Sex and Violence in the Days of Jael (Part 3)
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.
Sex and Violence in the Days of Jael (Part 2)
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.
Sex and Violence in the Days of Jael (Part 1)
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?
Some people believe Ephesians 5:22, a verse addressed to wives, begins a new sentence. Others believe Ephesians 5:21, with the “submit” participle, is the beginning of a new sentence which includes verse 22. In part 3, I look more into the grammar of these verses and I discuss what I think is the best way to punctuate 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 a dozen blogs on Christian theology and biblical studies that don’t push a complementarian or patriarchal agenda. They are written by evangelical scholars from a variety of denominational backgrounds. None of these blogs focuses primarily on gender discussions.
Did Miriam the prophetess only minister to women?
Miriam is clearly identified as a prophet and as a leader in the Bible, but some say her ministry was only to women. Was this the case? What does the Bible say?
Mary and the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus
In Matthew 1, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba) are the only women mentioned in Jesus’ Genealogy. Why these, and only these, women? In this article, I look at three aspects of the lives of these mothers.
Don Carson and Tim Keller on “I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach”
D.A. Carson and Tim Keller recently had a conversation about 1 Timothy 2:12 posted on YouTube. I was asked about it. Here’s my response.
Lois and Eunice’s Faith and Family
Paul honours Lois and Eunice and acknowledges they had been Timothy’s teachers. These women enabled Timothy to face challenges in Ephesus.
In the Image of God (Gen 1:26-28) in a Nutshell
Genesis 1:26-28 tells us that male and female humans are made in the image and likeness of God. In this article, I briefly explain what I think it means to be made in the image of God and why it doesn’t have much to do with either God’s gender or ours.
1 Timothy 2:12 in a Nutshell
In this short article (500 words), I put forward the case that 1 Timothy 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 or minister.
Bible women who weren’t “keepers at home”
Some Christians believe God’s ideal is that women should be “keepers at home.” They believe women should be busy in their own homes and stay out of the workforce and away from leadership ministries in the church. Here’s a list of respected Bible women that refutes these ideas.
Are Men Physically Superior to Women?
I’ve been getting emails lately from Christian women who truly believe men are physically superior to women. The hurt and confusion in these emails is profound. Here’s part of an email exchange I’ve had with a young woman named Jade.
Romans 14 and the Divisive Issue of Women Pastors
I read Romans chapter 14 today and saw that Paul’s message here has relevance to the issue of women ministers, an issue that continues to cause debate and division in some sectors of the church.
“Holding Up Half the Sky” by Graham Joseph Hill
I was honoured to write a foreword to Graham Hill’s book “Holding Up Half the Sky” where he presents a compelling biblical case for women leading and teaching in the church. I’ve included the foreword in this post.
The Greek Word ‘Praus’ and Meek Warhorses
Is meekness a masculine virtue? How do ancient writers use the Greek word praus (“meek”)? What do ancient writers say about meek warhorses?
Atto of Vercelli on Female Priests/Elders in the Early Church
Atto, bishop of Vercelli in the 900s, saw in church tradition that women had led churches and were presbyters (priests or elders). He did not think this was a bad thing.
Chrysostom on 5 Women Church Leaders in the NT
John Chrysostom (d. 407) praised Priscilla, Phoebe, Euodia, Syntyche, and Junia, and acknowledged that these five women were leading ministers in their churches.
Kenneth Bailey on Women in the New Testament (Videos)
In this post, I share a series of six 30-minute videos where Dr Kenneth Bailey discusses the topic of women in the New Testament. The late Dr Bailey was a scholar of the New Testament in its Middle Eastern context.