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
35 Comments
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Category: All Posts on Equality
Junias and Junia in Early Commentaries of Romans 16:7
Here is a list of over a dozen early and medieval scholars who took Junia’s name in Romans 16:7 to be feminine. Junia was a woman and not Junias, a man.
November 13, 2019
20 Comments
What I’ve learned from 10 years of blogging on mutuality
After 10 years of blogging, the most important thing I’ve learned from listening to readers’ questions has little to do with the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:12 or Ephesians 5:22ff.
November 4, 2019
28 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
44 Comments
Valiant or Virtuous? by Suzanne McCarthy
Here is a short review of Suzanne McCarthy’s book, Valiant or Virtuous?: Gender Bias in Bible Translation. Her book is on a topic close to my heart.
September 30, 2019
1 Comment
3 reasons why it’s a woman, not all women, in 1 Timothy 2:12
Here are 3 reasons why 1 Timothy 2:12 may be about a particular couple in the Ephesian church and not Paul’s general thoughts on women in ministry.
August 28, 2019
64 Comments
Manhood and Masculinity in the ESV
The word “manhood” occurs twice in the English Standard Version. Does this word convey what Paul wanted to say in Eph. 4:13? In what other ways does the ESV create a masculine bias.
August 11, 2019
32 Comments
The Holy Spirit and Eve as Helpers
The role of the Holy Spirit as helper (given in John’s Gospel) does not inform our understanding of Eve as helper/ ezer (in Genesis 2), and vice versa. Here’s why.
August 1, 2019
32 Comments
Olympias: Deaconess and Chrysostom’s Friend
Olympias renounced her aristocratic lifestyle to serve the church. She was an ordained deaconess and Chrysostom’s dear friend.
July 25, 2019
22 Comments
Women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting
Who were the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting and what did they do? Did their service involve religious rituals?
July 20, 2019
23 Comments
Head Coverings and 1 Corinthians 11:2–16
Do women need to cover their heads in church meetings? What does Paul say about this in 1 Cor. 11:2–16? What were the customs of head coverings in Corinth?
June 30, 2019
62 Comments
Tabitha: An Exemplary Disciple (Acts 9:36-42)
Tabitha (AKA Dorcas) is identified as a disciple and described as a generous supporter of the poor. What was her association with the widows of Joppa?
June 11, 2019
21 Comments
A List of the 29 People in Romans 16:1-16
Twenty-nine people are mentioned in Romans 16:1-16, including ten women, seven of whom are described in terms of their ministries.
May 18, 2019
29 Comments
Partnering Together: Paul’s Female Coworkers
Paul included women as ministry partners and used the same ministry terms for his male and female co-workers. He didn’t restrict the ministry of godly and gifted women.
May 1, 2019
25 Comments
Partnering Together: Jesus and Women
At a time when women were often regarded as odd and inferior by men and were excluded from many aspects of society, Jesus included women, taught them, and accepted their ministry.
April 11, 2019
43 Comments
The Significance of the Created Order, in a Nutshell
The creation order given in Genesis 2 is often brought up in discussions about ministry and marriage. What significance did Paul place on man being created first?
April 1, 2019
47 Comments
The Household Codes are Primarily about Power
The household codes in Eph. 5-6 and Col. 3-4 are not about gender but primarily about power and about mitigating abuse that often comes with power.
February 27, 2019
45 Comments
Jealousy and Bitter Water (Numbers 5:11-31)
Numbers 5:11-31 outlines the ordeal of bitter water which was designed to test, or prove, the fidelity of a wife suspected by her jealous husband of being unfaithful.
February 18, 2019
30 Comments
Marcella of Rome: Academic and Ascetic
Here’s some information about Marcella of Rome (325–410), friend of Jerome, who dedicated her considerable talents and resources to serving the church and helping the poor.
February 1, 2019
5 Comments
Periods of Purification after Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8)
Why does Leviticus 12 say a new mother is unclean for 7 days after the birth of a son but she is unclean for 14 days after the birth of a daughter? Why the difference?
December 18, 2018
48 Comments
1 Corinthians 16:16 applies to women ministers too
In 1 Cor. 16:16, Paul tells the Corinthians to submit themselves to coworkers and labourers. Paul refers to several women by these ministry terms.
November 21, 2018
55 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
Nympha: A House Church Leader in the Lycus Valley (Col. 4:15)
In this post, I look at Nympha, a Christian mentioned in Colossians 4:15. What was her association with Paul? What was her ministry? Where was her house church? Was she really a woman?
September 19, 2018
65 Comments
What Timothy knew about Paul’s theology of ministry
Timothy knew Paul’s views on ministry and it’s unlikely he needed to be reminded of them. 1 Tim. 2:11-15 is not Paul’s general teaching on ministry but something else.
September 11, 2018
17 Comments
Man and woman as the image and glory of God (1 Cor. 11:7)
Does 1 Corinthians 11:7 express superiority of men over women. Is this what is meant by “man … is the image and glory of God but woman is the glory of man”? Here’s a different interpretation.
August 7, 2018
52 Comments
What scholars say about 1 Corinthians 11:7
Here are interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:7 (man … is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man) from past & present scholars.
August 5, 2018
20 Comments
What were Euodia and Syntyche thinking?!
Here’s a look at a common Greek phrase used in Phil. 4:2 concerning Euodia and Syntyche. What did Paul want them to think? Were the women quarrelling?
July 11, 2018
31 Comments
“Must manage his own household well” (1 Tim. 3:4-5)
Does 1 Timothy 3:4a (“managing his own household well”) show that men, and not women, are to rule or manage their households? What was the role of the first church overseers and bishops?
June 23, 2018
28 Comments
Junia: The Jewish Woman who was Imprisoned with Paul
This article looks at Junia, a Christian missionary mentioned in Romans 16:7 who was persecuted for her faith and may have known Jesus personally. Was she also known as Joanna?
June 10, 2018
33 Comments
Paul on Gender Roles in Ministry and Marriage
A few verses in Paul’s letters are frequently cited by Christians who exclude women from some ministries. Did Paul really restrict women in either ministry or marriage? This is part 3 of a series on gender roles in the Bible.
June 2, 2018
7 Comments
Jesus on Gender Roles and Gendered Activities
Does Jesus give instructions about gender roles as complementarians understand them? What does Jesus teach and say to women in the Gospels? This is part 2 in a series of gender roles in the Bible.
May 29, 2018
10 Comments
Gender Roles & Gendered Activities in the Old Testament
Does the Old Testament teach that husbands are to be the leaders of their wives, or that men have authority over women? Are some roles forbidden to women? This is part 1 of a series on gender roles in the Bible.
May 24, 2018
14 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
3 Legendary Ladies: Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria
Judith, Thecla, and Catherine of Alexandria are three heroines whose stories of conviction and courage are part of our history and heritage.
May 7, 2018
16 Comments
Authentein in 1 Timothy 2:12, in a Nutshell
This short post looks at the verb authenteō (authentein) in 1 Tim. 2:12. My claim is that “to have, exercise, usurp authority” is an inadequate and misleading translation.
April 21, 2018
21 Comments
The Witch of Endor, the Dead Prophet, the Doomed King
It is remarkable that the witch of Endor, who dealt in the occult, is portrayed in a sympathetic light in 1 Samuel 28. What’s going on here?
April 19, 2018
27 Comments
John Paul II on Mutual Submission in Marriage
The stance of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to mutual submission in marriage is much more egalitarian than the stance of many evangelicals.
April 7, 2018
6 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
40 Comments
Deuteronomy 22:28–29 and Marrying your Rapist
Though it sounds harsh and heartless, even preposterous, to modern westerners, the Deuteronomy 22:28-29 law, for a rapist to marry his victim, was for the benefit of the raped woman. Here’s why.
January 15, 2018
45 Comments
Ezer kenegdo does not mean “a helper subordinate to him”
Does helping someone mean you subordinate yourself to that person? 3 men whose essays I’ve read recently answer this question with “yes”.
December 30, 2017
39 Comments
All About Elizabeth (Luke 1)
Elizabeth was a faithful woman of God who was given a remarkable son, John the Baptist. She was also given a prophetic voice.
December 16, 2017
14 Comments
Lydia of Thyatira: The founding member of the Philippian Church
Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14ff), and women like her, were vital and strategic players at the forefront of the expanding Christian mission.
November 30, 2017
40 Comments
Three Scholars with Two Views on Eve’s Role as Helper
What did Eve do to help Adam? Here are two very different views from three top scholars about Eve’s role as helper in Genesis 2.
October 26, 2017
20 Comments
A Gentle and Quiet Spirit is not just a Feminine Virtue
What do the New Testament and other early Christian and Jewish documents say about meekness and gentleness? (cf. 1 Peter 3:4)
October 8, 2017
13 Comments
Pontius Pilate’s wife knew Jesus was innocent
Matthew 27:19 mentions Pontius Pilate’s wife and her dream about Jesus. What do we know of this woman? Was she a Jewish convert? A Christ-follower?
September 29, 2017
11 Comments
An interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that joins the dots of 2:11-15
Here is a coherent interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:12 that takes into account surrounding verses as well as documented heresies in the 1st-2nd century church.
August 30, 2017
51 Comments
4 reasons “head” does not mean “leader” in 1 Cor. 11:3
The Greek word for “head” rarely, if ever, meant “leader” in works originally written in Greek in Paul’s time. Here are four facts that support this claim.
August 14, 2017
51 Comments
Aemilia Lanyer: A 17th-Century Christian Feminist
Aemilia Lanyer was an English author and professing Christian who advocated for equality for women in a poem published in 1611.
July 29, 2017
3 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
The Elder and the Lady: A look at the language of 2 John
In this article I look at the text of 2 John, especially at the words the letter writer uses to identify the people he is writing to, including the “chosen lady.”
July 16, 2017
29 Comments
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