nt wright and women

I met a Canadian seminarian at the Urbana conference in December who recommended that I read NT Wright's take on women in ministry. You can find the article (here), his website (which might be a fan site, which is adorably nerdy).

Wright gives a huge introduction on what he thinks was going on culturally when Paul wrote about womens roles in the church and then translates 1 Timothy 2 as follows:

So this is what I want: the men should pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, with no anger or disputing. 9In the same way the women, too, should clothe themselves in an appropriate manner, modestly and sensibly. They should not go in for elaborate hair-styles, or gold, or pearls, or expensive clothes; 10instead, as is appropriate for women who profess to be godly, they should adorn themselves with good works. 11They must be allowed to study undisturbed, in full submission to God. 12I’m not saying that women should teach men, or try to dictate to them; they should be left undisturbed. 13Adam was created first, you see, and then Eve; 14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived, and fell into trespass. 15She will, however, be kept safe through the process of childbirth, if she continues in faith, love and holiness with prudence.

This is how the ESV translates it:

8 I desire then that j in every place the men should pray, k lifting l holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also m that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 n but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly o with all submissiveness. 12 p I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 q For Adam was formed first, r then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but s the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through t childbearing—if they continue in u faith and love and holiness, with self-control.