Does Isaiah 3:12 show that women leaders are a bad thing?
Does God’s lament in Isaiah 3:12 (“women rule over them”) show that the leadership of women is a bad thing? What does Isaiah 3:12 mean?
February 20, 2016
35 Comments
Category: “Difficult” Passages
The Responsibilities of Husbands in Ephesians 5
Do husbands have a particular responsibility for the spiritual growth of their wives? Will husbands one day present their wives to Jesus?
February 16, 2016
28 Comments
Celibacy, Salvation, and 1 Timothy 2:15
Are ascetic teachings that emphasise celibacy behind Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:15? What does “saved through childbearing” mean?
January 27, 2016
14 Comments
Why 1 Tim. 2:12 and 1 Cor. 14:34 are not universal regulations
One reason I believe 1 Tim. 2:12 and 1 Cor. 14:34 were ad hoc regulations addressing local problems is because of a Greek verb found in both verses.
December 22, 2015
42 Comments
Teshuqah: The Woman’s “Desire” in Genesis 3:16
The Hebrew word teshuqah is usually translated as “desire” in Gen. 3:16: “your desire will be for your husband.” What does this mean?
November 7, 2015
121 Comments
Kenegdo = Equal to Him (Genesis 2:18 & 20)
This short post looks at the way the Hebrew word kenegdo (used in Gen. 2:18 & 20 for the creation of Eve) is translated in a respected Afrikaans version of the Bible.
October 16, 2015
16 Comments
Are Men Accountable for their Wives’ Actions?
Are men accountable for their wives’ actions? This article looks at the accountability of Adam and Eve (pre-patriarchy) and of Ananias and Sapphira (post-Pentecost)
October 8, 2015
23 Comments
What does “weaker vessel” mean in 1 Peter 3:7?
What did Peter mean when he said a wife is a “weaker vessel”? This article considers how “weak” is used of women in ancient documents.
August 12, 2015
14 Comments
Ephesians 5:22-33 in a Nutshell
In what way (or ways) is the relationship between Jesus and the church a model for marriage? What does Paul mean in Ephesians 5:22-33?
June 21, 2015
41 Comments
Fear or Respect in Christian Marriage? (Eph 5:33 & 1 Pet 3:2)
In Ephesians 5:33 it says that a wife should respect (phobeō) her husband. What is the connection between respect & fear? Did Paul want wives to be afraid?
May 13, 2015
32 Comments
Wives, mothers, and female masters in NT household codes
When we read the NT household codes, we need to keep in mind that some “masters” were women. How does this affect our understanding of these passages?
March 31, 2015
37 Comments
Woman Created for Man (1 Cor. 11:9), in a Nutshell
How are we to understand “man was not created for woman, but woman for man”? Does 1 Corinthians 11:9 indicate that service or submission is the role of women and not men?
January 26, 2015
42 Comments
A wife has no authority of her own body? (1 Cor. 7:4)
What did Paul mean by “A wife/ husband does not have authority of her /his body” in 1 Cor. 7:4? This verse has been terribly misunderstood by some.
January 7, 2015
55 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
58 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
54 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
37 Comments
1 Timothy 2:15: What must a woman do to be saved?
What does “she will be saved through childbearing” in 1 Timothy 2:15 mean? Is being a faithful follower of Jesus not enough? What does Jesus say about this?
June 23, 2013
30 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 (2): Artemis of Ephesus
This article looks at the goddess Artemis and her magnificent temple in ancient Ephesus. Artemis had a huge influence on the Ephesians!
April 17, 2013
14 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
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
Paul’s Main Point in Ephesians 5:22–33
Ephesians 5:22-33 is written as a chiasm with a highlighted point at the centre of the passage. We misinterpret this passage if we miss this main point.
April 30, 2012
91 Comments
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
30 Comments
Kephalē and “Male Headship” in Paul’s Letters
Does Paul’s statement in Ephesians 5:23, “the husband is the head of the wife,” mean that the husband has leadership or authority over his wife? And what about 1 Corinthians 11:3?
September 18, 2011
140 Comments
Submission and Respect from Husbands in 1 Peter 3:7-8
Many Christians believe that submission in marriage is the duty only of wives. In 1 Peter 3:7 Peter comes close to saying that husbands are to be submissive to their wives too.
September 11, 2011
43 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
Interpretations and Applications of 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
Here are summaries of a range of interpretations of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 proposed by well-known New Testament scholars. How do these verses apply today?
July 9, 2011
87 Comments
Paul’s Qualifications for Church Leaders (1 Timothy 3)
Do the qualifications for church leaders (i.e. overseers) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 apply only to men? Do these verses exclude women from church leadership?
August 5, 2010
77 Comments
Subscribe to Marg's Blog
Join Marg's Patreon
Would you like to support my ministry of encouraging mutuality and equality between men and women in the church and in marriage?
Categories
- "Difficult" Passages
- 1 Corinthians 11:2–16
- 1 Corinthians 14
- 1 Peter
- 1 Peter 3:1–7
- 1 Timothy 2:11-15
- 1 Timothy 3
- All Posts on Equality
- Becoming a Christian
- Bible Study Notes
- Bible Translation and Interpretation
- Bible Women
- Book Reviews
- Christian Living
- Christian Theology
- Christology
- Church History
- Early Church Women
- Early Jewish History
- Ephesians 5
- Gender in Genesis 1–3
- General
- Greco-Roman Culture
- Jesus and Women
- John's Gospel: Chs 1–10
- Junia
- Kephalē (“Head”)
- Lessons from Philippians
- Mutuality in Marriage
- Mutuality in Ministry
- Paul and Women
- Phoebe
- Priscilla
- Salvation and Eternal Life
- Submission
- The Holy Spirit
- Titus 2
- Women in Ministry
- Worship and Prayer