The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood: How God's Word Consistently Affirms Gender Equality

by Philip Barton Payne

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2023

Overview

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.

Key Features

• Demonstrates that the Bible does not endorse gender hierarchy.
• Emphasizes the Holy Spirit gifting all believers for ministry.
• Defends his position by providing detailed answers to common objections.

Praise for the Print Edition

No scholar of the New Testament and church has spent more energy in examining and explicating the role of women in leadership and teaching and preaching than Phil Payne. His scholarship is well-known and impeccably fair-minded. This book judiciously and pastorally unravels the tight threads woven by complementarians and weaves them into a fresh, new tapestry that is both biblical and pastoral. It will be for me the go-to book for lay folks who need a response to the complementarians.

-- Scot McKnight, Chair of New Testament, Northern Seminary, Jesus Creed

A glorious blend of biblical history and theological analysis, Payne systematically dismantles the logical failures used to distort God’s Word intended for human flourishing. This book will bring enormous healing to the body of Christ. If you need a book that quickly and clearly exposes the failed teachings of male-headship arguments, The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood is it! Respected by Christians the world over, Phil Payne’s research opens new doors of leadership for women.

-- Mimi Haddad Ph.D., President of CBE International.org

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

Product Details

• Title: The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood: How God's Word Consistently Affirms Gender Equality
• Author: Philip Barton Payne
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 256
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Equality › Biblical teaching; Man-woman relationships › Religious aspects--Christianity; Sex role › Religious aspects--Christianity; Women in Christianity; Women › Biblical teaching
• ISBNs: 9780310140313, 9780310140337, 0310140331, 9780310140306, 0310140307, 0310140315
• Resource ID: LLS:9780310140313
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-31T01:06:02Z

About Philip Barton Payne

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.