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.
Many Christians are dissatisfied with English translations that seem biased towards men when, in fact, many passages are gender-inclusive. So, what is the best Bible translation?
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 included to help explain her importance and power.
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.
What do Jesus and Paul say about purity, modesty, and lust?
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?
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)
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.
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?
Here are some free online Greek texts, tools and resources that I have found useful.
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.
A few Ephesian women held the position of high-priestess in pagan cults. Was there a culture of prominent women in Ephesus that influenced Christian women?
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?
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.
Instructions for wifely submission and holy kisses are given in the NT five times each, but one concept is often emphasised while the other is usually ignored.
Was Eve alone when the snake spoke to her? Here is a summary of Julie Parker’s essay, “Blaming Eve Alone: Translation, Omission, and Implications of עמה in Genesis 3:6b.”
Ignoring or highlighting the word “likewise” makes a big difference in how we understand certain New Testament passages that affect women.
According to the late Dr David M. Scholer, a former New Testament professor at Fuller, here are the top ten reasons men should not be ordained as ministers.
Michael Bird notes discrepancies between the ideology and the practice of some complementarians regarding women teaching men.
Here are some misogynistic quotations from well-known church fathers, theologians and reformers that do not reflect what the Bible says about women.
In his 2012 book “Hearing Her Voice,” scholar and minister John Dickson argues that women can preach, exhort, exposit Scripture, prophecy, pray, etc, in church.
Does the New Testament teach that men and women have different roles in the church Are some ministries too important for women?
Introduction 1 Timothy 2:12 continues to be a verse that is used by some Christians to keep capable women from certain teaching and leadership ministries
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?
When I google “Bible Women” into Google Australia a drop down field gives me three suggestions to narrow the search. I’m disturbed by Google’s suggestions. It shows that the Church is failing to get the message across that women and men are equal. [300 words]
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?
Mary Kassian places a great deal of importance on the created order of man first, woman second, given in Genesis 2. Is she correct?
The book of Acts bears testimony to the Holy Spirit’s roles as the great energiser and equaliser in the first decades of the church. The Spirit continues to foster equality and my aim is to work with the Spirit.
“God’s Good Design” is an Australian publication that promotes complementarian gender roles. This review by Dr Lyn Kidson contains information from primary sources on the Roman virtue of “quietness.”
Jezebel of Thyatira is a teacher mentioned in Revelation 2:20ff. What does her example brings to discussions about women in ministry?
This article looks at the women Paul greeted in his letters, including 10 women mentioned in Romans 16. His greetings show that Paul did not have a problem with women ministers.
Plenty of people are “distressed, dispirited, and without a shepherd” and the harvest has never been more plentiful (Matt. 9:36-37). Do we ask God to send only male workers into the harvest field?
Paul described his ministry in maternal and paternal terms. It seems God does not want his people led only in a masculine manner.
This article looks at several shortcomings to the argument “Jesus’ twelve apostles were all male, so women cannot be church leaders.”
Here are some of my older articles on the apostle Paul’s teachings that especially apply to women. I love Paul!
There are differences between the Old and New Testaments in how women are described, especially in regard to beauty, marriage, motherhood, and ministry.
It seems many Christians use a dichotomous key to determine who can be a pastor. For many, the first question is, “Is the candidate a man?” A “no” answer brings instant disqualification.
How is this increase in biblical and theological scholarship from women being received by the church? And how will it affect the church?
Some Christians believe that because Jesus is a man, only men can represent Jesus in their congregations. Does the fact that Jesus is male mean that women cannot be church leaders?
Kephalē (“head”) has different senses in ancient Greek. In Colossians, Paul may have used the word about Jesus Christ with a pre-gnostic sense.
Complementarian Mark Chanski seems to think men and women each have just one role, or position, they are to play and maintain throughout their lives. I disagree.
What does the Bible say about working women? Does God want women to stay out of the workforce and stay at home?
Since the Bible is God’s message to humanity, shouldn’t everyone be able to read and understand the “plain sense” of Bible?
Mary Kassian does not like the NIV 2011. Her article “10 Reasons Why the New NIV is Bad for Women” has been doing the rounds, but her concerns don’t make sense.
The New Living Translation (NLT) seems supportive and inclusive of women because it often translates adelphoi as “brothers and sisters” but it promotes male authority.
Mark L. Strauss, a co-author of “How to Choose a Translation for all its Worth,” has written a helpful critique of the English Standard Version (ESV).
This is my account about how I went from thinking that a gender hierarchy in marriage and ministry was God’s design to realising that equality and mutuality is scriptural and God’s ideal.
I have included some of my personal views on topics related to biblical equality or “Casteless Christianity”. [3000 words]
Who were Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3)? Were they leaders of the Philippian church? Early Church Father John Chrysostom seemed to think so.
Revelation 5:9-10 is about the universal, inclusive nature of the church and the priesthood of believers. Some Christians, however, divide the church into two distinct groups on the basis of gender.
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