‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 8

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

The beginning of the 8th and final chapter (‘Isn’t it time to set women free?’) makes uncomfortable reading.  The author tells of an early relationship with a boyfriend who, apparently influenced by Bill Gothard’s ‘Basic Life Principles’ teaching, according to which ‘a wife owed total submission to her husband’ applied this to their own dating relationship.…

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 7

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

In chapter 7 (‘Making Biblical Womanhood Gospel Truth’), Barr argues that women have been central to the (authentic and historical) evangelical cause in ways and to degrees that few appreciate.

Focusing on the Southern Baptist denomination, she tells of a Mrs Lewis Ball who was invited to preach a series of ‘revival’ sermons First Baptist Church Elm Mott, an old Southern Baptist congregation near Waco, Texas. …

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 6

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

Patriarchy existed in the medieval period, writes Dr Barr in chapter 6 (‘Sanctifying subordination’), just as it continued to exist in the modern era.  But patriarchy  is not the same in each era.  It is a shapeshifter.

Where did the idea come from, that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’?

Not from the medieval period, Barr tells us. …

Jn 20:22/Acts 2 – How many Pentecosts?

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John 20:22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

The relationship between this gift of the Spirit and the Pentecostal outpouring is debated (Klink outlines seven different interpretations).

Some, such as Barrett, think that the two accounts cannot be harmonised.

Among those who do look for harmonisation, the following interpretations have been proposed.

1. Two versions of the same event?

Many modern commentators argue that there is one gift of the Holy Spirit, independently witnessed to by Luke and John. …

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 5

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

Chapter 5 is entitled, ‘Writing Women out of the English Bible.’  Barr’s main point is that some popular translations of the Bible (she singles out the ESV for particular mention) distort Scripture by projecting an unduly patriarchal view of the text.  This, she claims, is a relatively modern, ideologically-driven phenomenon: in the Middle Ages, the biblical text was presented in a much more gender-inclusive way.…

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 4

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

In chapter 4 (‘The Cost of the Reformation for Evangelical Women’), Dr Barr considers the effects of the Protestant Reformation on the role and status of women.  For Barr,  the Reformation, for all its achievements, laid the groundwork for the patriarchy that has been so prevalent in the church ever since.

Patriarchy, Barr often reminds us, is a ‘shapeshifter’. …

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 3

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

In chapter 3 of this book (‘Our selective medieval memory’), Beth Allison Barr might be supposed to be on pretty solid ground.  She is, after all, a medieval historian who has a special interest in women preachers of that period.

So who (myself included) is competent to doubt her when she claims that history is on the side of her particular version of egalitarianism?…

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 2

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

In chapter 2, Dr Barr asks: ‘What if biblical womanhood doesn’t come from Paul?’

She begins by noting that many have taken Paul’s teaching to be heavily patriarchal.  Complementarians look to 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2 to support their case.  But this, suggests Barr, is to misread the apostle.

If, writes Barr, instead of focussing narrowly on texts such as those just mentioned, and take more account of the broader sweep of Paul’s teaching, then a different picture emerges.…

‘The Making of Biblical Womanhood’ – 1

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The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, by Beth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 2021.

I realise that Dr Barr is first and foremost a historian (with Religious Studies as her second area of academic expertise).  I know that she frequently appeals, in her book, on personal adecdote (often in involving her students).  However, I am sure that she would agree that her case for egalitarianism stands or falls on a convincing interpretation of the biblical text. …

Genesis 1:27 – a hint of male headship?

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Genesis 1:27 God created humankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them,
male and female he created them.

Raymond Ortlund argues that this Scripture, in referring to the human race as ‘man’ (and not ‘woman’, or ‘person’) is hinting at male headship. (Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, p97f.).  This view is repeated by the Kostenbergers (God’s Design for Men and Women).

Although I regard this view as rather speculative, I think that Giles (What the Bible Really Teaches on Women) is quite wrong to dismiss it as ‘special pleading’, and not based on ‘serious scholarship’.…