What does didaktikos mean in 1 Tim 3:2 and 2 Tim 2:24?
In 1 Timothy 3:2 and in 2 Timothy 2:24 is a rare Greek word, didaktikos. This word is usually translated as “able to teach” but it may mean “teachable.”
The Problem with Modesty and the Problem of Lust
What do Jesus and Paul say about purity, modesty, and lust?
What’s in a Name? Deborah, Woman of Lappidoth
Was Deborah the wife of Lappidoth or from a town called Lappidoth? Or does “lappidoth” signify something quite different? And where does the name “Deborah” come from?
The Means of Ministry: Gifts, Grace, Faith . . . Gender?
If Paul had meant for only men to be leaders and teachers, why doesn’t he mention this in his lists of ministries in Rom. 12:6–8, 1 Cor. 12:28, and Eph. 4:11?
At Home with Priscilla and Aquila
What does the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila to Apollos reveal? (Acts 18:18-28). How did others feel about the couple and their ministry? (Romans 16:3-5)
Teshuqah: The Woman’s “Desire” in Genesis 3:16
The Hebrew word teshuqah is usually translated as “desire” in Gen. 3:16: “your desire will be for your husband.” What does this mean?
The importance of using feminine words and images
4 short stories that show why preachers and writers should use feminine words and images if they want to engage and empower women as well as men.
Church cultures that include and exclude women leaders
A poor understanding of church culture in the first century is one reason why some deny that women were leaders in some New Testament churches.
Is all sin equal in the eyes of God?
Have you heard people say that all sins (wrong doings) are the same before God? I have wondered about this belief. What does the Bible say about this?
Kenegdo = Equal to Him (Genesis 2:18 & 20)
This short post looks at the way the Hebrew word kenegdo (used in Gen. 2:18 & 20 for the creation of Eve) is translated in a respected Afrikaans version of the Bible.
Are Men Accountable for their Wives’ Actions?
Are men accountable for their wives’ actions? This article looks at the accountability of Adam and Eve (pre-patriarchy) and of Ananias and Sapphira (post-Pentecost)
“Head” and “Headship” in Genesis 1–3
Is the concept of “male headship” present in Genesis chapters 1-3 as some complementarians argue? How is the Hebrew word for “head” (rosh) used in these three chapters?
Book Review: Raised from Obscurity
In this post, I review and recommend Greg Forbes and Scott Harrower’s 2015 book “Raised from Obscurity” on the women in Luke Gospel and Acts.
4 Contexts of Women’s Leadership in Roman Society
The social world of the Roman Empire was patriarchal. Women were typically thought to be less capable than men, yet they were able to lead in certain contexts. This article describes 4 of these social contexts.
Extra Honour for Underdogs (1 Cor. 12:12-31)
When we put Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 into practice, we honour all people equally. This means giving extra honour to those lacking it.
What does “weaker vessel” mean in 1 Peter 3:7?
What did Peter mean when he said a wife is a “weaker vessel”? This article considers how “weak” is used of women in ancient documents.
Is Adam solely responsible for the first sin?
Does Romans 5:12–21 show that God holds only Adam, and not Eve, responsible for the first sin? How does Paul use the example of Adam in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15?
What Eve’s Reply to the Serpent Tells Us
Did God give Adam the responsibility of telling Eve about the forbidden fruit? And what if Eve didn’t misquote God?
Fluid leadership vs rigid gender roles
Some Christians have a faulty notion of gender roles that is based on an equally faulty notion of leadership. In this tiny post, I share two quotes on the nature of leadership.
Complementarians and Same-Sex Friendships
The complementarian ideology that men are designed to lead, and women are designed to submit to male leadership, has many drawbacks. In this post I highlight one of them.
Men, please stop trying to ‘elevate’ women
The idea of men elevating, or raising, women usually sounds condescending to me, rather than encouraging or empowering. Now I understand why.