Discovering Biblical Equality – Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives

Ronald W. Pierce (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He was coeditor of the earlier editions of this volume, as well as the author of Partners in Marriage and Ministry and Daniel in the Teach the Text Commentary series. Cynthia Long Westfall (PhD, University of Surrey) is associate professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College. She is the author of Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ and Discourse Analysis of the Letter to the Hebrews: The Relationship between Form and Meaning. Christa L. McKirland (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is lecturer in systematic theology at Carey Baptist College in Auckland, New Zealand. She is the founder and executive director of Logia International, which seeks to support women across the divinity disciplines for the sake of the academy and the church.

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction (Ronald W. Pierce, Cynthia Long Westfall, and Christa L. McKirland)

1. History Matters: Evangelicals and Women (Mimi Haddad)



Part I: Looking to Scripture: The Biblical Texts


2. Gender in Creation and Fall: Genesis 1–3 (Mary L. Conway)

3. The Treatment of Women Under the Mosaic Law (Ronald W. Pierce and Mary L. Conway)

4. Women Leaders in the Bible (Linda L. Belleville)

5. Jesus' Treatment of Women in the Gospels (Aída Besançon Spencer)

6. Mutuality in Marriage and Singleness: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 (Ronald W. Pierce and Elizabeth A. Kay)

7. Praying and Prophesying in the Assemblies: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (Gordon D. Fee)

8. Learning in the Assemblies: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (Craig S. Keener)

9. Male and Female, One in Christ: Galatians 3:26-29 (Cynthia Long Westfall)

10. Loving and Submitting to One Another in Marriage: Ephesians 5:21-33 and Colossians 3:18-19 (Lynn H. Cohick)

11. Teaching and Usurping Authority: 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (Linda L. Belleville)

12. A Silent Witness in Marriage: 1 Peter 3:1-7 (Peter H. Davids)



Part II: Thinking It Through: Theological and Logical Perspectives


13. The Priority of Spirit Gifting for Church Ministry (Gordon D. Fee)

14. The Nature of Authority in the New Testament (Walter L. Liefeld)

15. Image of God and Divine Presence: A Critique of Gender Essentialism (Christa L. McKirland)

16. Biblical Priesthood and Women in Ministry (Stanley J. Grenz)

17. Gender Equality and the Analogy of Slavery (Stanley E. Porter)

18. The Trinity Argument for Women's Subordination: The Story of Its Rise, Ascendancy, and Fall (Kevin Giles)

19. Biblical Images of God as Mother and Spiritual Formation (Ronald W. Pierce and Erin M. Heim)

20. "Equal in Being, Unequal in Role": Challenging the Logic of Women's Subordination (Rebecca Merrill Groothuis)



Part III: Addressing the Issues: Interpretive and Cultural Perspectives


21. Interpretive Methods and the Gender Debate (Cynthia Long Westfall)

22. Gender Differences and Biblical Interpretation: A View from the Social Sciences (M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall)

23. A Defense of Gender-Accurate Bible Translation (Jeffrey D. Miller)

24. Biblical Equality and Same-Sex Marriage (Ronald W. Pierce)

25. Gender Equality and the Sanctity of Life (Heidi R. Unruh and Ronald J. Sider)



Part IV: Living It Out: Practical Applications


26. Helping the Church Understand Biblical Gender Equality (Mimi Haddad)

27. Marriage as a Partnership of Equals (Judith K. Balswick and Jack O. Balswick)

28. Complementarianism and Domestic Abuse: A Social Science Perspective on Whether "Equal but Different" Is Really Equal at All (Kylie Maddox Pidgeon)

29. When We Were Not Women: Race and Discourses on Womanhood (Juliany González Nieves)

30. Human Flourishing: Global Perspectives (Mimi Haddad)

31. Toward Reconciliation: Healing the Schism (Alice P. Mathews)

Conclusion (Ronald W. Pierce, Cynthia Long Westfall, and Christa L. McKirland)



List of Contributors

Name Index

Subject Index

Scripture Index