Finally, a comprehensive scholarly book from the egalitarian position! I have been in academic circles and egalitarian circles and I had not heard that this new book is out! It is Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy. Its general editors are Ronald W. Pierce and Rebecca Merrill Groothuis and its contributing editor is Gordon Fee […]
Craig Keener, in his workshop, pointed out the need for interpretation and looking at context. He asked us if we should obey all the commands in the Bible. What about: “Go to Troas and get the cloak” (2 Ti 4:13) or “Take up an offering for the church in Jerusalem.” No, we […]
CBE Workshop — Craig Keener
There are instructions in Ephesians 5:21-6:9 for both husbands and wives and slaves and masters. Craig Keener began his workshop with a presentation about how the church has viewed slavery over its history. Slavery was justified for many years within the Christian community by a so-called “plain reading” of […]
Craig Keener’s “Marriage: A Biblical Model of Submission”
Keener discussed Aristotle’s “household codes,” a set of values widely regarded in Paul’s day which instructed men to rule over their wives, children and slaves. Paul, in Ephesians 5:18, sets forth his primary charge: “Be filled with the Spirit.” Then he offers practical “how-tos” by adapting the household […]
Charles Reed’s “Doctrine of God and Inclusive Language”
This workshop, lead by Anglican minister and professor Charles Reed, was the surprise hit of the conference for me. It wasn’t my first choice for that time slot, but I’m glad I attended the session. You see, I’ve not previously been interested in inclusive language, considering it to […]
CBE Workshop: Paul and the Leadership of Women, Irreconcilable or inextricable? The Historical context of Ephesians and Corinthians
Presenter: Mimi Haddad, president of CBE
The context, including the historical setting, must always be considered when reading and interpreting any literature. The Bible is not an exception.
Paul had the following female co-workers:
· Lydia (Acts 16:13-14, 40)
· Euodia & […]
A Dr. Craig Keener workshop.
Submission is a full concept explained in Ephesians 5 and 6. Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). Praise God (Eph 5:19-20). Submitting to each other included the following categories of people: Wives and husbands (Eph 5:22-23); children and fathers (Eph 6:1-4); Slaves and slaveholders (Eph 6:5-9).
Romans […]
A Dr. Craig Keener workshop.
Ephesians 6:5 says, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.”
Was Paul pro-slavery? Many writers in the 1800s said yes, but his principles oppose it. What slavery was back in the ancient world was not what it […]
Would God create a system that doesn’t work? He apparently allows ways of living that are less than the best because of the hardness (sinfulness) of people’s hearts (Matthew 19:8). Maybe that is why God has (perhaps heavy-heartedly) allowed patriarchalism to run rampant. But the egalitarian argument that patriarchalism is a result […]
Evangelicals believe that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God that is the final authority for faith and practice. Serious differences appear, however, in translating what the Bible says into practice. Hierarchicalists believe that the Bible says that God ordains separate roles for men and women as a part of the […]