The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth

The book is a refreshing and well-researched assessment of some of the pervading cultures in the modern Western Church are holding back the next generation (particularly women), from joining in the Body of Christ and being able to fully serve Christ in the modern church context.

Dr Barr's background in history and medieval studies inform approachable examples on when and how women throughout history have been able to use their gifts for Christs' service, and especially in ways that are verboten in conservative western churches. Dr Barr's assessment and critique in particular of complementarian ideology is refreshing, straightforward and fair.

I found this book refreshing, well written, easily to read and an encouragement for all who seek to serve Christ with all that they are able.

While this book is a fascinating read and I'd say an important contribution to the current debate amongst honest, God-fearing Christians about sex roles in marriage, the church and broader society, it's not where I would start. Add it to your library if you're seeking to get across the current discussion.

The previous reviewer recommends Kevin DeYoung's take on this book, but DeYoung* is no more moderate on this issue than Barr. If you think that DeYoung is a good representative of 'soft Complementarianism', do please search him up on Terran Williams' page, which promotes a 'Mutualist' position.

Williams and his many readily accessible video discussions are an awesome place to engage with a range of teachings on the topic. One thing I have appreciated wherever I've encountered it is the good will and respect among people with very different views (they will know we are Christians by our love. . . ) and Williams is one of the best examples of this.

Explore also Andrew Bartlett, Lucy Peppiatt, Philip Payne, Karen Jobes, Craig Keener, Douglas Groothuis, Scot McKnight, Gordon Fee, Mike Bird. . .

And be kind.

I have many thoughts about this book, but ultimately I would encourage anyone reading it to do so while researching the historical claims Barr makes. I was first suspicious of this when she called John Calvin a 'radical Puritan translator' (145), and on further inspection one finds many of the historical stories she recounts are half-truths, and in danger of severe hagiography. Margery Kempe was a prime suspect. Reading Barr's recount would leave one to see Kempe as all but worthy of sainthood. However, reading historical accounts of Kempe is another business entirely. She was, lightly put, a bizarre individual with concerning beliefs. I was disappointed by all of the discrepancies in Barr's historical accounts as she continually reminds us (~20 times in the book) that she is a historian.

Her theological arguments - though not the goal of her book - were the common arguments from egalitarian authors, and Barr does not add much novelty or insight to the table here. Her conversations with complementarian authors also seemed unkind, and spending some time researching the broader context of quotes from John Piper and others reveals her presentation of their arguments is in many instances simply untrue. Finally, I was concerned with her comparisons to slavery, primarily where she seems to state the patriarchy must be abolished and 'only then can all Black people truly be free'. Hmm.

There were many interesting and positive things about this book, and I grieved for Barr as she…