Marg Mowczko

Exploring the biblical theology of Christian egalitarianism

Category: Christian Living

A Note on Divorce Terminology in the Bible

In this blog post, I give a brief overview of the Greek and Hebrew words used in the Bible for divorce.

April 10, 2022 15 Comments

Malachi 2:16 and the Priest who Divorced his Wife

What if Malachi 2:16 isn’t a general statement on divorce but about a priest named Manasseh who divorced his first wife in around 350 BCE? It’s likely.

September 29, 2021 8 Comments

makes her an adulterer, Hyperbole, anger murder lust adultery divorce matthew 5

Hyperbole and Divorce in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:31-32)

Jesus used hyperbole in his Sermon on the Mount, especially in Matt 5:17-48 and including the phrase “makes her an adulterer.” We need to be aware of this rhetoric when interpreting his teaching on divorce.

April 21, 2020 43 Comments

A Critique of Wayne Grudem’s “Grounds for Divorce”

Wayne Grudem now accepts that abuse is a valid reason for divorce. This is good news for some but Grudem’s approach is problematic.

December 15, 2019 13 Comments

Partnering Together: Jesus and Women

At a time when women were often regarded as odd and inferior by men and were excluded from many aspects of society, Jesus included women, taught them, and accepted their ministry.

April 11, 2019 29 Comments

Partnering Together: Agents of Jesus

This post is an excerpt from a talk I gave at a camp for high-school girls. It’s about understanding and accepting our mission as agents of Jesus.

April 8, 2019 9 Comments

Paul’s words on divorce, and leaving an abusive marriage

Does Paul’s teaching on divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 allow for an abused spouse to leave their abuser? What is the context of his words in this passage?

September 2, 2018 51 Comments

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit is not just a Feminine Virtue

What do the New Testament and other early Christian and Jewish documents say about meekness and gentleness? (cf. 1 Peter 3:4)

October 8, 2017 10 Comments

second clement apostolic fathers gospel thomas

Did Jesus address only men in Luke 14:25-27?

In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus told his disciples have to hate their father & mother, wife & children, brothers & sisters. Was Jesus speaking to only men here?

September 17, 2016 9 Comments

Jesus on Divorce, Remarriage and Adultery

What is the context of Jesus’ words on divorce with the Pharisees? Did he teach that all second marriages, with a former spouse still living, are adulterous? Probably not.

May 24, 2016 27 Comments

God on Divorce (Malachi 2:16)

Here are some better translations of Malachi 2:16 that faithfully reflect the Hebrew grammar and do not have God saying, “I hate divorce.”

May 21, 2016 99 Comments

A Communal Proclamation (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

In this 8 minute video, Danny Zacharias addresses some misunderstandings and shortcomings of our abbreviated Communion and Eucharist celebrations.

June 1, 2015 3 Comments

John Piper and Emotional Blackmail

John Piper displays a lack of propriety and wisdom in his comments on Tozer’s widow. His words are repeated a few times on The Gospel Coalition’s website. #emotionalblackmail

March 28, 2015 47 Comments

Mutual submission Eph 5:21 1 Peter 5:5 hypotasso

What was the job description of Jesus’ apostles?

One subject that I keep mulling over is what it means to be a leader and have authority in the church. Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be leaders? What was their job description?

August 29, 2014 27 Comments

Western-Style ‘Biblical Womanhood’ and the Wider World

Here is a link to one of the best articles I have ever read on so-called ‘biblical womanhood’. In this article Jenny Rae Armstrong writes that “the privileged frivolities of Western homemaking” have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus.

August 18, 2014 4 Comments

Communion and Solidarity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters

In the 1st century, Communion was a way for Christians to express their solidarity as a group of Jesus-followers in an often hostile world. It is still a way we can show solidarity with our fellow Christians who are being persecuted.

August 17, 2014 1 Comment

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3 things disciples do to build unshakeable houses (Luke 6)

How can we be like the wise man who built a strong, unshakeable house on a secure foundation in Luke 6?

April 19, 2014 No Comments

Male-Female Pairs and Parallelism in Luke’s Gospel

In Luke’s Gospel, some material is presented using male-female pairs to highlight the full and equal inclusion of women and men in God’s new covenant and community.

April 8, 2014 8 Comments

The Power of God’s Grace

Grace has sometimes been confused or conflated with the concept of mercy, but they are not the same thing. Read more about the power of grace that God gives us.

April 5, 2014 2 Comments

Jesus’ Teaching on Leadership & Community in Matthew’s Gospel

Jesus’ teaching on leadership and community in Matthew’s gospel shows that Jesus promoted the social values of humility and equality. In Jesus’ kingdom, the humble are exalted, the lowly are the greatest, and the last are first.

February 27, 2014 7 Comments

Galatians 3:28: Our Identity in Christ & in the Church

Gal. 3:28 isn’t only referring to our identity/ status before God. It’s also about our identity/ status in the Christian community (the church).

December 12, 2013 3 Comments

Wade Burleson on Christian Leadership in Hebrews 13

In this post I link to a video where Wade Burleson explains that there is no Greek word for “over” in the verses about church leaders in Hebrews chapter 13.

July 22, 2013 1 Comment

Add Women, Change Everything

Carolyn Custis James writes that it’s important for women to be included as equals in ministry: “The high price of the missing female perspective is incalculable.”

July 9, 2013 No Comments

7 Lessons from the Ministry of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15-18)

In 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 Paul mentions Stephanas and his colleagues. There are a few lessons about Christian service and submission that can be gleaned here.

July 8, 2013 5 Comments

Boldness and Humility in God’s Presence

We don’t need to be fearful of God’s Presence. We can come to him openly and honestly, assured of salvation and our relationship with him.

June 29, 2013 No Comments

Equality and Unity in Ministry: 1 Corinthians 12

In this article, I look at Paul’s statements of equality and unity in ministry from 1 Corinthians chapter 12, including his instruction to give more honour to those lacking it.

March 30, 2013 No Comments

Abigail: A Bible Woman with Beauty and Brains

Abigail was a smart, strong woman who helped her husband by going against his wishes. She is one of many prophetic women who God used for his purposes.

March 8, 2013 48 Comments

Is Jesus waiting for us?

Christians have been waiting almost 2000 years for Jesus to return to earth. But what if Jesus is waiting for us? Is he waiting for us to bring shalom?

March 5, 2013 16 Comments

Holiness: Sacred Separation?

A visit to a beautiful chapel near Rotarua (in New Zealand) highlighted to me that followers of Jesus are not separated, excluded, or prohibited from God’s holy presence. Rather, we are welcome and invited to draw near.

September 28, 2012 No Comments

The Holy Spirit and Equality in the Book of Acts

The book of Acts is a testament of the Holy Spirit’s roles as the great energiser and equaliser in the first decades of the church. The Spirit continues to foster equality and my hope is that I am working with him.

August 28, 2012 19 Comments

Rahab and Lydia: Two Faith-filled Bible Women

Rahab in the Old Testament, and Lydia in the New, are separated by 1000s of years and 1000s of miles, yet there are intriguing similarities between the two women.

July 13, 2012 5 Comments

Unworthy, but not Worthless

This post by Dale Fincher looks at our value and worth; and how some of us don’t recognise how and why we are valuable. We may be unworthy but we’re not worthless.

April 27, 2012 11 Comments

An Eternal Fascination

Instead of spending my time trying to understand hell (Gehenna), I am still trying to get my head around some of the amazing realities of what it is to be a redeemed child of God.

March 28, 2012 2 Comments

Was Jesus Poor?

Was Jesus poor? A few verses in the Gospels indicate that Jesus was not as poor as I have previously been led to believe.

March 17, 2012 4 Comments

A quick look at the Greek word for “follow”

Jesus invites people to “follow” him over 20 times in the Gospels. In this article, I look into the Greek word for “follow” (akoloutheō.)

March 11, 2012 5 Comments

Peace on Earth: A Christmas Plea

Was the declaration of “Peace on Earth” sung by the heavenly host for everyone? Where is this peace the angels sang about? Here is my Christmas plea.

December 26, 2011 1 Comment

Paul’s Instructions for Modest Dress in 1 Timothy 2:9

Christians shouldn’t dress in a sexually provocative way, but this wasn’t Paul’s meaning in his instructions for modest dress in 1 Timothy 2:9.

December 10, 2011 8 Comments

“Equality” in Paul’s Letters

Paul wanted equality for all Christians and he wrote about this in his letters. In some verses, he even uses the word “equality.”

November 15, 2011 7 Comments

Righteousness and Justification - Philippians 3:9

At the Foot of the Cross?

Do we place our sins and troubles at the metaphorical “foot of the cross”? Or do we hand them over to God the Father through the real, resurrected, and exalted Jesus Christ?

June 14, 2011 11 Comments

Double Standards in the Promotion & Practice of Submission

Do the concepts of wifely submission to husbands and the submission to governing authorities require that Christians put up with harmful people, practices, and policies? According to some Christians, the answers are “yes” for wives and “no” for citizens.

May 22, 2011 5 Comments

Why God is Sometimes Silent

Matthew records the account of a Canaanite woman crying out for help, but Jesus doesn’t say a word (Matt.15:21-28). Why was Jesus silent? And why, like Jesus in this story, does God sometimes seem silent and remote to us?

April 30, 2011 No Comments