“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.
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?