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The lead-in sentence of a blog reads: So, in the ongoing soap opera of Jesus archaeology, we have now found a manuscript that says, “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife…’”[1] Ongoing soap opera of Jesus archaeology, indeed. If anyone thinks God does not have a sense of humor, perhaps they should reconsider.

This week we have the announcement with respect to a scrap of papyrus that might indicate Jesus had a wife.[2] At the same time, our reading this morning is the passage from Proverbs about a capable wife. Interesting juxtaposition. God is at least chuckling – if not rolling on the floor laughing uproariously –  at either coincidence or the movement of the Holy Spirit.

This text, initially, troubled me. I rejected a text which at first glance seems to want to put women in a box. That seemed to find worth only as a married person. Or worth only if one had children. Or, and equally as difficult, to hold up a model woman that is totally unrealistic and surely leads to disaster as one tries to do and be all the things the passage suggests. Kenneth Carter sees real danger in this text when read as requiring over-functioning. Burn-out here we come- not if, when.

Reading and further consideration suggests there is more than one way to understand this text. The value of struggling with a text is that sometimes there is light at the end of the tunnel. This text is multivalent- one of my favorite words. Multivalent: having multiple meanings or values.

First, in a bit of irony perhaps, this text in Hebrew is an acrostic. An acrostic is a type of puzzle where each line begins with the next letter in sequence. The first line in Hebrew begins with aleph (“A”) and each subsequent line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. “A to Z” as it were. Thinking about it from a New Testament perspective, we might say the writer moves from the alpha to the omega.

Some writers suggest that the wife portrayed in this passage is not a single individual but rather a composite that presents the various skills and talents that are needed for a successful society. Some writers suggest that we can consider the wife to be “the church” and not an individual. Christ is referred to as the head of the church and the church as Christ’s bride. Using that possibility, then the mission of the church is to be and to do all the things set forth in this passage. Some writers suggest that when read closely the passage turns our common assumptions about women in a patriarchal society if not on its head at least turned sideways. That the wife portrayed is, in fact, the real power behind the husband. Some writers suggest that the passage shows the inter-relationship of the husband and wife- each doing what they do best to further the household. And, that this is the model of a life that God calls us to today.[3] David Grant Smith suggests that this passage shows a woman who stands outside the norms of her day- she uses her gifts and talents in ways that further her household, whether or not those gifts are accepted as the norm for her day. Telford Work says “whatever the specific forms and expectations a society has for its marriages, wisdom can transform them as thoroughly as foolishness can ruin them.” Amen to that!

That is, she:

• Seeks good for her household – she has a purpose that benefits those around her
• Seeks wool and flax and works it into products that can be used or sold to increase the income of her household
• Brings food to the household- apparently even tries out foods that come from far away
• Oversees the household and those who work in it- she delegates tasks
• Buys a field and plants a vineyard which will provide food and income – she runs a business
• Takes care of herself physically so she can remain strong physically
• Understands the value of the goods created that can be sold in the marketplace- no one takes advantage of her due to her ignorance
• Provides for the poor and needy
• Ensures that all are appropriately clothed for the weather
• Speaks with kindness- doesn’t remain silent but rather speaks out when needed while framing her remarks with kindness
• Is in right relationship both with her husband and household and with God

We have been reading through the Letter of James the last several weeks. It outlines how we are to live in response to Jesus Christ. When read together, Proverbs fleshes out, if you will, the life we – both men and women- are to live in response to our answer “who do you say that I am” and then “so what.” Perhaps an initial challenge with Proverbs 31 is that it is directed to the “capable wife” while James is addressed to each of us – male and female.

Consider this, the “capable wife” text appears at the end of Proverbs- the very last verses in the very last chapter. That means through verse 9 of chapter 31, the text is about men and largely about the dangers of too much wine, loose women and debauched song- or idleness. The juxtaposition of those admonitions with the 11 verses about a “capable wife” make for interesting thought. The relationship of husband-and-wife was used frequently in early times as a metaphor for the relationship between God and God’s people. God cared for us and God expected our best for all creation in response. That is still true today.

The capable wife has a capable husband. The gifts and talents of the wife enable the husband to be at the gates of the city. One might think the husband is sitting in idleness – but the gates of the city are where business and justice were conducted in ancient times. The relationship between the husband and wife is one where each does what each can to further the interests of the relationship. This passage does not suggest the husband dominates the wife- rather each works for the benefit of the other and the benefit of what they have together. The work of the capable wife then enables the husband to be part of the community and to further the interests of the household as well. Both work to be in right relationship with each other and with their community and with God.

This passage ends with “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the city gates.” Fear in this case is not being afraid but rather being respectful towards God. The women does not need to toot her own horn – the work that she does speaks for her industriousness and her abilities as leader, visionary, provider, delegator and business owner. Her relationship with spouse, children, community and God is one of value. All of our relationships ought to follow the model of the capable wife. Use your gifts and talents for the benefit of your household and your community. Understand that all that you have and all that you are is a result of God’s love for us.

Proverbs is the form of text known as wisdom literature. In this text, “Wisdom is defined as a life well-lived, a life that matters. It is not enlightenment [in the sense of knowing more facts.] True wisdom is a lifetime of obedience to God.”[4]  And whether Jesus had a wife or not, we have in Jesus the model relationship towards each other. Love God. Love neighbor. All the rest is commentary. Amen.