The Friend at Midnight: A ‘realistic’ reading as a feminist tool

The voices of women have historically been muted in biblical texts from their ancient to more modern interpretations. This article will attempt to ‘unhide’ the voices of women in the Parable of the Friend at Midnight by using a combination of social-scientific criticism and a ‘realistic’ reading as...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Toit, Charel D. du (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2022
In: Verbum et ecclesia
Year: 2022, Volume: 43, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-6
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Lukasevangelium 5,8 / Woman / Hermeneutics / Social sciences / Context / Hospitality / Methodology
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
Further subjects:B Parables
B Women
B Women’s History
B realistic reading
B Feminism
B 1st-century Mediterranean
B Historical Jesus
B Equality
B Friend at Midnight
B social-scientific criticism
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Description
Summary:The voices of women have historically been muted in biblical texts from their ancient to more modern interpretations. This article will attempt to ‘unhide’ the voices of women in the Parable of the Friend at Midnight by using a combination of social-scientific criticism and a ‘realistic’ reading as a methodology to inform an understanding of how 1st-century Mediterranean audiences would have understood women to be present in the parable where modern audiences might not. In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, women were key figures in facilitating group hospitality values, the baking and supply of bread, and caring for children. These women, however, are not directly mentioned in the parable and often excluded in modern commentaries. This contribution aims to pave a way forward for modern New Testament commentaries to not only include but also focus on the roles and importance of women in the parable of the Friend at Midnight. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The interdisciplinary nature of this article contributes to the debate on the roles and importance of women in the church by investigating the value that women had in the parables of Jesus. By reading women as present in the text, emphasis is given to the voices of women in the Bible and the importance of their representation today.
ISSN:2074-7705
Contains:Enthalten in: Verbum et ecclesia
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.4102/ve.v43i1.2633