Woman’s Authority or Subordination in 1 Cor. 11:10?
Paul said in 1 Cor. 11:10 that a woman should have “authority on her head.” Whose authority is it?
November 14, 2021
31 Comments
Menu
Tag: Complementarian Arguments
Did Miriam the prophetess only minister to women?
Miriam is identified as a prophet and leader in the Bible, but some say her ministry was only to women. Was this the case? What does the Bible say?
December 24, 2020
15 Comments
Was Junia well known ‘to’ the apostles?
Were Andronicus and Junia “outstanding/ notable among the apostles” (Rom.16:7 KJV, NIV) or “well known to the apostles” (ESV, NET)?
November 29, 2019
36 Comments
4 obscure passages sometimes used to diminish women
In this article, I look at 4 passages from the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 27, Numbers 30, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Isaiah 3:12) which are sometimes used to diminish women.
October 23, 2019
45 Comments
A critique of the ESV Study Bible notes on 1 Timothy 2:12
In this post I critique the notes on 1 Timothy 2:12 in the ESV Study Bible. What is the context of this verse? What does it prohibit?
November 11, 2018
37 Comments
The authority of police officers, ship captains, and men
In this post, I respond to how the authority of police officers, etc, is used as an analogy by some Christians to support male-only authority.
May 12, 2018
34 Comments
Huldah’s Public Prophetic Ministry
Was there a difference between the ministries of male and female prophets in the Bible? Did male prophets minister publicly and female prophets privately?
February 19, 2018
41 Comments
A more beautiful picture than male headship and female submission
Is male headship and female submission the best way for husbands and wives who are in Christ to live by New Testament and New Creation principles?
July 22, 2017
18 Comments
Complementarians Single Out Single Women
Complementarians say men and women are equal in Christ, but the finer points of their beliefs reveal something different, especially regarding single women.
April 2, 2017
32 Comments
Perhaps Feminism is not the Enemy
Michael Jensen: “It is no surprise to learn that many of the early feminists were evangelical Christians. … Feminism is a response to a deeper problem in human relations – not the problem itself.”
March 30, 2016
12 Comments
How Christian Egalitarians understand “Equality”
One misunderstanding about what Christian egalitarians believe concerns the words “equal” or “equality.” How do egalitarians understand and use these words?
March 3, 2016
29 Comments
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.
July 26, 2015
13 Comments
Wives, mothers, and female masters in NT household codes
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?
March 31, 2015
36 Comments
Adam named Eve because . . .
Andrew Perriman critiques the complementarian notion that Adam naming Eve displays man’s authority, or male headship, over woman.
February 12, 2015
34 Comments
5 questions about Adam’s role in Genesis 2 and 3
This article addresses 5 questions about Adam’s role and prominence in Genesis chapters 2 and 3. For example, did God only call Adam in Genesis 3:9?
August 11, 2014
21 Comments
Distinct Roles in the Trinity and in Marriage? (John 5:18-30)
Does the Trinity model distinct roles and separate spheres? Is there hierarchy and subordination in the Divine?
July 10, 2014
18 Comments
How to Keep Friends and Influence People as a Christian Egalitarian
Here are some tips on how to maintain good relationships with Christian family and friends who hold different views on “gender roles”.
June 21, 2014
27 Comments
A shepherd who only feeds the male sheep in his flock?
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?
December 30, 2013
32 Comments
Some girls want to fly paper airplanes too
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.
August 5, 2013
1 Comment
Gender Obsessions: Emphasizing our Differences or our Similarities?
Some Christians seem determined to emphasise and polarise gender differences. Adam, however, marvelled at the similarities between man and woman.
April 8, 2013
18 Comments
A Collection of Articles on the Male Priesthood & Women Ministers
Here are links to several articles that look at arguments related to the idea of a male-only priesthood, arguments that keep women out of church leadership.
March 25, 2013
5 Comments
Michael Bird on inconsistent complementarian attitudes to women teachers
Michael Bird notes discrepancies between the ideology and the practice of some complementarians regarding women teaching men.
February 1, 2013
15 Comments
Do women have rights? A reply to Sarah Bubar
This is my response to Sarah Bubar’s poorly reasoned arguments in her 2010 article entitled “Do I have the right to have rights?”
January 28, 2013
7 Comments
Does “role” mean “rank” in complementarianism?
When some Christians, complementarians, use the word “roles” they seem to mean “rank” or a gender hierarchy.
January 14, 2013
22 Comments
Gender Roles and Speaking Ministries in the Church
Does the New Testament teach that men and women have different roles in the church Are some ministries too important for women?
January 12, 2013
5 Comments
A Critique of Kathy Keller’s “Jesus, Justice and Gender Roles”
Kathy Keller argues that women are prohibited from just one kind of speaking ministry and from holding one kind of position in the church.
January 6, 2013
28 Comments
Complementarians & Bible Commentaries Written by Women
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?
October 21, 2012
20 Comments
The Complementarian Concept of the Created Order
Mary Kassian places a great deal of importance on the created order of man first, woman second, given in Genesis 2. Is she correct?
October 20, 2012
37 Comments
Book Review: God’s Good Design by Claire Smith
“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.”
August 20, 2012
5 Comments
Who is the “head”?
This is a critique of Mary Kassian’s article “Sex in the Shadowlands” in which she applies the word “head” to more than God, Jesus, and husbands.
August 11, 2012
5 Comments
Deborah and the “no available men” argument
Deborah in the Bible is described as a prophet and leader of Israel. Did God choose her because there were no suitable men available?
June 28, 2012
63 Comments
The Twelve Apostles were All Male
This article looks at several shortcomings to the argument “Jesus’ twelve apostles were all male, so women cannot be church leaders.”
May 2, 2012
59 Comments
Protecting the Weaker Sex
Is protection a man’s job? Do women need protecting? Perhaps instead of “protecting” capable Christian women, the church should be empowering her women.
February 16, 2012
21 Comments
Is it only men who can represent Jesus?
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?
January 2, 2012
12 Comments
Mark Chanski on Gender Roles
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.
November 16, 2011
3 Comments
Working Women in the NT: Priscilla, Lydia and Phoebe
What does the Bible say about working women? Does God want women to stay out of the workforce and stay at home?
November 1, 2011
45 Comments
The Trinity and Marriage
Here are 4 reasons why I’m staying out of gender discussions that use the Trinity as a model for marriage.
October 28, 2011
30 Comments
Why does Mary Kassian think the new NIV is bad?
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.
October 13, 2011
10 Comments
Are there women pastors in the New Testament?
Can you name a woman who is called a pastor in the New Testament? Are there any women identified as church ministers in the NT?
July 17, 2011
30 Comments
Interpretations and Applications of 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
Here are summaries of a range of interpretations of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 proposed by well-known New Testament scholars. How do these verses apply today?
July 9, 2011
87 Comments
Is God Male or Masculine?
God is often referred to with masculine pronouns and masculine terms in the Bible. Does this mean God is male or masculine?
June 22, 2011
48 Comments
Double Standards in the Promotion of Submission
Why aren’t the biblical concepts of wifely submission and submission to governing authorities given equal emphasis in the church?
May 22, 2011
9 Comments
More Scary Women of Complementarianism
Mary Kassian recently posted an article on her website about “Scary Straw Women of Complementarity”. But she failed to mention two important women of complementarianism.
April 27, 2011
8 Comments
Is Complementarianism a Traditional Belief of the Church?
Mary Kassian claims that Complementarianism represents the Church’s “traditional, orthodox, historic belief” on gender. She must be reading different accounts of Church history to me.
April 20, 2011
13 Comments
Wayne Grudem on What Women Should Do in the Church
In a 1995 article, Wayne Grudem ranked 83 ministries in order of decreasing authority. His lists reveal whether he really thinks men and women are equal.
April 15, 2011
38 Comments
Women, Teaching, and Deception
Is it logical to prohibit women from teaching grown men? What was the reason for Paul’s prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12? Was it because Eve was deceived?
February 18, 2011
8 Comments
Bible Women with Spiritual Authority
Some Christians believe it is only men who are given spiritual authority by God. Yet in the Bible, God speaks to women and equips them for ministry.
October 12, 2010
45 Comments
Did Priscilla Teach Apollos?
This article looks at Priscilla and Aquila and explores Luke’s use of the Greek verb ektithēmi (“explain”) in Acts. Did Priscilla teach a man?
September 11, 2010
70 Comments
Paul’s Qualifications for Church Leaders (1 Timothy 3)
Do the qualifications for church leaders (i.e. overseers) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 apply only to men? Do these verses exclude women from church leadership?
August 5, 2010
76 Comments
Junia in Romans 16:7
This article is about Junia—a minister mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:7—using and critiquing the ESV as a reference. Was Junia really a female apostle?
April 1, 2010
41 Comments
Subscribe to Marg's Blog
Join Marg's Patreon
Would you like to support my ministry of encouraging mutuality and equality between men and women in the church and in marriage?
Categories
- 1 Corinthians 11:2–16
- 1 Corinthians 14:34–35
- 1 Peter
- 1 Peter 3:1–7
- 1 Timothy 2:11-15
- 1 Timothy 3
- All Posts on Equality
- Becoming a Christian
- Bible Study Notes
- Bible Translation and Interpretation
- Bible Women
- Book Reviews
- Christian Living
- Christian Theology
- Christology
- Church History
- Early Church Women
- Early Jewish History
- Ephesians 5
- Equality in Marriage
- Equality in Ministry
- Gender in Genesis 1–3
- General
- Greco-Roman Culture
- Jesus and Women
- John's Gospel: Chs 1–10
- Junia
- Kephalē (“Head”)
- Lessons from Philippians
- Paul and Women
- Phoebe
- Priscilla
- Salvation and Eternal Life
- Submission
- The "Difficult" Passages
- The Holy Spirit
- Titus 2
- Women in Ministry
- Worship and Prayer