Women, Honor, and Head Coverings with Dr. Cynthia Long Westfall (Women in Scripture and History)

In this episode, Kim talks to Dr. Cynthia Long Westfall. Dr. Westfall shares her background, providing context that helps explain her interest in the New Testament and Paul. Her mentors, service, analytical mind and questions led her into digging into the New Testament and Paul, and women’s sexuality. She provides excellent context and interpretations of Paul’s difficult passages. She specifically focuses on how Paul instructs the church to honor the traditionally discarded women with the Ancient Corinthain symbol of honorable women, the head covering.  

00:00 Introduction to Mutuality Matters Podcast 

00:24 Meet Dr. Cynthia Westfall 

01:07 Cynthia's Journey to Faith and Scholarship 

03:19 Struggles with Traditional Interpretations 

07:07 Embracing Egalitarianism 

15:01 Paul's Subversion of Cultural Norms 

19:51 Introduction to the Topic 

20:26 Traditional Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11 

21:22 Questioning Traditional Views 

23:10 Alternate Interpretations Based on Veiling History 

24:38 Cultural Significance of Veiling 

26:55 Paul's True Intentions 

28:54 Implications for Women in the Church 

34:51 Order in Worship Services 

37:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

Guest Bio   

Dr. Cynthia Long Westfall is associate professor of New Testament and has been at McMaster Divinity College since 2005, teaching courses in New Testament with a specialization in the book of Hebrews, Greek exegesis, biblical interpretation, intertextuality, women in ministry, biblical social justice and welcoming the other, courses which are devoted to a commitment to transformation by God’s word through its application to all aspects of life and ministry. Dr. Westfall has a constellation of research interests that are focused on issues concerned with the New Testament and its interpretation with contemporary methodologies and its translation. She places a special focus on texts and issues that have been traditionally overlooked. She has a priority of mentoring academic and professional students as well as others. Her ministry experience includes campus ministry, ministry to the urban community, support of the immigrant community in the US and Canada and the support of women pursuing God’s call on their lives. 

She currently serves on the board of Canadian Baptist Missions (CBM). She has served as chair of the board of Wentworth Baptist Church in Hamilton, ON, and continues to serve the church is various ways including preaching, consulting and serving as a delegate as well as speaking and teaching in the churches, organizations and assembly of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ). 

Dr. Cynthia Long Westfall is professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Canada.   

Resources by Dr. Westfall

Cynthia Long Westfall. Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle’s Vision for Men and Women in Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic). 2016. 

Mutuality Matters podcast: Redeeming Paul - Part 1, Redeeming Paul - Part 2 

Mutuality Magazine: Difficult Passages in the Bible and How to Understand Them 

Priscilla Papers: On Developing a Consistent Hermeneutical Approach to the Application of General Scriptures 

CBE International Conference Audios:  

Paul and Gender: Highlights and Bombshells  

The Symbol of the Veil in the Ancient Near East and Today: Subjugation or Honor - Part 1  

The Symbol of the Veil in the Ancient Near East and Today: Subjugation or Honor? Part 2 

In Church or at Home? What is 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Really About? 

Answering Those Who Ask: Moving from Defense to a Breakthrough 

Relevant Resources  

Roy Ciampa was mentioned in the interview explaining the educational level of women in the New Testament Church his podcast interview with Dr. Mimi Hadad in Women and Words: Marriage in the Greco-Roman World in Translation with Dr. Rogy Ciampa 

Dr. Westfall references Kenneth Baily’s book about women in the Middle East. See Cynthia Long Westfall’s review of his book: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes 

Veil Bound or Veiled Beauty? By Kay Blevins Calabrese 

Disclaimer  

The opinions expressed in CBE’s Mutuality Matters’ podcast are those of its hosts or guests do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members or chapters worldwide. The designations employed in this podcast and the presentation of content therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CBE concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.