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 was the ‘place of prayer’ in Philippi where some women, including Lydia of Thyatira, had assembled (Acts 16:13-15)? Was it a Jewish ‘prayer-house’?
I’m amazed by the number of letters and other documents written by early Christians. Eusebius discusses some of these in his church history.
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.
In Part 5, I look at 1 Timothy 3:8-13, concerning male and female deacons in the Ephesian church, and at Phoebe as a prostatis (patron). I briefly compare her ministry with that of Olympias and also Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15-18).
Lexicons show that diakon- words are used in a variety of ways for a variety of ministries. Danker’s and Collin’s understanding of diakon- words, with their emphasis on agency, fits well with the broad usage of these words in the New Testament and the narrower usage in the Apostolic Fathers.
Some Christians have a mistaken view of our mutuality, or equality, in Christ. In this post, I briefly explain my perspective of Christian Egalitarianism
In this article I provide a brief overview of church life in the first century and I highlight the ministry contributions of women.
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.
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.
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?
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”.
Grace has sometimes been confused or conflated with the concept of mercy, but they are not the same thing. Read more about the power of grace that God gives us.
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?
John the Evangelist chose his words carefully when describing the ministry of certain apostolic women in his Gospel, women such as Mary Magdalene. [500 words]
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?
Gal. 3:28 isn’t only referring to our identity/ status before God. It’s also about our identity/ status in the Christian community (the church).
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.
Dear Dr Grudem, mutual submission is not a myth. Submission is not always, or necessarily, to a person in authority (cf. Eph. 5:21–22).
In this post, I show how the word kephalē (head) is used in 1 Clement, in the context of mutual submission, and I show how the author regarded women.
Some girls want to fly paper airplanes, and some girls are very brave, but a 2011 study put out by Desiring God suggests these roles are for boys.
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.
If you’re wondering how egalitarian Christian marriages work, reading some of these real-life stories from Christian couples is a great place to start.
This is my response to Sarah Bubar’s poorly reasoned arguments in her 2010 article entitled “Do I have the right to have rights?”
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.
When some Christians, complementarians, use the word “roles” they seem to mean “rank” or a gender hierarchy.
Does the New Testament teach that men and women have different roles in the church Are some ministries too important for women?
Kathy Keller argues that women are prohibited from just one kind of speaking ministry and from holding one kind of position in the church.
What does oppression and the horrors of slavery in the song “O Holy Night” have to do with an innocent newborn baby in a manger?
En los primeros días del Cristianismo, la presencia del Espíritu Santo trajo igualdad en la comunidad Cristiana.
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?
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.
Are women more easily deceived than men? What does the Bible, including 1 Timothy 2:14, say about Eve and women and deception?
Jezebel of Thyatira is a teacher mentioned in Revelation 2:20ff. What does her example brings to discussions about women in ministry?
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.”
Ephesians 5:22-33 is written as a chiasm with a highlighted point at the centre of the passage. We misinterpret this passage if we miss this main point.
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?
The gender of Junia, Nympha and Euodia has sometimes been obscured, and some speculate that Stephanas (1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15ff) was also a woman minister whose gender has been obscured.
Paul wanted equality for all Christians and he wrote about this in his letters. In some verses, he even uses the word “equality.”
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.
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]
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