[b-greek] Re: Feminine Images of God

From: Polycarp66@aol.com
Date: Thu Jan 31 2002 - 19:02:21 EST


In a message dated 1/31/2002 6:19:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, cms@dragon.com
writes:


>In the February 2002 issue of the Mensa Bulletin Rebecca James Hecking
>says the New Testament contains several feminine images of God
>including: "Mother Hen, Bakerwoman, and the woman searching for a
>lost coin." Unfortunately, there are no chapter and verse citations.
>Does the original Greek support the idea that these are indeed
>feminine images of God? Also, the Scriptures often speak of the Holy
>Spirit giving birth to Christians, a decidedly feminine view of God.

The mother hen is a familiar figure from Matt. 23.37 // Lk 13.34

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are
sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen
gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house
is forsaken and desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until
you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

The woman searching for the lost coin is from Lk 15.3-10

 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep,
if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness,
and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has
found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home,
he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice
with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you,
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman,
having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and
sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has
found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with
me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you,
there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I don't know offhand what the "bakerwoman" might be (perhaps I'm having a
senior moment at 39 :-)

I fail to see anything there that would point to a specifically feminine
image of God unless you mean that Jesus is pictured as expressing a desire to
protect Jerusalem as a hen would chicks. The parable of the lost coin might
also portray God/Christ as seeking lost individuals portrayed as a lost coin.
 Yes, a woman sweeps her house to find the coin. I think that is only
because it would fit the customs of the day (A woman's place is in the home).
 This is balanced by a picture of a shepherd seeking a lost sheep.

Personally, I get a little impatient with the practice of some in recent
years of portraying God as female ("God . . . SHE"). Admittedly we have used
the male pronoun for God from time imemorial, but I think every school-boy
knows that God is neither male nor female. When such long-standing custom is
changed, one definitely is making a statement which is not being made by
following long-established custom. I wonder if those who are making these
statements really wish to state that God is either male or female. This is
bordering on getting into theology which is a no - no here. I'm just
pondering the consequences. No discussion of my musings, please.

gfsomsel

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