The Witch of Endor, the Dead Prophet and the Doomed King
It is remarkable that the witch of Endor, who dealt in the occult, is portrayed in a sympathetic light in 1 Samuel 28. What is going on here? Did she really conjure up the prophet Samuel? And is it simply a coincidence that the story of Abigail and the story of the witch of Endor are both prefaced with similar statements about Samuel’s death?
Freebies for Students of Early Church History
Discovering the beliefs, practices and policies of early Christians is a fascinating pursuit. To help with this, here are some resources on early church history that are freely available online.
John Paul II on Mutual Submission in Marriage
The stance of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to mutual submission in marriage is much more egalitarian than the stance of many evangelicals. Here are some interesting excerpts from the Vatican document on the “Dignity of Women” (Mulieris Dignitatem).
Here’s what I thought of the Mary Magdalene movie
I saw the Mary Magdalene movie tonight and a few people have asked what I thought of it. So here’s a brief review.
Huldah’s Public Prophetic Ministry
Was there a difference between the ministries of male and female prophets in the Bible? Did male prophets minister publicly and female prophets privately? This is what the authors of Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood assert. Does this view do justice to the memory of Huldah’s influential ministry?
Deuteronomy 22:28-29 and Marrying your Rapist
Though it sounds harsh and heartless, even preposterous, to modern westerners, the Deuteronomy 22:28-29 law about a rapist marrying his victim was for the benefit of the raped woman. Here’s why.
My Top Ten Posts in 2017
2017 was an interesting year for my website. In July, it got a new look and a new name. Here are some statistics from since then, including my top 10 posts.
Ezer kenegdo does not mean “a helper subordinate to him”
Does helping someone require that you subordinate yourself to that person? A few men whose essays I’ve read recently answer this question with a “yes”.
All About Elizabeth (Luke 1)
According to Luke’s Gospel, Elizabeth was a faithful woman of God who was given a remarkable son, John the Baptist. She was also given a prophetic voice.
Lydia of Thyatira: The foreigner who became the founding member of the Philippian Church
Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14ff), and women like her, were vital and strategic players at the forefront of the expanding Christian mission.
Three Scholars with Two Views on Eve’s Role as Helper
What did Eve do to help Adam? Here are two very different views from three top scholars about Eve’s role as helper in Genesis 2.
A Gentle and Quiet Spirit is not just a Feminine Virtue
In this post I argue against the idea that gentleness, or meekness, is an especially feminine virtue (cf. 1 Peter 3:4), a faulty idea I’ve heard too many times.
Pontius Pilate’s wife, who knew Jesus was innocent
Matthew 27:19 mentions Pontius Pilate’s wife and her dream about Jesus. What do we know of this woman? Was she a Jewish convert? A Christ-follower?
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 which takes into account surrounding verses as well as documented heresies in the 1st-2nd century church.
4 facts that show “head” does not mean “leader” in 1 Corinthians 11:3
The Greek word for “head” rarely, if ever, meant “leader” in works originally written in Greek before or during the first century AD. Here are four facts which support this claim.
Aemilia Lanyer: A 17th-century Christian feminist and published author
Aemilia Lanyer was an English author and a professing Christian. She promoted equality and freedom for women in her poetry which was published in 1611.
A more beautiful picture than male headship and female submission
Is there a better paradigm than male headship and female submission that more fully conveys NT principles for husbands and wives who are in Christ?
The Elder and the Lady: A look at the language of Second John
In this article I take a look at the text of 2 John, especially at the words the letter writer uses to identify the people he mentions, including the “chosen lady.”
Goodbye New Life
After eight years, this is my last post from the newlife.id.au address. My next post will be from my new address MargMowczko.com I hope you will join me there later this week.
*This post contains important info for my email and Networked Blog subscribers.
The meaning of authentein in 1 Timothy 2:12, with a brief history of authent– words
In this article I take a look at the word authentein (translated as ‘to usurp authority’ in 1 Timothy 2:12 in the KJV). A brief history of how authent- words and their meanings developed is included.
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 the recent Equip 17 women’s conference.