Where are the women in 1 John 2:12-14?
How did John use the words “children,” “fathers,” and “young men” in 1 John 2:12-14? Was he writing only to men? Were women excluded from any of these groups?
April 13, 2025
No Comments
Category: “Difficult” Passages
Paul’s Use of Kephalē (“Head”) in Ephesians
In this article, which began as notes for a recent interview, I look at how Paul used kephalē (“head”) in Ephesians chapters 1, 4, and 5. There is a consistent theme in how Paul used this word in Ephesians.
March 29, 2025
10 Comments
Origen on the Biblical Prophetesses
In part 2, I discuss Origen’s remarks on Philip’s daughters, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, and Miriam, remarks that are still being used to restrict women from “public” ministry.
March 18, 2025
7 Comments
1 Corinthians 11:2-16: Line by Line (4)
“A woman ought to have power on her head” is the crux of 1 Cor. 11:2-16. What did Paul mean here? And what does “because of the angels” mean?
October 13, 2024
15 Comments
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Line by Line (3)
In Part 3, I focus on 1 Cor. 11:7-9 and corresponding verses. Why did Paul say man is the image and glory of God, and woman was made for man?
October 4, 2024
6 Comments
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Line by Line (1)
This is Part 1 of a talk I gave in August on 1 Cor. 11:2-16. This passage includes the phrase, “the head of woman is the man.”
September 14, 2024
4 Comments
5 Flawed Ideas About “Headship” in Marriage
I repond to 5 flawed ideas I often hear as interpretations of Ephesians 5:22-33, including the “husband as decision-maker” idea.
July 21, 2024
25 Comments
(2) Submission & the Saviour in Ephesians 5
In part 2, I look at Christ’s role as the “Saviour of the body” and what this means for Paul’s words to wives in Ephesians 5:22-24 and to husbands in Ephesians 5:25ff.
May 5, 2024
16 Comments
(1) Submission & the Saviour in Ephesians 5
Here’s what I’ve been learning about the Greek “submit” verb. I also look at what it meant to Paul that Jesus is the “Saviour of the body.”
April 26, 2024
16 Comments
A Note on the Mystery in Ephesians 5:31-32
What is the mystery in Eph 5:32? Here’s my quick take on “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”
March 3, 2024
22 Comments
The Structure and Language of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
I’ve highlighted the structure and vocabulary of 1 Cor. 14:26-40 which contains verses 33-34, “Women should be silent in the churches …”
February 24, 2024
22 Comments
What does “saved through childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15) mean?
There are various interpretations of “she will saved through childbearing.” In this article, I explain how I understand the phrase.
October 30, 2023
37 Comments
Submission in 1 Corinthians 15:28 and in Marriage
The Son’s submission to the Father in 1 Cor. 15:28 does not inform our understanding of submission in marriage in the way some people argue. Here’s why.
September 14, 2023
17 Comments
“Uncover-Cover” Words in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16
A short discussion on the adjective akatakalyptos and the verb katakalyptō (“cover”) used in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16.
July 21, 2023
20 Comments
Why 1 Timothy 2:12 shouldn’t be used to ban women ministers
1 Timothy 2:12 (“I do not permit a woman to teach …”) is the only Bible verse that places a restriction on a woman teaching. It shouldn’t be used to ban women ministers.
June 7, 2023
37 Comments
Philip Payne on Hairstyles vs. Head Coverings in Corinth
In his book, The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood, Philip Payne outlines 3 reasons why Paul’s concern in 1 Cor. 11:2–16 was not head coverings for women, but hairstyles.
May 27, 2023
24 Comments
Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Tim. 3:2 and Priscilla
What did Paul mean when he said “husband of one wife”? What was Priscilla’s role in Ephesus and Rome? What is Paul’s overall theology of ministry and women?
February 27, 2023
27 Comments
Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:12
Here is more from a talk I gave on February 11. In part 2, I look at 1 Timothy 2:12 within its immediate context and within the context of First Timothy.
February 21, 2023
15 Comments
Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
This is part 1 of a talk I gave recently which looks at Paul’s overall theology on ministry and the verses often used to limit women.
February 13, 2023
25 Comments
What does submission “in everything” mean?
I look at how Paul uses the phrase “in everything” in his letters and at what it means in, “wives submit to your husbands in everything.”
November 12, 2022
28 Comments
An Overview of Paul’s Use of Kephalē (“Head”)
In this article, I provide an overview of how Paul uses the word kephalē (“head”) in his letters, and I give a brief note on each verse that contains the word.
August 1, 2022
44 Comments
Judith Gundry on the Two Social Contexts of 1 Cor. 11:2–16
Here are a few excerpts from a chapter written by Judith Gundry that are helpful in understanding Paul’s arguments and use of creation in 1 Cor. 11:2-16.
January 31, 2022
16 Comments
Woman’s Authority or Subordination in 1 Cor. 11:10?
Paul said in 1 Cor. 11:10 that a woman should have “authority on her head.” Whose authority is it?
November 14, 2021
33 Comments
A Quick Comparison of Genesis 3:16 and Genesis 4:7
Gen 3:16, about Eve, and Gen 4:7, about Cain, both contain the Hebrew words teshuqah (“desire”) and mashal (“rule”). Does 4:7 help us to understand 3:16?
October 20, 2021
24 Comments
Who are the 144,000 and why are they all men?
Who are the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14? What do they symbolise? Are women really excluded from this group?
October 13, 2021
6 Comments
A note on nature and hairstyles in 1 Cor. 11:14–15
in 1 Cor. 11:14-15, Paul says that nature is a teacher of hair lengths or hairstyles for men and women. What did he mean by “nature”?
September 2, 2021
22 Comments
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
77 Comments
1. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: Participles
In this article, I look at the Greek participles in Ephesians 5:18-21, especially the “submit” participle in verse 21.
February 20, 2021
10 Comments
1 Timothy 2:12, in a Nutshell
In this short article, I sketch the case that 1 Tim. 2:12 says nothing, one way or the other, about whether competent women can be pastors, preachers, priests, elders, or any kind of church leader.
October 3, 2020
22 Comments
Bible women who weren’t “keepers at home”
Some Christians think women should be “keepers at home” and stay out of the workforce and away from leadership ministries in the church. Here’s a list of respected Bible women who weren’t “keepers at home.”
September 23, 2020
27 Comments
4 obscure passages sometimes used to diminish women
In this article, I look at 4 passages from the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 27, Numbers 30, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Isaiah 3:12) which are sometimes used to diminish women.
October 23, 2019
47 Comments
3 reasons why it’s a woman, not all women, in 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are 3 reasons why 1 Timothy 2:12 may be about a particular couple in the Ephesian church and not Paul’s general thoughts on women in ministry.
August 28, 2019
74 Comments
The Significance of the Created Order, in a Nutshell
The creation order given in Genesis 2 is often brought up in discussions about ministry and marriage. What significance did Paul place on man being created first?
April 1, 2019
51 Comments
The Household Codes are Primarily about Power
The household codes in Eph. 5-6 and Col. 3-4 are not about gender but primarily about power and about mitigating abuse that often comes with power.
February 27, 2019
50 Comments
Jealousy and Bitter Water (Numbers 5:11-31)
Numbers 5:11-31 outlines the ordeal of bitter water which was designed to test, or prove, the fidelity of a wife suspected by her jealous husband of being unfaithful.
February 18, 2019
33 Comments
Periods of Purification after Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8)
Why does Leviticus 12 say a mother is unclean for 7 days after the birth of a son but is unclean for 14 days after the birth of a daughter? Why the difference?
December 18, 2018
52 Comments
Man and woman as the image and glory of God (1 Cor. 11:7)
Does 1 Corinthians 11:7 express superiority of men over women. Is this what is meant by “man … is the image and glory of God but woman is the glory of man”? Here’s a different interpretation.
August 7, 2018
65 Comments
What scholars say about 1 Corinthians 11:7
Here are interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:7 (man … is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man) from past & present scholars.
August 5, 2018
24 Comments
Authentein in 1 Timothy 2:12, in a Nutshell
This short post looks at the verb authenteō (authentein) in 1 Tim. 2:12. My claim is that “to have, exercise, usurp authority” is an inadequate and misleading translation.
April 21, 2018
24 Comments
Deuteronomy 22:28–29 and Marrying your Rapist
Though it sounds heartless, even preposterous, to modern Westerners, the Deut. 22:28-29 law, for a rapist to marry his victim, may have benefitted the raped woman. Here’s why.
January 15, 2018
46 Comments
Ezer kenegdo does not mean “a helper subordinate to him”
Does helping someone mean you subordinate yourself to that person? 3 men whose essays I’ve read recently answer this question with “yes”.
December 30, 2017
43 Comments
An interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that joins the dots of 2:11-15
Here is a coherent interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that takes into account surrounding verses as well as documented heresies in the 1st-2nd century church.
August 30, 2017
58 Comments
4 reasons “head” does not mean “leader” in 1 Cor. 11:3
The Greek word for “head” rarely, if ever, meant “leader” in works originally written in Greek in Paul’s time. Here are four facts that support this claim.
August 14, 2017
55 Comments
A more beautiful picture than male headship and female submission
Is male headship and female submission the best way for husbands and wives who are in Christ to live by New Testament and New Creation principles?
July 22, 2017
18 Comments
The meaning of authentein with a brief history of authent– words
Here is a close look at the word authentein (translated as ‘to usurp authority’ in 1 Tim. 2:12 KJV). A brief history of how authent- words and their meanings developed is included.
June 29, 2017
119 Comments
Women’s Hair in Corinth and in Sydney
Was Paul concerned about women’s hair or veils in ancient Corinth? Would he be concerned about it in 21st-century Sydney? I wrote this piece in response to teaching at the Equip 17 women’s conference.
June 5, 2017
36 Comments
The Anonymous Man and Woman in 1 Timothy 2:11-15
In this article, I look at the language of 1 Timothy 2:12 and discuss the idea that this verse concerns an anonymous couple in the Ephesian church rather than men and women more generally.
February 4, 2017
50 Comments
1 Corinthians 11 and Subverted Hierarchy
In this very short post, Matthew Malcolm shows that Paul has a keen interest in setting up hierarchies of human honour and then subverting them by subjecting all humans to God.
October 7, 2016
6 Comments
Does Teshuqah mean Desire or Devotion in Genesis 3:16?
Is the Hebrew word teshuqah, traditionally translated as “desire” in Genesis 3:16, better translated as “single-minded concentration” or “devotion”?
October 4, 2016
22 Comments
1 Timothy 2:13: Another reason 1 Tim. 2:12 isn’t as clear as it seems
Is 1 Tim 2:13 (“For Adam was formed first …”) a reason for 1 Tim 2:12? How is the created order significant? What does “gar” mean?
August 6, 2016
46 Comments
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