Category: Mutuality in Ministry

The Apostolic Ministry of Gospel Women

John the Evangelist chose his words carefully when describing the ministry of certain apostolic women in his Gospel, women such as Mary Magdalene. [500 words]

January 18, 2014 11 Comments

Likewise women . . . likewise husbands . . .

Ignoring or highlighting the word “likewise” makes a big difference in how we understand certain New Testament passages that affect women.

November 14, 2013 27 Comments

women church leaders, Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia, Lydia, Chloe, 1 Timothy 3

15 reasons why I support women in church leadership

Many Bible verses show women teaching or leading. Here are 15 of them, 15 reasons why I support women in church leadership.

July 28, 2013 24 Comments

Hebrews 13, Leadership, Matthew's Gospel

A Note on Hebrews 13:17

In this short post, I look at two keywords in Heb. 13:17a which is poorly translated in the KJV as “Obey them that have the rule over you …”

July 22, 2013 10 Comments

“Busy at Home”: How does Titus 2:4–5 apply today?

What are the timeless principles in Paul’s instruction in Titus 2:4-5? Why did he want the young wives at Crete to be workers (or keepers) at home?

June 11, 2013 54 Comments

1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (1): Introduction

This 5-part series takes a close look at 1 Timothy 2:12, at what it does and doesn’t say, as well as providing some cultural context. Part 1 looks at the pitfalls of using 1 Timothy 2:12 as a proof text.

April 17, 2013 10 Comments

1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (3): The Heresy in Ephesus

Paul’s main purpose for writing First Timothy was to address the heresy in the Ephesian Church, possibly a precursor to Gnosticism.

April 17, 2013 12 Comments

1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (4): Phrase by Phrase

In Part 4 we begin looking at 1 Timothy 2:11-15, verse by verse, phrase by phrase.

April 17, 2013 32 Comments

1 Timothy 2:12 in Context (5): Eve’s Creation and Salvation

Why are Adam and Eve mentioned immediately after Paul’s prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12? What does Paul mean by salvation and childbirth in 1 Timothy 2:15?

April 17, 2013 27 Comments

Who will roll away the stone?

Mary Magdalene and some other women knew a large stone had been rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. They went to the tomb anyway. [300 words]

April 1, 2013 4 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 3 Comments

ordination priesthood authority pulpit women ministers

A Collection of Articles on the Male Priesthood & Women Ministers

Here are links to several articles that look at arguments related to the idea of a male-only priesthood, arguments that keep women out of church leadership.

March 25, 2013 5 Comments

10 ten reasons men should not be pastors church leaders

Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Pastors

According to the late Dr David M. Scholer, a former New Testament professor at Fuller, here are the top ten reasons men should not be ordained as ministers.

March 22, 2013 19 Comments

Michael Bird on inconsistent complementarian attitudes to women teachers

Michael Bird notes discrepancies between the ideology and the practice of some complementarians regarding women teaching men.

February 1, 2013 15 Comments

A Critique of John Dickson’s “Hearing Her Voice”

In his 2012 book “Hearing Her Voice,” scholar and minister John Dickson argues that women can preach, exhort, exposit Scripture, prophecy, pray, etc, in church.

January 16, 2013 9 Comments

Gender Roles and Speaking Ministries in the Church

Does the New Testament teach that men and women have different roles in the church Are some ministries too important for women?

January 12, 2013 5 Comments

A Critique of Kathy Keller’s “Jesus, Justice and Gender Roles”

Kathy Keller argues that women are prohibited from just one kind of speaking ministry and from holding one kind of position in the church.

January 6, 2013 28 Comments

Authority in the Church

Many Christians are concerned with who has authority in the church and about whether a woman can have authority over a man. Who has authority in the church?

December 3, 2012 73 Comments

The Chiasm in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 is a difficult passage to understand, but it makes more sense when read as a chiasm. What are Paul’s concerns and instructions here?

November 20, 2012 42 Comments

Questions about how to interpret and implement 1 Timothy 2:12

Some Christians think the prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12 is straightforward in meaning. The various ways this verse is understood and implemented indicates otherwise.

October 30, 2012 22 Comments

can women be pastors and write Bible commentaries

Complementarians & Bible Commentaries Written by Women

Some complementarians believe women cannot be pastors and Bible teachers, yet they read Bible commentaries and theological books written by women. How does that work?

October 21, 2012 22 Comments

The Holy Spirit and Equality in the Book of Acts

The Book of Acts bears testimony to 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 aim is to work with the Spirit.

August 28, 2012 33 Comments

Women, Eve, and Deception

Are women more easily deceived than men? What does the Bible, including 1 Timothy 2:14, say about Eve and women and deception?

August 19, 2012 64 Comments

King Lemuel's mother, Proverbs 31 woman, eshet chayil

King Lemuel’s Mother: The Other Proverbs 31 Woman

King Lemuel’s mother is one of two women mentioned in Proverbs 31. These Bible women, and others, serve as inspiration for godly women who teach.

July 19, 2012 37 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 12 Comments

Jezebel of Thyatira: A Female False Prophet

Jezebel of Thyatira is a teacher mentioned in Revelation 2:20ff. What does her example brings to discussions about women in ministry?

June 30, 2012 22 Comments

Deborah and the No-Available-Men Argument

Deborah in the Bible is described as a prophet and leader of Israel. Did God choose her because there were no suitable men available?

June 28, 2012 64 Comments

Apostle Paul Junia Priscilla Nympha Phoebe Persis Tryphena Tryphosa Labourers

Paul’s Greetings to Women Ministers

This article looks at the women Paul greeted in his letters, including 10 women mentioned in Romans 16. His greetings show that Paul did not have a problem with women ministers.

June 7, 2012 13 Comments

harvest plentiful mission Gospels seventy-two

Shepherds and Harvesters, Male and Female, in the Harvest Field

Plenty of people are “distressed, dispirited, and without a shepherd” and the harvest has never been more plentiful (Matt. 9:36-37). Do we ask God to send only male workers into the harvest field?

June 2, 2012 5 Comments

Paul’s Masculine and Feminine Leadership

Paul described his ministry in maternal and paternal terms. It seems God does not want his people led only in a masculine manner.

May 17, 2012 11 Comments

The Twelve Apostles were All Male

This article looks at several shortcomings to the argument “Jesus’ twelve apostles were all male, so women cannot be church leaders.”

May 2, 2012 59 Comments

A Collection of Articles on Paul and Women

Here are some of my older articles on the apostle Paul’s teachings that especially apply to women. I love Paul!

April 20, 2012 No Comments

The Early Church and Slavery

In this post I share a quote from Dr John T Bristow about how some in the early church treated slaves with equity and even tried to free them.

April 3, 2012 2 Comments

Beauty, Marriage, Motherhood and Ministry

There are differences between the Old and New Testaments in how women are described, especially in regard to beauty, marriage, motherhood, and ministry.

April 1, 2012 49 Comments

Protecting the Weaker Sex

Is protection a man’s job? Do women need protecting? Perhaps instead of “protecting” capable Christian women, the church should be empowering her women.

February 16, 2012 21 Comments

Can a woman be a pastor? Yes or No?

It seems many Christians use a dichotomous key to determine who can be a pastor. For many, the first question is, “Is the candidate a man?” A “no” answer brings instant disqualification.

January 20, 2012 16 Comments

women bible scholars women bible translators

Women Bible Scholars and Translators in the Church

How is this increase in biblical and theological scholarship from women being received by the church? And how will it affect the church?

January 7, 2012 12 Comments

Is it only men who can represent Jesus?

Some Christians believe that because Jesus is a man, only men can represent Jesus in their congregations. Does the fact that Jesus is male mean that women cannot be church leaders?

January 2, 2012 12 Comments

gender roles for women, North Carolina Tar Heels #11 Robyn Gayle 2006, wikimedia

Mark Chanski on Gender Roles

Complementarian Mark Chanski seems to think men and women each have just one role, or position, they are to play and maintain throughout their lives. I disagree.

November 16, 2011 3 Comments

Working Women in the NT: Priscilla, Lydia and Phoebe

What does the Bible say about working women? Does God want women to stay out of the workforce and stay at home?

November 1, 2011 45 Comments

Gender Bias in the New Living Translation (NLT)

The New Living Translation (NLT) seems supportive and inclusive of women because it often translates adelphoi as “brothers and sisters” but it promotes male authority.

October 11, 2011 23 Comments

Submission and Respect from Wives in 1 Peter 3:1-6

In 1 Peter 3:1-6, Peter instructs wives to submit and he uses the examples of “the holy women of the past” and Sarah to help make his points. Who were these “holy women of the past”? In what way did Sarah submit to Abraham?

September 1, 2011 42 Comments

Towards Equality – My Story

This is my account about how I went from thinking that a gender hierarchy in marriage and ministry was God’s design to realising that equality and mutuality is scriptural and God’s ideal.

I have included some of my personal views on topics related to biblical equality or “Casteless Christianity”. [3000 words]

August 16, 2011 69 Comments