The second century saw a drastic decline in women’s role in the church. Some of the major names in the world of Christianity during the second century believed this. One of those who spread this message was Turtullian. Turtullian believed that women were evil. He believed that women were bad and were activity trying to make men bad. Turtullian hated the fact that women held church power because fellow men should not have to listen to women. (Ide ,1984, pg 75-78)
Another person who was against women during this time period was Cyprian. A convert to the religion, Cyprian experienced with women in Africa , the same content that Turtullian, were prostitutes
and players. These women were selfish and always wanted to please themselves. Due to experiences with these women Cyprian believed that women were best if they were innocent virgins, not just sexually but in all possible ways. Cyprian’s .views of women were influential in the Catholic church. ( Ide 1984, pg 78-79)
Another group that was hard on women were the gnostics. This group believed that the body of a women was not eternal as opposed to the male body. They believed that only real men were converts to Christianity. If a man was not a convert , in the Gnostic’s eyes they were female. The only way that a female body was considered good enough to be able to enter heaven is when the women becomes once again a part of the man’s body. (Witherington 1988 pg. 190-192
The shepherd of Hermas had some more liberating views of women. Hamas believed that women were allowed to remarry if their husbands die. Hamas believed that chastity was the best way for people to live. ( Miller 256-257 )
Bibliography
Ide, Arthur Fredrick. Women as Priest, Bishop, and Laity. Mesquite: Ide Hous, 1984. `
Miller, Patrica, Cox . Women in Early Christianity : Translations from Greek Text, America : Catholic University of America ,2005 .
Witherington , Ben . Women in the Earliest Churches . Cambridge : University Press , 1988