A biblical defense of egalitarianism that relies on Scripture to affirm gender equality in the church and in the home.
"Biblical womanhood" is the idea that the Bible teaches God-ordained male leadership and female submission in the home and subordination in the church. Some say this hierarchy of authority is sufficiently evidenced by examples of male leadership (and lack of female leadership) in the Bible: the first human was male, Israel's official priests were male, most authors of Scripture were male, Jesus was male and chose twelve male Apostles. God is addressed as Father. Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands.
In The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood, New Testament scholar Philip B. Payne argues that the very Bible passages that are often believed to teach male headship and female subordination actually teach gender equality. He demonstrates that the Bible does not endorse gender hierarchy but instead emphasizes:
- The Holy Spirit gifting all believers for ministry
- The oneness of the body of Christ (the church) and the priesthood of all believers
- Humility, service, and mutual submission required of all believers
- Freedom and willingness to relinquish freedom in order to spread the gospel
These concepts are examined in 14 Bible passages throughout the Old and New Testaments, using careful exploration of Greek and Hebrew word meanings, historical and cultural context, and examples from Scripture. Payne defends his position by providing detailed answers to common objections at the end of each chapter.
The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood is for those struggling to reconcile the Bible's seemingly contradictory teachings about man and woman. Readers will come away with greater confidence in the reliability of Scripture's consistent, harmonious message of gender equality.
'I highly value Philip for both his integrity and profound scholarship. The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood is readable and easily understood. I give this book my highest recommendation.'-- Dr. Felicity Dale, author, The Black Swan Effect
'This is a great gift. Its popular rhetoric contributes to clarity and makes the argument even more persuasive. Payne's disciplined study brings us ever so close to the original texts of scripture.'-- Richard F. Kantzer, Holland Michigan
'This is Philip Payne at his best. Skillful, thorough, and kind, Payne makes it clear that 'biblical womanhood' has never been biblical. His careful analysis provides unshakeable ground that we can believe both in the Bible and in the full freedom of women to serve however God has called them.'-- Beth Allison Barr, the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
'Philip Payne does the job of a careful exegete in explaining the difference between a biblical view of women in God's purposes and an artificial and alien view listing all the things that women purportedly cannot do by jaundiced modern interpreters. Payne has done the hard slog of a detailed reading of the text and he's got the receipts for how his rivals have misspent their efforts in treating the Bible as a mirror of their own patriarchal subculture. Payne is arresting as he is persuasive!'-- Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird (Ph.D University of Queensland) is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia
'I have read most of the books written by complementarians and evangelical egalitarians and I think Philip Payne's are the best. It is the fruit of forty years of study by a first-rate biblical scholar who does not avoid any difficult issues. The scholarly depth and the clarity of his writing is exceptional.'-- Kevin Giles, Anglican pastor and theologian
'A compelling and highly readable case for the full equality of women and men. This remarkable book presents the best in New Testament scholarship for non-specialists.'-- Harold Netland, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
'Seeing well-developed arguments in this brief and non-confrontational format is an eye-opening experience. The Bible comes alive as a book written for men and women who are more alike than has traditionally been acknowledged by much of Christendom.'-- Rev. Dr. David Instone-Brewer
'If any reader wants to understand the egalitarian view of subjects such as head covering or a woman's submission to her husband, this is the book to read. This is an easy-to-read and must-have book for any serious reader on the equality of man and woman in Christ.'-- KeumJu Jewel Hyun, Founder and President, Matthew 28 Ministries, Inc. and Adjunct Professor of Theology of Work, Bakke Graduate University, Dallas, Texas
'Philip Payne's work has been among the most recommended resources for explaining and defending evangelical gender egalitarianism. This new volume is written for a broad readership.'-- Jeff Miller, editor of Priscilla Papers
'I heartily recommend this new book. You will be challenged by its careful exegesis and thoughtful exposition.'-- Randy Colver, Fairburn, GA
'Philip Payne's work on this subject has been an invaluable resource to me. His own authentic journey on the topic makes him an excellent guide. I am deeply grateful for his scholarship!'-- Dr. R. Scott Lisea, Campus Pastor at Westmont College
Philip Barton Payne (PhD, Cambridge) has served with his wife Nancy for the Evangelical Free Church Mission in Japan for seven years. He has taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell, Bethel, and Fuller, and is known for his studies on textual criticism, the parables of Jesus, and Paul's teachings on women.
A biblical defense of egalitarianism that relies on Scripture to affirm gender equality in the church and in the home.
"Biblical womanhood" is the idea that the Bible teaches God-ordained male leadership and female submission in the home and subordination in the church. Some say this hierarchy of authority is sufficiently evidenced by examples of male leadership (and lack of female leadership) in the Bible: the first human was male, Israel's official priests were male, most authors of Scripture were male, Jesus was male and chose twelve male Apostles. God is addressed as Father. Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands.
In The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood, New Testament scholar Philip B. Payne argues that the very Bible passages that are often believed to teach male headship and female subordination actually teach gender equality. He demonstrates that the Bible does not endorse gender hierarchy but instead emphasizes:
- The Holy Spirit gifting all believers for ministry
- The oneness of the body of Christ (the church) and the priesthood of all believers
- Humility, service, and mutual submission required of all believers
- Freedom and willingness to relinquish freedom in order to spread the gospel
These concepts are examined in 14 Bible passages throughout the Old and New Testaments, using careful exploration of Greek and Hebrew word meanings, historical and cultural context, and examples from Scripture. Payne defends his position by providing detailed answers to common objections at the end of each chapter.
The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood is for those struggling to reconcile the Bible's seemingly contradictory teachings about man and woman. Readers will come away with greater confidence in the reliability of Scripture's consistent, harmonious message of gender equality.
'I highly value Philip for both his integrity and profound scholarship. The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood is readable and easily understood. I give this book my highest recommendation.'-- Dr. Felicity Dale, author, The Black Swan Effect
'This is a great gift. Its popular rhetoric contributes to clarity and makes the argument even more persuasive. Payne's disciplined study brings us ever so close to the original texts of scripture.'-- Richard F. Kantzer, Holland Michigan
'This is Philip Payne at his best. Skillful, thorough, and kind, Payne makes it clear that 'biblical womanhood' has never been biblical. His careful analysis provides unshakeable ground that we can believe both in the Bible and in the full freedom of women to serve however God has called them.'-- Beth Allison Barr, the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
'Philip Payne does the job of a careful exegete in explaining the difference between a biblical view of women in God's purposes and an artificial and alien view listing all the things that women purportedly cannot do by jaundiced modern interpreters. Payne has done the hard slog of a detailed reading of the text and he's got the receipts for how his rivals have misspent their efforts in treating the Bible as a mirror of their own patriarchal subculture. Payne is arresting as he is persuasive!'-- Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird (Ph.D University of Queensland) is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia
'I have read most of the books written by complementarians and evangelical egalitarians and I think Philip Payne's are the best. It is the fruit of forty years of study by a first-rate biblical scholar who does not avoid any difficult issues. The scholarly depth and the clarity of his writing is exceptional.'-- Kevin Giles, Anglican pastor and theologian
'A compelling and highly readable case for the full equality of women and men. This remarkable book presents the best in New Testament scholarship for non-specialists.'-- Harold Netland, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
'Seeing well-developed arguments in this brief and non-confrontational format is an eye-opening experience. The Bible comes alive as a book written for men and women who are more alike than has traditionally been acknowledged by much of Christendom.'-- Rev. Dr. David Instone-Brewer
'If any reader wants to understand the egalitarian view of subjects such as head covering or a woman's submission to her husband, this is the book to read. This is an easy-to-read and must-have book for any serious reader on the equality of man and woman in Christ.'-- KeumJu Jewel Hyun, Founder and President, Matthew 28 Ministries, Inc. and Adjunct Professor of Theology of Work, Bakke Graduate University, Dallas, Texas
'Philip Payne's work has been among the most recommended resources for explaining and defending evangelical gender egalitarianism. This new volume is written for a broad readership.'-- Jeff Miller, editor of Priscilla Papers
'I heartily recommend this new book. You will be challenged by its careful exegesis and thoughtful exposition.'-- Randy Colver, Fairburn, GA
'Philip Payne's work on this subject has been an invaluable resource to me. His own authentic journey on the topic makes him an excellent guide. I am deeply grateful for his scholarship!'-- Dr. R. Scott Lisea, Campus Pastor at Westmont College
Philip Barton Payne (PhD, Cambridge) has served with his wife Nancy for the Evangelical Free Church Mission in Japan for seven years. He has taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell, Bethel, and Fuller, and is known for his studies on textual criticism, the parables of Jesus, and Paul's teachings on women.
Zondervan
Pub Date: April 04, 2023
0.54" H x 8.38" L x 5.5" W
256 pages
paperback