Paul and Women, in a Nutshell
Here is a brief overview of eighteen women mentioned by the apostle Paul in his New Testament letters, as well as Lydia who is mentioned in Acts.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 in a Nutshell
Surprisingly for me, people are still using 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 to silence women in church meetings. Here is my very brief interpretation of these two verses.
The Politics of Bible Translations
Did you know that your preferred Bible translation could be a political act? And that the rhetoric about other translations is more about politics than reality?
“Workers at home” or “keepers at home” in Titus 2:5?
Titus 2:5 contains a word which is usually translated as “workers at home,” but the King James Bible has “keepers at home.” Which is the correct phrase? What is meant by “keepers at home”?
The prominence of women in the cults of Ephesus
Some Ephesian women held the position of high-priestess (and other offices) in pagan cults. Did this culture of prominent women influence Christian women to behave inappropriately in the Christian community of Ephesus?
Why masculine pronouns can be misleading in English Bibles and in the Church
We need to use gender accurate and gender-inclusive plural pronouns so that we do not imply a gender bias in the Bible and in church when none is intended.
7 Books on Christian Doctrine without a Complementarian Edge
Are you looking for a systematic theology or a book on Christian doctrine that has been written by a scholar with an egalitarian or mutualist ideology? Here are a few good books you might want to add to your library.
What was the ‘job description’ of Jesus’ apostles?
One subject that I keep mulling over is what it means to be a leader and have authority in the church. Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be church leaders? What was their job description?
Western-Style ‘Biblical Womanhood’ and the Wider World
Here is a link to one of the best articles I have ever read on so-called ‘biblical womanhood’. In this article Jenny Rae Armstrong writes that “the privileged frivolities of Western homemaking” have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus.
Communion, Community, and Solidarity with our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
Back in the first century, Communion was a way for the early Christians to express their solidarity as a group of Jesus-followers in an often hostile world. The Lord’s Supper is still a way we can show our solidarity with our fellow Jesus-followers who are being persecuted.
5 questions about Adam’s role in Genesis 2 and 3
This post addresses 5 questions about Adam’s role and prominence in Genesis chapters 2 and 3. For example, did God call Adam only in Genesis 3:9?
Kenegdo: Is the woman subordinate, suitable, or similar to the man?
What does the Hebrew word “kenegdo” mean in Genesis 2:18 & 20? Was the first woman made to be subordinate or suitable or similar to the first man?
Apostles in the New Testament Church
In this article I look at the men and women who were apostles in the New Testament church, and at their qualifications. I also look at what they did as apostles.
Egalitarian Books and Resources on Christian Marriage
Here are 10+ books and resources on Christian marriage that are suitable for engaged and married couples, for marriage counsellors and coaches, and for pastors. They all have an egalitarian, or mutualist, perspective.
Do you have experience with these resources? Are there others that should be added to this list?
Separate Spheres & Distinct Roles in the Trinity & in Marriage? (John 5:18-30)
Some Christians believe the Trinity is a model for marriage. Does the Trinity model distinct roles and separate spheres? Is there a hierarchy and subordination in the Divine?
The Consensus and Context of 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are my notes from a talk I gave on the 28th of June 2014 at a public meeting hosted by the Sydney chapter of Christians for Biblical Equality.
Many women leaders in the Bible had this one thing in common
As I was making a list of Bible women who ministered to men, I saw something I had not noticed before. Almost all of these women had a prophetic gift.
How to Keep Friends and Influence People as a Christian Egalitarian
Here are some tips on how to maintain good relationships with Christian family and friends who hold different, even opposing, views on so-called “gender roles”.
Calvinism and Chauvinism in the Dictionary
Here’s a fun fact: “Calvinism” and “chauvinism” share the same etymology. Both words are derived from a Latin word that means “bald.”
Who was Mary the Magdalene?
This article looks at Mary Magdalene, and especially at what “Magdalene” might mean. Does it refer to Mary’s home town? Was it her nick-name? Or does it imply that Mary was a prostitute?
Making Sense of the Transfiguration
The accounts of the transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels are puzzling, and the point and purpose of the accounts are unclear. Perhaps this article may make its meaning clearer.