The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Gen. 2:18, NIV For nearly all of world history, both societal and church, women were viewed as inferior beings created to serve men. Until the last quarter of …
Read more “Ezer Kenegdo: Subordinate helper or powerful assistant?”
A healthy biblical theology about gender, and the role of women in specific, must begin at creation. It is in the story of creation where we develop an understanding of the purpose of mankind and genders. Those who would support a hierarchy of the genders point to the creation order …
Read more “Biblical support for Christian Egalitarianism: Equality in Eden”
The church has often used Jesus’ choice of all male disciples to preclude women from leadership roles in the church. But, was Jesus making a definitive statement for church practice? Why didn’t Jesus choose any female disciples?
Most of us readily see Jesus’ countercultural treatment of women and how He elevated women in His interactions with them and in His teachings. We recognize that He often confronted the social norms and beliefs concerning women so prevalent in His day. And then comes Paul whose teachings have a …
Read more “The Apostle Paul: Misogynist or Champion of Gender Equality?”
Privilege. It’s a word frequently bandied about today in our society and refers to a “special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.” In ancient Israel, Jewish freeborn men were the only ones who enjoyed privilege. Slaves and women had few, …
Read more “Biblical Support for Egalitarianism: A Slave Woman and 5 Fatherless Daughters”