Category: Bible Women

A Litany for Women Who Carry God’s Grace

Here’s a call and response prayer that thanks God for Bible women who served God and his people with bravery and grace.

May 2, 2022 4 Comments

Comparing the Anointing Stories

Each of the four Gospels contains an account where a woman anoints Jesus with perfume. In this article, I compare these stories. How many times was Jesus anointed?

April 24, 2022 10 Comments

Jesus and the Bent Over Woman (Luke 13:10-17)

In Luke 13:10-17, Jesus sets free a woman who had been disabled for 18 years. Click to see Barbara Schwarz’s painting and to read the story that inspired her artwork.

March 19, 2022 6 Comments

Damaris in Athens (Acts 17)

Who was Damaris? What was her social status? What does her name mean? What was her role in the church? Evidence from ancient inscriptions help to answer some of these questions.

December 13, 2021 10 Comments

Every Female Prophet in the Bible

Here’s a complete list of women identified as prophetesses in the Bible, with a note on each. There was a recognised place for such women in Israel.

September 22, 2021 24 Comments

David's ten concubine 2 Samuel 16, Absalom

The Disturbing Story of David’s Ten Concubines

The story of David’s ten concubines, especially when linked with God’s words in 2 Samuel 12:11, is a deeply troubling story. Warning: sexual violence.

August 21, 2021 76 Comments

Salome: Follower of Jesus and Myrrh Bearer

Salome was a follower of Jesus, a witness of his crucifixion and empty tomb. She is mentioned twice in the Bible but many more times in other early church documents.

July 30, 2021 4 Comments

Mary Magdalene and the Ascension

Mary Magdalene was the herald of Jesus’s resurrection and also of his impending ascension. Why did Jesus tell her in John 20:17, “Do not cling to me”?

May 12, 2021 16 Comments

Jael (3): Jael, Mary, and Jesus’ Crucifixion

Part 3 looks at what Jael’s story and the accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion have in common, and at why some early and medieval theologians used Jael as a type of Mary the mother of Jesus.

April 6, 2021 5 Comments

Jael (2): Sexual and Maternal Imagery in Jael’s Story

In part 2 I look at the sexual and maternal imagery in Jael’s story, and the deadly determination in her actions. What was motivating her? *This article mentions rape.

March 21, 2021 6 Comments

Jael (1): The Lord will hand over Sisera to a woman

Jael is a popular Bible figure, famous for her brutal act of violence against Israel’s enemy. In part 1 (of 3), I look at her story as recorded in Judges 4.

March 19, 2021 9 Comments

Did Miriam the prophetess only minister to women?

Miriam is identified as a prophet and leader in the Bible, but some say her ministry was only to women. Was this the case? What does the Bible say?

December 24, 2020 8 Comments

The Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus

Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife are the only women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Why only these four women?

December 12, 2020 10 Comments

Lois and Eunice’s Faith and Family

Paul honours Lois and Eunice and acknowledges they had been Timothy’s teachers. These women enabled Timothy to face challenges in Ephesus.

November 11, 2020 9 Comments

Esther’s Story (3): Esther in Action

With the Jews in danger, Queen Esther risks her life and exerts her influence and authority. She cannot be mistaken for a sweet passive young woman.

March 2, 2020 2 Comments

Esther’s Story (2): For Such a Time as This

Young Esther is taken to the harem in the palace and later taken to the king’s bed. What does the Bible reveal about her thoughts and actions?

February 27, 2020 6 Comments

Esther’s Story (1): Setting the Scene

In this 3-part series, I provide commentary on the book of Esther, focussing on the heroine at the centre. What kind of story is Esther’s story?

February 25, 2020 13 Comments

women at the entrance of the tent of meeting or tabernacle

Women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting

Who were the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting and what did they do? Did their service involve religious rituals?

July 20, 2019 20 Comments

Portrait of Tabitha or Dorcas, a helper of widows. Acts 9

Tabitha: An Exemplary Disciple (Acts 9:36-42)

Tabitha (AKA Dorcas) is identified as a disciple and described as a generous supporter of the poor. What was her association with the widows of Joppa?

June 11, 2019 18 Comments

Nympha, women in ministry, New Testament, Nymphas

Nympha: A House Church Leader in the Lycus Valley (Col. 4:15)

In this post, I look at Nympha, a Christian mentioned in Colossians 4:15. What was her association with Paul? What was her ministry? Where was her house church? Was she really a woman?

September 19, 2018 61 Comments

What were Euodia and Syntyche thinking?!

Here’s a look at a common Greek phrase used in Phil. 4:2 concerning Euodia and Syntyche. What did Paul want them to think? Were the women quarrelling?

July 11, 2018 20 Comments

Joanna apostle Junia woman prison missionary

Junia: The Jewish Woman who was Imprisoned with Paul

This article looks at Junia, a Christian missionary mentioned in Romans 16:7 who was persecuted for her faith and may have known Jesus personally. Was she also known as Joanna?

June 10, 2018 25 Comments

The Witch of Endor, the Dead Prophet, the Doomed King

It is remarkable that the witch of Endor, who dealt in the occult, is portrayed in a sympathetic light in 1 Samuel 28. What’s going on here?

April 19, 2018 25 Comments

Huldah’s Public Prophetic Ministry

Was there a difference between the ministries of male and female prophets in the Bible? Did male prophets minister publicly and female prophets privately?

February 19, 2018 31 Comments

All About Elizabeth (Luke 1)

Elizabeth was a faithful woman of God who was given a remarkable son, John the Baptist. She was also given a prophetic voice.

December 16, 2017 11 Comments

Lydia of Thyatira: The founding member of the Philippian Church

Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14ff), and women like her, were vital and strategic players at the forefront of the expanding Christian mission.

November 30, 2017 32 Comments

Pontius Pilate’s wife knew Jesus was innocent

Matthew 27:19 mentions Pontius Pilate’s wife and her dream about Jesus. What do we know of this woman? Was she a Jewish convert? A Christ-follower?

September 29, 2017 7 Comments

The Elder and the Lady: A look at the language of 2 John

In this article I look at the text of 2 John, especially at the words the letter writer uses to identify the people he is writing to, including the “chosen lady.”

July 16, 2017 11 Comments

Wealthy Women in the First-Century Roman World and in the Church

Not all first-century women fit the stereotype of being hidden and housebound. Some were influential and prominent in society and in the church.

April 19, 2017 4 Comments

The Queen of Sheba and 3 more powerful female rulers in the Bible

There were powerful women in Bible times. Some were godly, others were not. This article looks especially at the Queen of Sheba and at Berenice who is mentioned in Acts.

November 15, 2016 9 Comments

Apphia: Philemon’s wife or another Phoebe?

Apphia, a woman, is greeted by Paul in his letter to Philemon. What was her role or position at Colossae? Was she Philemon’s wife or another Phoebe?

October 29, 2016 7 Comments

Two Brave Women in 2 Samuel 17

This post is about two brave unnamed women mentioned in 2 Samuel 17 who each risked their lives to help King David’s, and God’s, cause.

June 28, 2016 10 Comments

The Samaritan Woman of Sychar (John 4)

Eve, Delilah, Bathsheba, Mary Magdalene, and the Samaritan woman have often been thought of as immoral. What’s with that? This article looks at the Samaritan woman without negative prejudices.

June 10, 2016 52 Comments

What’s in a Name? Deborah, Woman of Lappidoth

Was Deborah the wife of Lappidoth or from a town called Lappidoth? Or does “lappidoth” signify something quite different? And where does the name “Deborah” come from?

November 28, 2015 10 Comments

At Home with Priscilla and Aquila

What does the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila to Apollos reveal? (Acts 18:18-28). How did others feel about the couple and their ministry? (Romans 16:3-5)

November 11, 2015 5 Comments

Who was Chloe of Corinth?

Chloe is a woman mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:11? Was she a pagan or a Christian? A concerned house church leader or the quarrelsome leader of a faction?

April 26, 2015 17 Comments

Lydia and the ‘Place of Prayer’ at Philippi

What was the ‘place of prayer’ in Philippi where some women, including Lydia of Thyatira, had assembled (Acts 16:13-15)? Was it a Jewish ‘prayer-house’?

April 14, 2015 9 Comments

In his Church History, Eusebius wrote, “Ethiopia even to the present day is ruled, according to ancestral custom, by a woman” (cf. Acts 8:27). Is there any truth in his statement? As it turns out, there is.

January 24, 2015 16 Comments

david and bathsheba, rape, adultery, David a Betsabé

A Sympathetic Look at Bathsheba

Bathsheba has been described as a seductress and as a conniving political opportunist. Who was she really? What does the Bible say?

December 2, 2014 63 Comments

Febe una diácono de la Iglesia en Cencrea

(7) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

This is a summary of the previous 6 parts. Paul was not reticent about using the same ministry terms (or titles), including deacon, for both men and women ministers.

November 26, 2014 1 Comment

(6) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

In Part 6 we look at more evidence that deacons in the apostolic and post-apostolic period were travelling envoys and agents, and that some were teachers.

November 25, 2014 No Comments

(2) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

In Part 2, I look at what Romans 16:1-2 in the ancient Latin texts say about Phoebe. These indicate she was recognised as an official deacon (or deaconess).

November 13, 2014 5 Comments

(1) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

Here I look at Paul’s introduction of Phoebe to the church at Rome. I also look at the ministry of certain women in the Gospels, and Tabitha’s ministry in Acts, and compare them with Phoebe’s ministry.

November 12, 2014 7 Comments

Mosaic of Paul presenting Praxedes to Christ

Paul and Women, in a Nutshell

Here is a brief overview of eighteen women mentioned by the apostle Paul in his New Testament letters, as well as Lydia who is mentioned in Acts.

October 6, 2014 35 Comments

Many women leaders in the Bible had this one thing in common

As I was making a list of Bible women who ministered to men, I saw something I had not noticed before. Almost all of these women had a prophetic gift.

June 23, 2014 25 Comments

Who was Mary the Magdalene?

This article looks at Mary Magdalene, and especially at what “Magdalene” might mean. Does it refer to Mary’s home town? Was it her nickname? Does it imply she was a prostitute?

May 26, 2014 34 Comments

Jesus female followers disciples Marg Mowczkos

Jesus had many female followers – many!

I had imagined that only a few women accompanied Jesus during his ministry and only a few witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection, but the Gospels state many women were with Jesus.

March 14, 2014 8 Comments

Philip’s Prophesying Daughters

Early church writers, such as Eusebius, acknowledged that Philip’s four daughters were well-respected famous prophets and they associated the women with apostles and bishops.

November 24, 2013 4 Comments