What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:15, “But women will be saved through childbearing– if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety (NIV)”? Let’s be honest…most of us either skim straight past this verse, with a shrug of the shoulders and some bemused muttering, or find it highly problematic – “What about… Continue reading Saved Through Childbearing (1 Timothy 2:15)
Category: Paul & women
Who’s Who in Paul’s Greetings in Romans 16 (Part 1)
Okay, confession time: do your eyes glaze over when you read that long list of greetings in Romans 16? Maybe, like me, you’ve been part of a Bible study that looked at each chapter of Romans week by week, only to come to an abrupt halt after chapter 15, because it was considered that there… Continue reading Who’s Who in Paul’s Greetings in Romans 16 (Part 1)
Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
This question was asked in an online group I am a member of, by a person who describes herself as a “healthy sceptic” about religion. This is a somewhat expanded and edited version of my answer to her question in that forum. Q: Bronwen, after reading the Bible (King James version) please explain how it… Continue reading Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Here’s a confession – I’m not always too fond of change. Not too long ago, I bought a new drink bottle that caused me a bit of trouble to start with. It sucks the water up through a straw. It took me a while to get it into my head that I had to hold… Continue reading Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q: Bronwen, when I try to explain my egalitarian views to my Christian friends, some of them say we are just turning clear and simple biblical texts into something unnecessarily convoluted. Is there any truth to this, and how do I respond to this objection to my views on the equality of men and women… Continue reading Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q&A: What’s with women having to be silent in church in 1 Corinthians 14?
This article was originally presented as a brief talk at the Christians for Biblical Equality Perth chapter gathering on 2 September, 2017. One thing that is commonly claimed by complementarians is that they simply follow the “clear meaning of the text” (with the inference that egalitarians are making up difficulties that distract from the text’s… Continue reading Q&A: What’s with women having to be silent in church in 1 Corinthians 14?
Q&A: Are Husbands to Lead Their Wives?
Q: Bronwen, my friend says that husbands are created by God to be leaders of their wives and families. When I asked for her biblical evidence of this belief, she said 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These passages do seem to say quite clearly that men are to manage their families (which is the same as… Continue reading Q&A: Are Husbands to Lead Their Wives?
Q&A: Should Women Be Silent in Church? Part 4
Priscilla and Aquila were not just learners – but having drunk deeply at the well of Paul’s theological knowledge, they became competent and reliable teachers of the truth.
Q&A: Should Women Be Silent In Church? Part 3
We have already seen, in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series on 1 Timothy 2:11, that Paul has indicated that some in the Ephesian church are promoting controversial speculations, turning to meaningless talk, and blaspheming (not in the sense of swearing, but in the sense of speech that goes against God’s truths –… Continue reading Q&A: Should Women Be Silent In Church? Part 3
Q&A: Should Women Be Silent In Church? Part 2
In the previous post of this Q&A on 1 Timothy 2:11, we looked at the context of the Ephesian church at that time – a church disrupted and divided by many false teachers. One of Paul’s main concerns in this epistle to Timothy is to turn the situation around by encouraging the Ephesians to replace… Continue reading Q&A: Should Women Be Silent In Church? Part 2
God's Design - Perth 