Podcast with Ashley Easter and Charlie Olivia Grantham
Last Monday I chatted with Ashley Easter and Charlie Olivia Grantham about Ephesians 5 and a little bit about my marriage. Here are links to a 16-minute podcast of our conversation.
The Anonymous Man and Woman in 1 Timothy 2:11-15
In this article, I look at the language of 1 Timothy 2:12 and discuss the possibility that this verse concerns an anonymous couple in the Ephesian church, rather than men and women more generally.
Were there women elders in New Testament churches? (Part 2)
In this article I look at the NT verse which mentions women elders and compare it with other verses. I also look at elders, men and women, in early Judaism. My claim is that the “older women” in 1 Timothy 5:2 may well have been more than just “older women.”
Were there women elders in New Testament churches?
Three times this past week I’ve been in online conversations where a person has stated that women were not leaders or elders in early churches. Was this really the case?
Were Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia friends?
Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia were Christian ministers who sometimes travelled. The NT shows that, at the very least, their paths crossed one or twice. Did these women become friends? I hope so.
Is it he, she, they or we who crush the serpent’s head? (Genesis 3:15)
I’ve been using the Common English Bible and was surprised to read God say to the snake, “They will strike your head.” Other translations of Genesis 3:15 have he, she or it will strike. What is the correct understanding of who will attack the serpent? Is it us?
The Queen of Sheba and 3 other Powerful Female Rulers in the Bible
There were powerful women in Bible times. Some were godly, others were not. This article looks especially at the Queen of Sheba and at Berenice who is mentioned in Acts.
Apphia of Colossae: Philemon’s wife or another Phoebe?
Apphia was a woman greeted by Paul in his letter to Philemon. What was her role or position at Colossae? Was she Philemon’s wife? Or was she another Phoebe?
1 Corinthians 11 and Subverted Hierarchy
In this short post, Matthew Malcolm shows that Paul has a keen interest in setting up hierarchies of human honour and then subverting them by subjecting all humans to God.
Desire or Devotion: Which is a better translation of teshuqah in Genesis 3:16?
Is the Hebrew word teshuqah, traditionally translated as “desire” in Genesis 3:16, better translated as “single-minded concentration” or “devotion”?
Which Bible translation is best?
Many Christians are dissatisfied with English translations that seem biased towards men when, in fact, the intended meaning of many passages is gender-inclusive. So, what is the best Bible translation?
Did Jesus address only men in Luke 14:25-27?
In Luke 14:25-27 Jesus said that his disciples have to hate their father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters. A reader asks, “Was Jesus speaking to only men here?”
Tertullian on Equality and Mutuality in Marriage
Tertullian, famous for once describing women as “the devil’s gateway”, wrote some wonderful things about equality and mutuality in marriage. He did not regard the household code in Ephesians as either comprehensive or prescriptive.
1 Timothy 2:13: Another reason 1 Timothy 2:12 is not as clear as it seems
Is 1 Timothy 2:13 (“For Adam was formed first and then Eve”) a reason for the prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12? Does the created order disqualify women from teaching and leading men?
6 reasons 1 Timothy 2:12 is not as clear as it seems
Taking 1 Timothy 2:12 at face value, with no understanding of the verse’s context and challenges, can lead to a flawed interpretation. This post looks at six factors that must be considered when interpreting 1 Timothy 2:12.
The Regalia of Artemis Ephesia
This essay looks at the distinctive appearance of Artemis of Ephesus, and at what her items of clothing symbolise. A short history of the goddess is also included to help explain her importance and power.
Eternal Torment, Eternal Fire, Eternal Death?
In part two I look at Bible verses which mention the ideas of “eternal” and “fire” in regards to the future judgement. Do these verses speak of eternal conscious torment for unrepentant sinners?
Paul, James, and Jesus on Hell (Gehenna)
Paul never mentions hell in any of his letters. James mentions hell just once. Jesus, on the other hand, mentions hell several times. Is hell a real place? Is it a place of eternal torment?
Two Brave Women in 2 Samuel 17
This post is about two brave unnamed women mentioned in 2 Samuel 17 who each risked their lives to help King David’s, and God’s, cause.
The Samaritan Woman of Sychar (John 4)
Eve, Delilah, Bathsheba, Mary Magdalene, and the Samaritan woman have often been portrayed as immoral. What’s with that? This article looks at the Samaritan woman without negative prejudices.
The Roman woman who instructed her husband in the Faith
Here are a couple of lines from the Acts of Peter about Candida, a Roman woman who instructed her husband in the faith sometime in the first century AD.