Using Peter and Paul Against Mary? Patriarchy and Slavery in New Testament Letters
In the context of Ephesians 3, Colossians 3, and 1 Peter 2-3, instructions to wives and to slaves are inextricable from one another.…
A Church You Would Want to Avoid
Reflecting on his contemporary Paul’s theological writings, the apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:15-16: Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just…
Sex, Supper, Submission
The teacher walked into the room, strode up to the whiteboard, and wrote the following list: Sex, Supper, Submission. SEX SUPPER SUBMISSION She…
Is God Male?
When I teach about the Trinity in my introductory theology class, the topic of God and gender often comes up. “Is God male?”…
Why 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Does Not Ban Women from Teaching & Having Authority in the Church
From the mailbox: "Just wanted to say thank you for your article on 1 Timothy 2. It was a great reference for me…
What Does It Mean for Women to Learn in Quietness and Submission? 1 Timothy 2:11
They are the verses of Scripture used most frequently to silence women in the church: 1 Timothy 2:11-12. I remember reading them as…
Ephesians 5:21-33: How Paul Turns Headship on Its Head
Ephesians 5:21-33 is often cited as a proof text to endorse male leadership in the home. In this text, wives are instructed to…
5 Myths of Male Headship
I sat down across the table from her. We hadn’t seen each other in a while and I was excited to catch…
5 Reasons to Stop Using 1 Timothy 2:12 Against Women
Hundreds of pages have been written on this chapter, with almost as many interpretations, proving this to be one of the least understood…
The Curse of Genesis 3: A Lament
In doing some research on Genesis 3, I came upon this provocative poem by Carmen J. Bryant: God said to man, “The earth…
The Proverbs 31 Woman and Me
I have a confession to make. I don’t have a problem with the Proverbs 31 Woman. One of the upsides to growing up…
Overcoming Gender Discrimination in the Church: One Woman’s Story
I couldn’t study. I couldn’t think straight. I was distressed, overset with a spiritual crisis that rocked me to the core. Did God…
1 Timothy 2: Paul’s Original Language, Timothy’s Original Context
Throughout history, the church has been characterized by a male-dominated social hierarchy. This worldview has been so pervasive that some even consider it…
Co-Leadership in Marriage: Who’s in Authority?
We believe authority is at the heart of much marriage misunderstanding and debate. Over the years traditional-hierarchical-complementarian marriage-view proponents have described their perceived…
Co-Leadership in Marriage: Let’s Talk about Submission
Submission in marriage often comes with lots of negative baggage. In fact, many people refer to submission as the "S"-word. The reality is…