The intention of this article is to place the discussions on gender roles during the 1990s in a broader context. In the process 1 Timothy 2:8-15 is considered.

Is there a distinct role of women in church and society, according to Scripture? The main focus of this study is the distinction between female status and function when considering gender roles. The author considers whether the apostle Paul made any distinction between spiritual status and function in the church. The status of Gentiles in the church is used as a paradigm for comparison.

Galatians 3:28 plays an important role in the discussions about gender roles. Some matters of interpretation and hermeneutics are considered.

Kaiser sets out to correct popular caricatures of the gender roles we find depicted in Scripture. Texts reflected upon include Genesis 2:18, Genesis 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:34-38, and 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.

The role of women in the church, and in particular the issue of the ordination of women, is a worldwide discussion point. Yet the issue of women’s roles in the church and society is not a new one. This makes it all the more remarkable that the progressive reading of biblical texts such as 1 Timothy 2:9-15 is a comparatively recent phenomenon.