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?
Tertullian wrote about equality and mutuality in marriage; he did not regard the household code in Ephesians as comprehensive or prescriptive.
Eve, Delilah, Bathsheba, Mary Magdalene, and the Samaritan woman have often been thought of as immoral. What’s with that? This article looks at the Samaritan woman without negative prejudices.
Here are a couple of lines from the Acts of Peter about Candida, a woman who instructed her husband in the faith in the first century.
This is the second part of a two-part series which looks at the women in the church at Smyrna in the post-apostolic period. This article focuses on Gavia.
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?
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?
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)
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.
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.
In this essay I look at 3 aspects of the social history of 1st-century CE Galilee. This provides a context for the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, which mostly took place in Galilee around 30 CE.
Here are some free online Greek texts, tools and resources that I have found useful.
Here are links to free New Testament courses presented by top Bible scholars, as well as free books and other resources.
When we read the NT household codes, we need to keep in mind that some “masters” were women. How does this affect our understanding of these passages?
Bathsheba has been described as a seductress and as a conniving political opportunist. Who was she really? What does the Bible say?
In Part 6 we look at more evidence that deacons in the apostolic and post-apostolic period were travelling envoys and agents, and that some were teachers.
A short post on why Christian women, as well as Christian men, are sons of God. What does it mean to be an adopted son of God?
In this article I provide a brief overview of church life in the first century and I highlight the ministry contributions of women.
Titus 2:5 contains a Greek word usually translated as “workers at home,” but the King James Bible has “keepers at home.” Which is the correct? What did Paul mean?
Jesús y sus discípulos (Escena de la película Son of God). Introducción Un argumento a menudo criado en las discusiones acerca de las mujeres en
We need to use gender-accurate and gender-inclusive pronouns so that we do not imply a gender bias in the Bible and in church when none is intended.
What does it means to be a leader and have authority in the church? Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be leaders? What was their job description?
In the 1st century, Communion was a way for Christians to express their solidarity as a group of Jesus-followers in an often hostile world. It is still a way we can show solidarity with our fellow Christians who are being persecuted.
What does the Hebrew word “kenegdo” mean in Gen. 2:18 & 20? Was the woman made to be subordinate, suitable, or similar to the man?
In this article I look at people who were apostles in the New Testament church, at their qualifications, and at what they did as apostles.
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.
This article looks at Mary Magdalene, and especially at what “Magdalene” might mean. Does it refer to Mary’s home town? Was it her nickname? Does it imply she was a prostitute?
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.
Female martyrs in the early church, such as Blandina and Perpetua, “conformed themselves to Christ, even in death.”
Here is the bibliography for my research paper, “The Roles of Diakonoi, Male and Female, in the Apostolic and Post-Apostolic Church (c. 40-120) with Reference to Phoebe of Cenchrea”.
In Luke’s Gospel, some material is presented using male-female pairs to highlight the full and equal inclusion of women and men in God’s new covenant and community.
I had imagined that only a few women accompanied Jesus during his ministry and only a few witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection, but the Gospels state many women were with Jesus.
Kristen Rosser has written an excellent article on the so-called “feminization” of the church, and how we can address this issue. With her permission, I have posted it here.
Jesus promoted the social values of humility and equality where the humble are exalted, the lowly are the greatest, and the last are first.
Does Paul refer to wives of apostles or female coworkers of apostles in 1 Cor. 9:5? Was their role companionship or teaching Christian doctrine?
Matt Chandler states unequivocally, “I teach to men . . . I go after the men.” So what happens to the “lost sheep” who are female? And how does Matt’s focus affect the thousands of women in his flock?
The author of 2 Clement wrote that authenticity, transparency, and gender equality are necessary for God’s kingdom to come. Is that true?
Early church writers, such as Eusebius, acknowledged that Philip’s four daughters were well-respected famous prophets and they associated the women with apostles and bishops.
The (late) esteemed New Testament scholar Leon Morris cautions us to not make hasty assumptions about the metaphorical meaning of “head” (kephalē) in the New Testament.
This short article looks at how the Greek word kyria (“lady”) is used in a few ancient letters and texts, and how this usage helps us to understand who the “chosen lady” is in John’s second letter.
This article looks at the origins and development of the Passover meal as recorded in the Bible. It also looks at the Seder of early Judaism and the Eucharist of early Christianity.
We don’t need to be fearful of God’s Presence. We can come to him openly and honestly, assured of salvation and our relationship with him.
This article looks at the Septuagint, the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament. When, where, and why was it produced, and by whom?
Mary and Martha of Bethany are well-known Bible figures whose characters are often polarized in the retelling of their story. What is the background of these women, their age, marital status, level of wealth?
Introducción Recientemente he presentado un trabajo de investigación para un curso que estoy estudiando en la que hago comparaciones de “Consejos de Plutarco a la
Kathy Keller argues that women are prohibited from just one kind of speaking ministry and from holding one kind of position in the church.
Many Christians are concerned with who has authority in the church and about whether a woman can have authority over a man. Who has authority in the church?
While reading Plutarch’s “Advice to the Bride and Groom,” it struck me that some Christians sound like Plutarch (a 1st-century pagan author), rather than like Paul, in what they say about men and women and marriage.
Some complementarians believe women cannot be pastors and Bible teachers, yet they read Bible commentaries and theological books written by women. How does that work?
Some Sydney Anglicans have caused a kerfuffle by bringing their pet doctrine of “wifely submission” into the public arena this week.
Would you like to support my ministry of encouraging mutuality and equality between men and women in the church and in marriage?
© 2022 Marg Mowczko