Tabitha: An Exemplary Disciple (Acts 9:36-42)
In Acts 9, Tabitha (AKA Dorcas) is identified as a disciple and described as a generous supporter of the poor. What can we know about her? What did her ministries involve? What is her association with the widows of Joppa? Why did Luke include her story in Acts?
A List of the Twenty-Nine People in Romans 16:1-16
Twenty-nine people are mentioned in Romans 16:1-16, including ten women, seven of whom are described in terms of their ministries.
Partnering Together: Paul’s Female Coworkers
Paul included women, as well as men, as ministry partners. And he used the same ministry terms for his male and female co-workers. None of Paul’s statements, when understood in context, restricts the ministry of godly and gifted women.
Partnering Together: Jesus and Women
At a time when women were regarded as odd and inferior by men, and were excluded from many aspects of society, Jesus was interested in the lives of women. He included them, taught them, and accepted their ministry.
Partnering Together: Agents of Jesus
This post is an excerpt from a talk I gave in Melbourne at a camp for high-school girls about understanding and accepting our mission as agents of Jesus.
The Significance of the Created Order, in a Nutshell
The creation order of man first, woman second, as recorded in Genesis 2, is often brought up in discussions about the place of men and women in ministry and in marriage. For some, this order even forms the basis of their views on gender. What significance did Paul place on man being created first, woman second?
The household codes are about power, not gender
The New Testament household codes in Ephesians 5-6 and Colossians 3-4 are not primarily about gender. They are about power and about mitigating the abuse that often comes with power.
Jealousy and Bitter Water (Numbers 5:11-31)
Numbers 5:11-31 outlines the ordeal of bitter water designed to test the fidelity of a wife who was suspected by her jealous husband of being unfaithful. Just how fair was this trial?
Marcella of Rome: Academic, Ascetic and Almsgiver
Marcella of Rome (325–410), a friend of Jerome, dedicated herself and her considerable talents and resources to serving the church and helping the poor. Here’s some information about this remarkable woman.
My Top Posts in 2018
For the few who may be interested, here’s a short post with some of my website stats for 2018. It includes a brief list of my top posts in 2018.
Periods of Purification after Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8)
Why does Leviticus 12 say a new mother is unclean for 7 days after the birth of a son but she is unclean for 14 days after the birth of a daughter? Why the difference?
Book Review: For Such a Time
How did God respond when women took the lead? In his book For Such a Time, Ed Dickerson answers this question by looking at the stories of enterprising women in the Bible. Here is a short review of his book.
1 Corinthians 16:16: A submission verse that applies to women
In 1 Corinthians 16:16, Paul tells the Corinthians to submit themselves to coworkers and labourers. Paul refers to several women by these ministry terms.
A critique of the ESV Study Bible notes on 1 Timothy 2:12
In this post I critique the notes on 1 Timothy 2:12 in the ESV Study Bible. What is the context of this verse? What does it prohibit?
Nympha: A House Church Leader in the Lycus Valley (Colossians 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?
What Timothy knew about Paul’s theology of ministry, and 1 Timothy 2:12
Timothy saw firsthand how Paul handled ministry and he must have heard the apostle speak and teach on ministry countless times. So, it doesn’t make sense that 1 Timothy 2:12ff represents Paul’s general teaching on women in ministry that Timothy needed to be told. It makes more sense that 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is Paul’s advice about a specific, local situation and even a specific couple.
Paul’s words on divorce, and leaving an abusive marriage
Someone recently asked me about Paul’s teaching on divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 and whether it allows for an abused spouse to leave their abuser. Here’s my response with some context to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7.
Man and woman as the image and glory of God (1 Corinthians 11:7)
In centuries past, commentators understood 1 Corinthians 11:7 as expressing the 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 is a different interpretation that takes culture into account.
What scholars say about 1 Corinthians 11:7
1 Corinthians 11:7 (“man . . . is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man”) is a baffling Bible verse and there are different ways of understanding it. In this post, I quote interpretations from 5 past scholars and 10 recent scholars.
What were Euodia and Syntyche thinking?!
Inspired by a recent reading in Acts, I’ve taken a close look at a common Greek expression that Paul uses when addressing Euodia and Syntyche. What was Paul saying to these women in the Philippian Church?
“Must manage his own household well” (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
I was recently asked if 1 Timothy 3:4a (“managing his own household well”) is a command that shows men, and not women, are to rule or lead their households. Here’s my response.