Catholic Church teachings are nothing more than the Church’s interpretation of that which has already been revealed by God, either through Scripture or what has been handed on from Apostolic Tradition. This body of the Church’s interpretation is called the “Magisterium” and it is not superior to the Word of God, but its servant. The Church cannot make up anything outside what has been handed to it, but rather guards and teaches it (CCC#86, 890). The Church believes that Divine Revelation ended with the Apostles.
Doctrine refers to all of the official teachings of the Church. They fall into three categories:
Those that the Church teaches authoritatively but not infallibly. Elements within these can change.
Those which the Church teaches infallibly.
Dogma: Those teachings which the Church has infallibly taught to be divinely revealed.
“Theological Opinions” are teachings that express a pope’s views in a subject but are not doctrine/not binding. Encyclicals fall into this category.
Heresy is the rejection of dogma. If someone rejects a teaching belonging to the first or second categories of
doctrine, it may be very sinful, but it does not rise to the level of heresy.
Epiphany – Epiphany means a sudden manifestation from above (epi=above + phany=appearance). In Christianity, it refers to the sudden revelation that Jesus Christ was Savior of the whole World when the Magi gentiles arrived.
Theophany is a type of epiphany – it is the appearance of God (theos-God + phany=appearance). Examples are Yahweh to Moses on Mt. Sinai, or at God speaking at Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration.
Eucharist –the Lord’s Supper. The bread & wine become Jesus’ body/blood. From Greek eucharistia = thanksgiving.
Mass – the celebration of the Last Supper/Eucharist. “Mass” is from the Latin missa meaning “to send (out).”
Evangelize – to make the Kingdom of God present in our world.
Forgiveness – letting go of past harm to God or others; it presumes repentance, which presumes changes in behavior
Mercy – withholding harsh treatment or judgment that is justified.
God as Father/He/Him – scriptural tradition (God is not a gender); God does set the gold standard for fatherhood.
Man – generic for mankind, humanity.
Deism – belief in a supreme being/creator who does not intervene in the universe, or who is indifferent to it.
Theism – belief in the existence of God or gods, especially the believe in one God who is creator of the universe and is actively engaged in some way, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relationship with his creatures.
Atheism – belief that gods of any kind do not exist.
Agnosticism – belief that God may or may not exist but we cannot know.
Preternatural – means “outside the natural”; refers to the preternatural state of grace Adam & Eve were in before the Fall.
The “World” – as used in the Bible, this term pertains to the material world or our temporary, material lives. The word “secular” means the same thing (Latin seaecularis - worldly/temporal). It is often used with a negative connotation, i.e., “The fall of man resulted from our choosing this world/ourselves over God.”
“A lie travels around the globe while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” – Mark Twain
Add: Concupiscence, Octave, Justice, Mercy, Righteous, Patience, Kingdom, Righteous, Hyperbole, Soteriology, Apostolic Succession
Catholic Catacombs Website: https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website
Bible Study Format: Each week of the month has a repeating topic, as noted below.
Each meeting: 5 min greet, prayer, 15 min next Sun Gospel, 40 min main topic.
Week 1: Gospel Week: all Gospels!
Week 2: Bible Week (Gen to Rev): We are in JOSHUA & JUDGES.
Week 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members:
x 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables x 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven x 3) Comparative Religions
4) Great Women in the Bible 5) Book of Revelation 6) Major Heresies and Church Councils
Week 4: Member Questions:
Can you provide a brief review of the origin/meaning of the (12) statements in the Creed?
How do I live my Christian faith at work when my faith is not accepted there?
Angels – who are they, what do they do? Do we really have guardian angels? What about devils/demons?
Please explain exorcisms. Do they happen, are they real?
What should our response be to those who ask us about priestly sex abuse?
What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?
Miracles since the NT
What’s the difference between Charity and Love? What are the highest forms of charity?
How can I get more excited by the Mass?
Was King David good or bad?
Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he even Christian?
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord
As we continue our study of the most influential women in the Bible
We welcome to walk beside us and give us a better understanding of Salvation History
So that we may continue in the path of our forebears in faith.
And as You taught us to pray:
Our Father
Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily Bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Major holy days in the Liturgy of the Church
February 14: Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent
Feb 14 – Mar 28: Lent (ends on Holy Thurs/Last Supper)
Quote of the Week:
“Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women wherever they are.”
Today
Gospel reading – Jesus calls his disciples. Mk 1:14-20 – and Jonah!
Women in the Bible: Deborah, Ruth, Hannah (~1200-1100 BC)
Gospel Reading for this Sunday (1/21): 3rd Sun in Ordinary Time
This is now being called the “Word of God Sunday,” because Jesus begins calling people to his Word.
Context: The reading starts with Jesus announcing the kingdom of God.
What is the gospel of the kingdom of God?
To understand this statement better, it is helpful to refer back to a prophecy in Daniel. Daniel was very popular in the first century BC, and one reason was because he was specific about when the Messiah was to come. In Daniel Ch 2, when interpreting the Persian king’s dreams, Daniel says during the fourth ruler of the land, God will set up a new kingdom that will spread over the earth and never end. In Jesus’ time, the Jews knew the fourth kingdom was: the first was Babylon, who then were conquered by the Persians, who then fell to the Greeks, who then fell to the Romans. They were now living under the 4th ruler, and John the Baptist was telling people to repent because the time was here.
Also, in Daniel 9:25, the Angel Gabriel tells Daniel that the “Anointed One” (Messiah) would come about 500 years after the rebuilding of Jerusalem. That date takes one to the first century.
Babylon Persia Greece Rome
Our first reading in Mark picks up after John the Baptist had been arrested but before Jesus had chosen his 12 disciples, although some of them knew Jesus – or knew of him – because of John.
Mark 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God:
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them. So, they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
Was it realistic that these guys dropped everything and followed him just like that?
First, this was not the first time they met. We see in John’s Gospel that some of them were disciples of John the Baptist and met Jesus (recall Andrew telling Peter about Jesus). After John the Baptist was arrested, they appear to all have gone back to their trades. Eventually, Jesus makes his way up to Galilee and begins where the lost tribes were.
Second, in ancient Judaism, it would have boardered on blasphemy if a son up and left his father during his work. There was only one reason it could be excused: if it was to study the Torah, the Word of God. Clearly, Peter, Andrew, James, and John all respected their call by Jesus in this fashion. Jesus was the Word Himself.
Third, Mark is emphasizing the need to respond to Christ’s call immediately in our lives. This life is short, relatively speaking, and we must make Christ a priority in our daily thinking and living.
Where was Jesus baptized?
He was baptized on the Jordan River, but what’s important to understand is the Messiah was prophesied to a new Moses who would usher in a New Exodus. Where Jesus was baptized was the same location of the Jordan where the Exodus came to an end and Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Red – Jesus’ Baptism Orange – Exodus from Egypt Blue – Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls 1947)
I haven’t often discussed the first readings but everyone knows this one from Jonah, and it has a particular relevance to “Word of God Sunday.”
Jonah 3:1-5
The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So, Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD'S bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day's walk announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed."
The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
Most of us know that this story picks up after Jonah tried to run away from God instead of going to Nineveh like he was asked. He is finally thrown overboard by his shipmates, and a big fish eats him. Many critics question how someone could live in a fish for three days, but some of the early church fathers – and current theologians – think Jonah died in the fish, and when the fish spit him out onto the land 3 days later, God brought him back to life. This would actually fit better with Jesus’ proclamation that the only sign that would be given the Jews would be the sign of the prophet Jonah.
To the Israelites, Nineveh would have been comparable to Mordor; but worse, Jonah didn’t want to go because he didn’t think they deserved to be saved. And he was probably right, but that’s not our call. Our call is to try and save everyone.
So Jonah finally goes, and it shows us that the least likely people are often willing to be open to God. We don’t need to worry about the details – that belongs to the Holy Spirit – we only need to plant the seeds of God’s message.
The question was asked, “Was the Jonah story real?”
The fathers of the Church were split as to whether it was literal history or didactic fiction. The most common interpretation in modern times is of course the latter, or else it was a miraculous event (the message is the same in either case). The Church is silent on its interpretation, and so Catholics are free to understand the story either way.
Most Influential Women in the Bible
x Eve, x Sarah, xRebekah, xRachel, xLeah, xMiriam, xRahab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah
Where we left off…
Last month we discussed how the Prophetess Miriam and the prostitute Rahab influenced events, especially how Rahab assisted the Israelites entering the Promised Land and then becoming the great, great grandmother of King David.
Rahab was in the early part of the Book of Joshua. We next move to the Book of Judges and meet Deborah.
The period of Judges overall was a dark time for Israel because they failed to keep their covenant with God, sordid they teach it to their children, which of course set their children up to fail.
Remember the cycle of sin and deliverance we reviewed. The “deliverance” was usually a “Judge” rising up who would lead them out of captivity.
The Judges were not perfect, either, but there were also several remarkable women during this period. All the more remarkable given that this period was marked with so much unfaithfulness to God.
What were the conditions for their success in the Promised Land?
If Israel relied completely on the Lord for victory,
If Israel stays united as a people,
If no one grows rich from victory in war,
If God remains their one and only God.
Deborah
Instead, what we got was:
“The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight ot the Lord and served the Baals.” – Judges 4:1
…which happens to be the opening verse on the Chapter on Deborah. So, the Israelites fall to a Canaanite tribe who is under the command of a guy named Sisera. Life is tough under Sisera and finally the Israelites call out to God…
“The sons of Israel cried to the Lord for help, for Sisera had 900 iron chariots and oppressed them for twenty years.” – Judges 4:3
The next scene is the men of Israel coming to the “Prophetess Deborah,” who is sitting under a tree to ask her for judgment. She summons her military captain, Barak, and tells him to go around the countryside, gather up 10,000 Israelites from the other tribes, and go fight Sisera.
Barak says, “I’ll go if you go with me; but if not, then I will not go.” Deborah says she will go with him but warns him the Sisera will not fall to his hands but to the hands of a woman.
Sisera gets word and rounds up his army and they meet on the plains, but suddenly all Sisera’s chariots get stuck in the mud and can’t move. The Israelites overrun decisively except Sisera runs away. He finds a cave and encounters a Canaan tribeswoman who lets him sleep there after giving him a glass of milk. When he is asleep, the woman hammers a tent peg through his head and kills him.
The celebrations are huge and all of Chapter Five is “The Song of Deborah.” Deborah judges for the next period of time, and there is peace in the land for 40 years.
Ruth
There are only three books in the Bible named after women and only one named after a gentile, the “Book of Ruth.” This was due to her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and to God.
What are the three books in the Bible named after women?
Ruth, Judith, and Esther
Ruth is a short story, only 4 chapters. It starts off with a Jewish couple, Elimelech and Naomi, who fled their hometown of Bethlehem with their two sons due to a famine in the land. They head to the land of Moab to find food.
However, Elimelech dies soon after arriving, leaving Naomi with her two sons, who marry Moabite women. There they live for 10 years and then Naomi’s two sons die, leaving behind Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.
You can imagine the grief, especially Naomi losing her husband and both sons; however, this is also a dangerous situation for the three women to be alone. Naomi tells Orpah and Ruth to go home to their mothers where they will be safe. As for Naomi, she will head back to her people in Bethlehem. After some prodding, Orpah kisses her mother-in-law good-bye and departs, but not Ruth.
Finally, Ruth says to Naomi:
“Do not press me to go back and abandon you!
Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge.
Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, and there be buried.
May the LORD do thus to me, and more, if even death separates me from you!”
Naomi then ceased to urge her, for she saw she was determined to go with her.
Ruth accompanied Naomi back to land of Judah, to the town of Bethlehem. A wealthy relative of Elimelech, Boaz, employed her in his fields during the harvest season. He was impressed with her work and with her loyalty to Naomi, so he watched over her and protected her.
In time, Boaz fell in love with Ruth, and they married and had a son and named him Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. As a result, Ruth shows up in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew:
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, the father of David the king. – Mt 1:5
Hannah
Hannah forms a bridge between the time of Judges and the time of the Monarchy – the kings of Israel. Once again, we have a faithful woman who is unable to have children. She is deeply loved by her husband, but she is deeply distressed by her infertility and ridiculed by others. She goes to the Tabernacle (there was no temple yet) to offer sacrifices and beg the Lord to give her a child, promising to give the child back to God and dedicate his life to His service.
One time when Hannah is at the Tabernacle praying, the high priest Eli is sitting nearby and sees her weeping and mouthing words. He thinks she’s drunk.
Why wouldn’t he have thought she was praying?
Probably because it was time of unfaithfulness. Although Eli wasn’t a bad priest, his sons were also priests and were horrible.
Eli tells Hannah to put away her wine and go home! Hannah corrects Eli and tells him what she has been pleading for all these years. Eli can see the truth of it and says, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition.”
Indeed, God hears Hannah, she becomes pregnant and has a son named Samuel. When he is old enough, she dedicates Samuel to the Lord. Hannah gives an amazing prayer of thanks to God that foreshadows Mary’s Magnificat.
Samuel will grow up under Eli and become a great prophet who will anoint the first kings of Israel.
Closing Prayer
Prayer of Hannah
“My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted by my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in your victory.
“The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich, humbles, and also exalts.
He guards the footsteps of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall perish in the darkness;
for not by strength does one prevail.
Hail Mary
Full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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