Marg Mowczko

Exploring the biblical theology of Christian egalitarianism

Category: All Posts on Equality

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 5 Comments

(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

(5) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

In Part 5, I look at 1 Timothy 3:8-13, concerning male and female deacons in the Ephesian church, and at Phoebe as a prostatis (patron). I briefly compare her ministry with that of Olympias and also Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15-18).

November 25, 2014 7 Comments

(4) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

In part 4 I look at the deacons in the Philippian church and at the development of church offices in the apostolic and post-apostolic churches.

November 18, 2014 9 Comments

(3) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea

We have only two lines about Phoebe in the Bible, but Theodoret of Cyrrhus has more information about her. Did Phoebe travel to Spain with Paul? Did she deliver his letter to the Romans?

November 14, 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

egalitarianism, equality, egalitarian, Christian

My Perspective of Christian Egalitarianism

Some Christians have a mistaken view of our mutuality, or equality, in Christ. In this post, I briefly explain my perspective of Christian Egalitarianism

October 20, 2014 45 Comments

The Status of Christian Women, in a Nutshell

A short post on why Christian women, as well as Christian men, are sons of God. What does it mean to be an adopted son of God?

October 14, 2014 29 Comments

Fresco of literate first century woman, Pompeii

The First Century Church & the Ministry of Women

In this article I provide a brief overview of church life in the first century and I highlight the ministry contributions of women.

October 8, 2014 11 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

1 Corinthians 14:34–35 in a Nutshell

Some people are still using 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 to silence all women in church meetings. Here is my quick take of these two verses.

October 5, 2014 48 Comments

“Workers at home” or “keepers at home” in Titus 2:5?

Titus 2:5 contains a word which is usually translated as “workers at home,” but the King James Bible has “keepers at home.” Which is the correct phrase? What is meant by “keepers at home”?

September 23, 2014 18 Comments

The prominence of women in the cults of Ephesus

A few Ephesian women held the position of high-priestess in pagan cults. Was there a culture of prominent women in Ephesus that influenced Christian women?

September 20, 2014 20 Comments

Why masculine pronouns can be misleading in English Bibles and in the Church

We need to use gender-accurate and gender-inclusive pronouns so that we do not imply a gender bias in the Bible and in church when none is intended.

September 11, 2014 18 Comments

Books on Christian doctrine systematic theology

7 Books on Christian Doctrine without a Complementarian Edge

Are you looking for a systematic theology or a book on Christian doctrine that has been written by a scholar with an egalitarian or mutualist ideology? Here are a few good books you might want to add to your library.

September 4, 2014 28 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 29 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

5 questions about Adam’s role in Genesis 2 and 3

This article addresses 5 questions about Adam’s role and prominence in Genesis chapters 2 and 3. For example, did God only call Adam in Genesis 3:9?

August 11, 2014 21 Comments

Kenegdo: Is the woman subordinate, suitable, or similar to the man?

What does the Hebrew word “kenegdo” mean in Gen. 2:18 & 20? Was the woman made to be subordinate, suitable, or similar to the man?

August 1, 2014 42 Comments

Apostles in the New Testament Church

In this article I look at people who were apostles in the New Testament church, at their qualifications, and at what they did as apostles.

July 20, 2014 15 Comments

Egalitarian Books and Resources on Christian Marriage

Here are 10+ books and resources on marriage written for engaged and married couples, and for marriage counsellors. They all have an egalitarian, or mutualist, perspective.

July 14, 2014 18 Comments

Separate Spheres & Distinct Roles in the Trinity & in Marriage? (John 5:18-30)

Does the Trinity model distinct roles and separate spheres? Is there hierarchy and subordination in the Divine?

July 10, 2014 18 Comments

The Consensus and Context of 1 Timothy 2:12

Here are my notes from a talk I gave on the 28th of June 2014 at a public meeting hosted by the Sydney chapter of Christians for Biblical Equality.

July 2, 2014 31 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

egalitarianism versus complementarianism

How to Keep Friends and Influence People as a Christian Egalitarian

Here are some tips on how to maintain good relationships with Christian family and friends who hold different views on “gender roles”.

June 21, 2014 20 Comments

Calvinism and Chauvinism in the Dictionary

Here’s a fun fact: “Calvinism” and “chauvinism” share the same etymology. Both words are derived from a Latin word that means “bald.”

June 9, 2014 No 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

Female Martyrs and their Ministry in the Early Church

Female martyrs in the early church, such as Blandina and Perpetua, “conformed themselves to Christ, even in death.”

May 2, 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 7 Comments

Wifely Submission and Holy Kisses

Instructions for wifely submission and holy kisses are given in the NT five times each, but one concept is often emphasised while the other is usually ignored.

March 27, 2014 33 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

The “Feminization” of the Church

Kristen Rosser has written an excellent article on the so-called “feminization” of the church, and how we can address this issue. With her permission, I have posted it here.

March 7, 2014 14 Comments

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

Jesus’s teachings in Matthew’s gospel show that he promoted the social values of humility and equality: the humble are exalted, the lowly are the greatest, and the last are first.

February 27, 2014 7 Comments

“Go and work in my vineyard” (Matthew 20:1-16)

In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard workers and points out that there is equality in his kingdom. To those who have so far been sidelined, Jesus says “Go work in my vineyard.”

February 18, 2014 5 Comments

Paul and women believing wife sister woman 1 Corinthians 9 Paul Peter Grapte

Believing Wives and Female Co-workers of the Apostles

Does Paul refer to wives of apostles or female coworkers of apostles in 1 Corinthians 9:5? Was their role companionship or teaching Christian doctrine?

February 14, 2014 2 Comments

Blaming Eve Alone

Was Eve alone when the snake spoke to her? Here is a summary of Julie Parker’s essay, “Blaming Eve Alone: Translation, Omission, and Implications of עמה in Genesis 3:6b.”

January 23, 2014 23 Comments

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 8 Comments

A shepherd who only feeds the male sheep in his flock?

Matt Chandler states unequivocally, “I teach to men . . . I go after the men.” So what happens to the “lost sheep” who are female? And how does Matt’s focus affect the thousands of women in his flock?

December 30, 2013 32 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 2 Comments

Barbara Aland and the Nestle-Aland Greek NT

Most modern translations of the New Testament rely on the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. One of the editors of recent editions of this Greek New Testament is scholar Barbara Aland. This article provides a brief history of the Nestle-Aland text and a brief biography of Barbara Aland.

December 11, 2013 1 Comment