The First Letter to Timothy is a troubling text--especially for those concerned about the marginilization of women in the church. 1 Timothy, which seems to model the church after the structure of a patriarchal household, has served for centuries to reinforce patriarchal structures in the family, society, and the church. But rather than dismiss this text, Elsa Tamez seeks first to reconstruct the situation behind it, analyzing power struggles in the primitive church in relation to social position, gender roles, theological pluralism, and authority in the church.