- If you like subversion in the Bible or authors such as Brian Godawa and Michael Heiser, then do I have an interesting book for you. (Subversion is using divine attributes claimed by pagan gods such as Baal that the Bible says are only true of the one living God.)
- If you have ever been bothered by the New Testament passage about women being saved through childbirth, again this is the book to explain this verse.
- If you want to understand how the Apostle Paul interacts with the goddess Artemis in the New Testament, then this might be a book for you.
- If you want to have more background on the Ephesian church mentioned in Revelation 2:1-7 then this book will be helpful.
The full title of the book is “Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament.”
It is written by Sandra L. Glahn. Glahn is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. Yep, I actually read a book by someone at DTS. It’s probably the only title I have read during the current century by anyone associated with DTS.
The book is six chapters. Chapters 2-5 are solely about Artemis in art, literature, architecture, and artifacts. Another name for Artemis (Greek) is Diana (Roman).
Artemis
Artemis is not the guy from “The Wild, Wild West.” Nope. Not Artemus Gordon. (Baby boomers think Artemus and Artemis are pronounced the same.)
In the original TV series, Ross Martin played Artemus Gordon and Robert Conrad played James West. It ran from 1965-1969. A movie was made in 1999 featuring Will Smith as James West and Kevin Kline as Artemus Gordon.
Artemis is a female god who is a virgin by choice but also the goddess of midwifery. Yep, a virgin that specializes in delivering babies. She is the sister of Apollo and hunts with a golden bow. It was common to ask her to assist in delivering a baby without harm to the mother. In cases of a difficult delivery, she was called upon to offer women a painless death.
The temple to Artemis was in Ephesus and was regarded as the greatest of the ancient 7 Wonders of the World. It was four times the size of the Parthenon in Athens. Ephesus was the Roman provincial capital of Asia. It was also a center of Emperor worship. Chapter 1 of the book is an introduction and chapter 6 is mostly an analysis of Paul’s writings; especially to the Ephesians and Timothy.
Glahn focuses much of her discussion on 1 Timothy chapter 2; mostly verse 9-15.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
1 Timothy 2:9–15.
Also worth noting are her comments on 1 Timothy 5:13; specifically the words “gossips” or “tattlers” (KJV) and “busybodies.” See page 124.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
1 Timothy 5:13.
As usual, the translators are afraid to give you the true thrust of the meaning of the Greek words. Glahn argues for tattlers=“those who talk nonsense” and busybodies=“those practicing magic” as the more accurate rendering. I the context, I think she is correct.
The book is an easy read. It is well researched and organized effectively. Part of it may be considered controversial in its treatment of a woman’s place in the church. Her comments on this topic are limited to 1 Timothy 2 so don’t base any doctrines off of her conclusions.
Final Thought
I’ve had the book for almost two years but just got around to reading it. Per her book, Artemis was second only to Zeus in popularity in the Greek speaking world. Artemis is currently popular in modern society as the goddess of the transgenderism cult.