A work of history, biography, and historical theology, A New Gospel for Women tells the remarkable story of Katharine Bushnell (1855-1946), an internationally-known social reformer and author of God's Word to Women, a startling reinterpretation of the Christian Scriptures that even today stands as one of the most innovative and comprehensive feminist theologies ever written.
This outstanding collection of essays, presented at the 2005 Wheaton Theology Conference, explores the current issue of women in ministry from biblical, theological and ecclesiological perspectives. Bringing to bear the ministerial and sociological insights on the issue, this impressive integrative work aims to break through the current impasse between complementarians and egalitarians. These essays point the way forward for women and men in ministry in our churches. Contributors include Henri Blocher, Timothy George, James Hamilton, I. Howard Marshall, Cheryl J. Sanders, Sarah Sumner and Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen
There have been many studies of the women in the Gospels, but this is a new kind of book on the subject. Rather than offering a general overview of the Gospel women or focusing on a single theme, Richard Bauckham studies in great depth both the individual women who appear in the Gospels and the specific passages in which they appear. This unique approach reveals that there is much more to be known about such women than previous studies have assumed. Employing historical and literary readings of the biblical texts, Bauckham successfully captures the particularity of each woman he studies. An opening look at the Old Testament book of Ruth introduces the possibilities of reading Scripture from a woman's perspective. Other studies examine the women found in Matthew's genealogies, the prophet Anna, Mary of Clopas, Joanna, Salome, and the women featured in the Gospel resurrection narrative. A number of these women have never been the subject of deep theological enquiry. Unlike most recent books, Bauckham's work is not dominated by a feminist agenda. It does not presume in advance that the Gospel texts support patriarchal oppression, but it does venture some of the new and surprising possibilities that arise when the texts are read from the perspective of their female characters. Astute, sensitive to issues of gender, and written by one of today's leading theologians, Gospel Women will be of interest to a wide range of readers.
A New Gospel for Women tells the story of Katharine Bushnell (1855-1946), author of God's Word to Women, one of the most innovative and comprehensive feminist theologies ever written. An internationally-known social reformer and women's rights activist, Bushnell rose to prominence through her highly publicized campaigns against prostitution and the trafficking of women in America, in colonial India, and throughout East Asia. In each of these cases, the intrepid reformer struggled to come to terms with the fact that it was Christian men who were guilty of committing acts of appalling cruelty against women. Ultimately, Bushnell concluded that Christianity itself - or rather, the patriarchal distortion of true Christianity - must be to blame. A work of history, biography, and historical theology, Kristin Kobes DuMez's book provides a vivid account of Bushnell's life. It maps a concise introduction to her fascinating theology, revealing, for example, Bushnell's belief that gender bias tainted both the King James and the Revised Versions of the English Bible. As Du Mez demonstrates, Bushnell insisted that God created women to be strong and independent, that Adam, not Eve, bore responsibility for the Fall, and that it was through Christ, "the great emancipator of women," that women would achieve spiritual and social redemption. A New Gospel for Women restores Bushnell to her rightful place in history. It illuminates the dynamic and often thorny relationship between faith and feminism in modern America by mapping Bushnell's story and her subsequent disappearance from the historical record. Most pointedly, the book reveals the challenges confronting Christian feminists today who wish to construct a sexual ethic that is both Christian and feminist, one rooted not in the Victorian era, but rather one suited to the modern world.
What does the Bible say about periods? The average woman has 500 periods in her lifetime. And whether yours are mildly annoying, utterly debilitating or emotionally complicated, most of us have at one time or another asked: Why?! This warm, light-hearted, real, honest and at times surprising book gives a biblical perspective on menstruation, as well as a whole lot more. Beginning with periods, Rachel Jones takes readers on an adventure in theology, weaving together wide-ranging reflections on the nature of our bodies, the passing of time, the purpose of pain, and the meaning of life. One thing is for sure: you’ve never read a Christian book quite like this one. Whether you’re in need of hope and help, or are just downright curious, you’ll be refreshed and encouraged by this book. As Rachel puts it, “Whoever you are, my aim is that you reach the end of this book celebrating who God has made you, how God has saved you, and the fact that he speaks liberating and positive truth into all of life’s experiences (even periods)”.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The “paradigm-influencing” book (Christianity Today) that is fundamentally transforming our understanding of white evangelicalism in America. Jesus and John Wayne is a sweeping, revisionist history of the last seventy-five years of white evangelicalism, revealing how evangelicals have worked to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism—or in the words of one modern chaplain, with “a spiritual badass.” As acclaimed scholar Kristin Du Mez explains, the key to understanding this transformation is to recognize the centrality of popular culture in contemporary American evangelicalism. Many of today’s evangelicals might not be theologically astute, but they know their VeggieTales, they’ve read John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart, and they learned about purity before they learned about sex—and they have a silver ring to prove it. Evangelical books, films, music, clothing, and merchandise shape the beliefs of millions. And evangelical culture is teeming with muscular heroes—mythical warriors and rugged soldiers, men like Oliver North, Ronald Reagan, Mel Gibson, and the Duck Dynasty clan, who assert white masculine power in defense of “Christian America.” Chief among these evangelical legends is John Wayne, an icon of a lost time when men were uncowed by political correctness, unafraid to tell it like it was, and did what needed to be done. Challenging the commonly held assumption that the “moral majority” backed Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 for purely pragmatic reasons, Du Mez reveals that Trump in fact represented the fulfillment, rather than the betrayal, of white evangelicals’ most deeply held values: patriarchy, authoritarian rule, aggressive foreign policy, fear of Islam, ambivalence toward #MeToo, and opposition to Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community. A much-needed reexamination of perhaps the most influential subculture in this country, Jesus and John Wayne shows that, far from adhering to biblical principles, modern white evangelicals have remade their faith, with enduring consequences for all Americans.
USA Today Bestseller Christianity Today 2022 Book Award Finalist (History & Biography) "A powerful work of skillful research and personal insight."--Publishers Weekly Biblical womanhood--the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers--pervades North American Christianity. From choices about careers to roles in local churches to relationship dynamics, this belief shapes the everyday lives of evangelical women. Yet biblical womanhood isn't biblical, says Baylor University historian Beth Allison Barr. It arose from a series of clearly definable historical moments. This book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the realm of church history--ancient, medieval, and modern--to show that this belief is not divinely ordained but a product of human civilization that continues to creep into the church. Barr's historical insights provide context for contemporary teachings about women's roles in the church and help move the conversation forward. Interweaving her story as a Baptist pastor's wife, Barr sheds light on the #ChurchToo movement and abuse scandals in Southern Baptist circles and the broader evangelical world, helping readers understand why biblical womanhood is more about human power structures than the message of Christ.
This work is a commentary on the passages in the Gospel of Luke in which women figure as characters and in the sayings of Jesus. These include the women of vision and spirit in the Infancy Narratives, the Galilean women who encounter Jesus, and the women empowered to serve. The method makes use of historical-critical, narrative, and feminist-liberationist approaches. This commentary is intended as a resource for students of the New Testament, pastors, seminarians, preachers, retreat directors, and Bible study groups.
While books about the lives of women in church history are abundant, in this book Simonetta Carr focuses on the important questions they asked—relevant both in the past and today. Throughout church history, women like you (single, married, mothers, and grandmothers, with careers both in and outside their homes) have carefully considered theological issues and asked intelligent and penetrating questions, faithfully seeking the answers in Scripture. You will be encouraged through “Food for Thought” sections at the end of each chapter to consider their questions, raise your own, and discuss them with others. Join your sisters from the church of all ages in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ! Table of Contents: 1. Marcella of Rome (ca. 325–410): “How Do I Understand the Scriptures?” 2. Macrina the Younger (ca. 330–379): “Should a Christian Live Separate from the World?” 3. Monica of Tagaste (ca. 331−387): “Will My Son Be Lost?” 4. Dhuoda of Uzès (ca. 800–843): “How Can I Nurture a Distant Son?” 5. Kassia (ca. 810–865): “The Fullness of My Sin Who Can Explore?” 6. Christine de Pizan (1364–1430): “Is Woman a Defect of Creation?” 7. Argula Von Grumbach (1492–1554): “Should We Speak against Injustice?” 8. Elizabeth Aske Bowes (ca. 1505–1572): “How Can I Be Sure I Am Saved?” 9. Renée of France (1510–1575): “Should We Pray for God’s Enemies?” 10. Giulia Gonzaga (1513–1566): “How Can I Find Peace of Conscience?” 11. Olympia Morata (1526–1555): “What Can I Do if My Husband Neglects Me?” 12. Charlotte de Bourbon (1546–1582): “What Should I Consider in a Marriage Proposal?” 13. Charlotte Arbaleste Duplessis-Mornay (1550–1606): “Does God Care about Hairstyles?” 14. Dorothy Leigh (d. 1616): “What Should a Mother Teach Her Sons?” 15. Bathsua Makin (ca. 1600–1675): “Should Women Be Educated?” 16. Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672): “How Do I Know the True God Is the One Described in Scriptures?” 17. Elisabeth of the Palatinate (1618–1680): “Are Mind and Body Separate?” 18. Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681): “How Can We Trust God’s Providence?” 19. Mary White Rowlandson (ca. 1637–1711): “Why Am I Troubled?” 20. Anne Dutton (ca. 1692–1765): “Can Women Write about Theology?” 21. Kata Bethlen (1700–1759): “Can I Marry a Nonbeliever?” 22. Marie Durand (1711–1776): “Can I Be a Secret Christian?” 23. Anne Steele (1717–1778): “Must I Forever Mourn?” 24. Isabella Marshall Graham (1742–1814): “How Can I Help Neglected Families?” 25. Phillis Wheatley (ca. 1753–1784): “How Can I Not Oppose Tyranny?” 26. Ann Griffiths (1776–1805): “What Have I to Do with Idols?” 27. Betsey Stockton (ca. 1798–1865): “Are These the Beings with Whom I Must Spend the Remainder of My Life?” 28. Lydia Mackenzie Falconer Miller (1812–1876): “Can True Science Disagree with the Bible?” 29. Sarah Miller (d. 1801): “Can Christians Have Disturbing Thoughts?” 30. Anne Ross Cundell Cousin (1824–1906): “Can We Sing in Heaven if Our Loved Ones Are Missing?” 31. Jeanette Li (1899–1968): “Can the Church of Christ Be Destroyed?”
The Bible is clear that women as well as men are created in God's image and intended to serve him with their lives. But what does this look like for women in the church? Helping church leaders think through what a Bible-centered women’s ministry looks like, this collection of essays by respected Bible teachers and authors such as Gloria Furman, Nancy Guthrie, and Susan Hunt addresses a variety of topics relevant to women. Whether exploring the importance of intergenerational relationships, the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, or women’s roles in the church and the home, this book of wise teaching and practical instruction will become a must-have resource for anyone interested in bolstering the health and vitality of Christian women in the context of the local church.
