Who are the 144,000 and why are they all men?
In the Book of Revelation, there is a list of 12 Israelite tribes with 12,000 men in each, totalling 144,000 men in all. Since the Christian faith is fully inclusive of women, some are troubled that this group consists of only men. What is the 144,000? Who are these men? And are women really excluded from this group?
Malachi 2:16 and the Priest who Divorced his Wife
What if Malachi 2:16 isn’t a general statement on divorce but about a priest named Manasseh who divorced his first wife in around 350 BCE? It’s likely.
Every Female Prophet in the Bible
Here is a complete list of women identified as prophetesses in the Bible with a 200-word note on each. There was a recognised place for such women in Israel and in the first-century church.
A note on nature and hairstyles in 1 Cor. 11:14-15
Towards the end of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, a complex passage, Paul brings up the idea of nature as a teacher of hair lengths or hairstyles for men and women. What did he mean by “nature”?
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.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16, in a Nutshell
In this article, I give a brief overview of how I read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. This passage includes the phrase, “the head of woman is man.”
Salome: Follower of Jesus and Myrrh Bearer
Salome was a follower of Jesus, a witness of his crucifixion and empty tomb. She is mentioned twice in the Bible but many more times in other early church documents.
Mutual Submission in Early Christian Writings
Some Christians claim that submission is always to a person in authority. In this article, I quote four prominent early Christian authors who speak positively about mutual submission among Jesus followers.
Beth Allison Barr on (un)Making Biblical Womanhood
Throughout her book, Dr Barr aims to show that complementarianism isn’t the only option for those who believe the Bible is the authoritative Word of God.
Beth Allison Barr on the Reformation’s Role in Limiting Women
Chapter 4 of Dr Barr’s book looks at the Reformation and women. It is “a story of loss rather than a story of gain, of increased subordination rather than of liberation.”
Beth Allison Barr on Paul and Biblical Womanhood
In her book The Making of Biblical Womanhood, Beth Allison Barr argues that the concept of “biblical womanhood” doesn’t come from the apostle Paul.
Mary Magdalene and the Ascension
Mary Magdalene was the herald of Jesus’s resurrection and also of his impending ascension. Why did Jesus tell her in John 20:17, “Do not cling to me”?
There are Women Pastors in the New Testament
In this article I answer the question, Where in the New Testament does it say women were pastors? There is a biblical case for female pastors.
The “Little Women” in 2 Timothy 3:6-7
I’ve seen people express dismay that Paul disparages women in 2 Timothy 3:6-7. Here’s a short note looking at Paul’s words here and at his main concern.
Jael (3): Jael, Mary, and Jesus Crucifixion
Part 3 looks at what Jael’s story and the accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion have in common, and at why some early and medieval theologians used Jael as a type of Mary the mother of Jesus.
Jael (2): Sexual and Maternal Imagery in Jael’s Story
In part 2 I look at the sexual and maternal imagery in Jael’s story, and the deadly determination in her actions. What was motivating her? *This article mentions rape.
Jael (1): The Lord will hand over Sisera to a woman
Jael is a popular Bible figure, famous for her brutal act of violence against Israel’s enemy. In part 1 (of 3), I look at her story and her actions as recorded in Judges 4.
3. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: 1 Sentence or 2?
Is Ephesians 5:21-22 one sentence or two? What is the best way to punctuate these verses? How do ancient manuscripts treat them?
2. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: A Missing Verb?
Is it significant that there is no “submit” word in Ephesians 5:22 in two of the oldest Greek manuscripts? Did Paul tell wives to submit?
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.
12 Christian Theology Blogs that don’t Push Patriarchy
Here are 12 blogs on Christian theology and biblical studies written by evangelical scholars who don’t push a complementarian or patriarchal agenda.