By Jim on
Anything Else
Women's Bible
#MeToo

Tired of seeing their holy texts used to justify the subjugation of women, a group of feminist theologians from across the Protestant-Catholic divide have joined forces to draft “A Women’s Bible”. As the #MeToo movement continues to expose sexual abuse across cultures and industries, some scholars of Christianity are clamouring for a reckoning with biblical interpretations they say have entrenched negative images of women.

Discussion

Tue, 11/27/18

Look at the place they’re arguing is mistranslated; in Luke 10:30-42, they’re arguing that “diakonos” refers to the church office instead of a servant. The trouble with that is that in the next verse, Martha is complaining about all the work, making it clear that it was about “serving” and not spiritual headship. Plus, the church hadn’t really started yet, so there were no deacons yet, and it is odd to think of Martha in effect saying “Lord, make Mary assume church office in a church that hasn’t even started yet.” It’s even odder to think of Christ, were the diaconate actually in existence at the time, would say “OK, why don’t you skip what I called you to do for something else.”

And the scary thing is that’s the example they chose to mention: I would have to guess that if I bought their “translation”, other changes they made would be even less defensible.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Tue, 11/27/18

the project, like so many others, is ridiculous. But, that aside, people should consider what the Bible says about the roles women can serve in local churches. Ae they limited to (1) nursery, (2) playing piano and (3) children’s sunday school?

One of the more profitable things I had to do at Seminary, as a final project for a Pastoral Epistles class, was to produce a systematic theology of the role of women in the life of a local church. This is what I appreciate about Maranatha Seminary; it doesn’t indoctrinate - it educates. This project made me realize, years ago, that there is no real good reason why women can’t distribute the Lord’s Supper, lead singing, or serve as ushers.

I haven’t read this, but I plan to, one day. Maybe someone can tell me how it is?

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Tue, 11/27/18

Ryrie’s book was good. I used it for a paper I wrote on women in corporate prayer in the early church. It is probably more restrictive than anything else’s that I read but he uses a lot of Biblical and historical evidence to support his position.