It is sometimes argued that Jesus’s twelve disciples were male because God only wants men to be the leaders in the community of God. Although I find this argument weak, it is still perplexing. Viewed through modern western eyes, the maleness of the twelve disciples is a blaring symbol of male authority. But is it …
It seems clear that God uses male imagery to represent himself and that the Bible uses male language to refer to God. Disagreement exists as to whether or not we can refer to God as Mother or using female pronouns such as “She.” I refer to God as “Father” and “He” and will continue to …
When I come to passages in the Bible with long lists of names or genealogies, I usually skip over them. I think we can all agree that these sections of the Bible can be pretty boring. Yet, they are in the Bible for a reason. One of the reasons I think we have the long …
What God said to Eve Even though God did not curse Eve (see part 1), God’s words to her can appear like a curse. As a participant in the transgression, she experienced the consequences of a fallen world, but God also gifted her with a promise. By examining the interaction between God and Adam and …
How many curses did God proclaim in the Garden of Eden after Adam and the woman[1] ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Three? Four? Ten[2]? I often hear people talk about God’s curse on the woman[3]. However, a closer look at the text reveals that the language of a curse …
“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” (1 Tim 2:12, NIV) There you have it! A woman cannot teach a man or assume any kind of authority over a man. Paul is very clear. It certainly seems that way in most of our …
Can Women Be Elders or Pastors? 1 Timothy 3 Can only men be overseers, pastors, or elders in the church? Some certainly think so, and they often turn to 1 Timothy 3 to show that only men were doing so. I certainly saw this as one of the most convincing passages that excluded women from …
Many women’s stories are recorded in the Bible as incredible examples of faith. This is the case with Hagar, Sarai’s and Abram’s slave. Hagar stands as a witness to the ugliness of humanity. Women abused and enslaved throughout history can be comforted by Hagar’s story. I believe Hagar’s story was written to show us that …
Part 1: “Submit to one Another out of Reverence for Christ” Part 2: “Mutual Submission in Marriage” The Household Code Wives submit to your husbands; children obey your parents; slaves obey your masters… Stay in your lane! Uphold the forces that be! Is that what Paul was saying? Maintain the status quo? Back then, men …
Part 1: “Submit to one Another out of Reverence for Christ” Mutual submission in marriage Paul instructs us to be filled with the Spirit in submitting to one another in reverence for Christ. I think, as discussed in part 1 of this series, that this mutual submission is to place our brothers and sisters in …
