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 many ways of understanding it. In this post, I quote interpretations from 10 scholars. In my next post, I suggest another interpretation.
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.
Junia: The Jewish Woman who was Imprisoned with Paul
This article looks at Junia, a Christian missionary mentioned in Romans 16:7, who was persecuted for her faith and may have known Jesus personally. Was she also known as Joanna?
Paul on Gender Roles in Ministry and Marriage
A few verses in Paul’s letters are frequently cited by Christians who exclude women from some ministries. Did Paul really restrict women in either ministry or marriage? This is part 3 of a series on gender roles in the Bible.
Jesus on Gender Roles and Gendered Activities
Does Jesus give instructions about gender roles as complementarians understand them? What does Jesus teach and say to women in the Gospels? This is part 2 in a series of gender roles in the Bible.
Gender Roles & Gendered Activities in the Old Testament
Does the Old Testament teach that husbands are to be the leaders of their wives, or that men have authority over women? Are some roles forbidden to women? This is part 1 of a series on gender roles in the Bible.
The authority of police officers, ship’s captains, and men
In this short post, I respond to a reader’s question about how the authority of police officers is used as an analogy by some complementarians to support male-only authority in the church.
3 Legendary Ladies: Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria
This post looks at Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria, heroines whose stories of conviction and courage are part of our history and heritage. It would be a shame if these stories faded from memory.
Authentein (in 1 Timothy 2:12), in a Nutshell
This short post looks at the meaning of the verb authenteō in 1 Timothy 2:12. My claim is that “to have/use/exercise authority” is an inadequate translation.
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.