"Baśnie starych kobiet" w 1 Tm 4,7. Wokół interpretacji przymiotnika graodes

Most commentators claim that the expression graodes mythoi used in 1 Tim. 4,7 is a contemptous description of the false teachings, based on the vivid in the ancient society negative stereotype. In this paper, concise review of the prebiblical meaning of the adjective graodes, as well as the noun graus, has been conducted. The results indicate that in the ancient tradition existed also a positive view of old women telling parenetic fictious stories to children. It is clear that the context of these inportant for the society didactic activities was home (oikos). It was observed that the oikos is perceived as a basis for the functioning of the early church in the Patoral Letters. That is why the role of women in the church is one of the important subjects of the Pastorals. In this article, the hypothesis is stated that the expression graodes mythoi might describe the educational activity conducted by old women at home (oikos). One can suppose that the content of their teaching could refer to the traditional elements of apocalyptic encratic doctrine of the first generation Christians. These doctrines would be strongly crticized by leaders of the church in a time of transformation. From this perspective, one can assume that the activity of old women was a subject of polemic, not necessary contempt in the Pastoral Letters.