Rediscovering Scripture's Vision For Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts

IVP Readers' Choice Award

Does God call women to serve as equal partners in marriage and as leaders in the church?

The answer to this straightforward question is deeply contested. Into the fray, Lucy Peppiatt offers her work on interpretation of the Bible and Christian practice. With careful exegetical work, Peppiatt considers relevant passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, and 1 Corinthians. There she finds a story of God releasing women alongside men into all forms of ministry, leadership, work, and service on the basis of character and gifting, rather than biological sex.

Those who see the overturning of male-dominated hierarchy in the Scriptures, she argues, are truly rediscovering an ancient message—a message distorted by those who assumed that a patriarchal world, which they sometimes saw reflected in the Bible, was the one God had ordained.

ENDORSEMENT

"I am so grateful to Lucy for this wonderful packaging of all her best ideas about women in the Bible and church."

–From the foreword by Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary

"Debates about women, marriage, the Bible, and theology are explosive with heat, while often generating too little light. Peppiatt brings to the discussion wide-ranging knowledge, a keen exegetical eye, winsome and witty explanation, and new insights."

–Nijay K. Gupta, associate professor of New Testament, Portland Seminary

"Lucy Peppiatt has written an encouraging book that invites women to see themselves in the biblical story, not as props but as protagonists, and along the way she explains many of those confusing texts about wives, head coverings, and prohibitions on teaching. In the end, Peppiatt offers a biblically grounded case for Christian mutuality that unites the sexes in service of a common Lord."

–Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in theology at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

"Scholarly yet accessible and offering intriguing insights into biblical texts, Lucy Peppiatt's new book engages with Hebrew and Greek, patristic and contemporary theological thought, and epigraphy and ancient documents, giving clear, coherent answers to questions we didn't even know how to ask. Eminently readable and easily lendable, I couldn't put it down."

–Jill Firth, lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

"The whole time I read this work, I kept thinking of those who would benefit from these thoughtful, accessible, and clearheaded responses to the primary objections against women fully serving in their gospel calling. Consequently, I am grateful for this resource that is both scripturally robust and theologically powerful. For those just beginning to think of these questions to those who have thought on these things for decades, Lucy's book will encourage and enlighten anyone who wants to engage these concerns."

–Christa L. McKirland, executive director of Logia, Logos Institute Research Fellow, University of St. Andrews