Search — Theology Explorer

eldership gender roles egalitarianism

Definition of egalitarianism: equality in both personhood and role, with no limits on what women can do in the church including serving as elders.

Framing the debate — defining key terms

Rebecca Merrill Groothuis equality of personhood role differences

Mistake #4: Believing that equality of personhood philosophically rules out differences in roles. Mike introduces Rebecca Merrill Groothuis and her work.

Mistake #4: Equality of personhood rules out role differences

egalitarian scholarship Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Discovering Biblical Equality

Groothuis's argument appears in chapter 20 of 'Discovering Biblical Equality' — a brand new edition of the premier egalitarian multi-author volume that Mike read including an advance copy.

Mistake #4: Equality of personhood rules out role differences

Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Discovering Biblical Equality syllogism

Groothuis's syllogism: if women's subordination is permanent, comprehensive, and ontologically grounded, then women are inferior persons; women are not inferior; therefore subordination is unjustified.

Mistake #4: Analyzing Groothuis's syllogism

Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Discovering Biblical Equality comprehensive submission

Rebuttal: women's submission is not comprehensive — Groothuis claims there is 'no area in which a woman has any authority, privilege, or opportunity that a man is denied,' which massively overstates complementarian claims.

Mistake #4: Rebutting 'comprehensive'

bypassing scripture biblical authority Rebecca Merrill Groothuis

Even if Groothuis is right philosophically, her conclusion explicitly blocks Bible reading — she says there can be 'no biblical or theological warrant' for women's submission, which pre-determines what the Bible is allowed to say.

Mistake #4: How Groothuis's argument bypasses scripture

Philip Payne Man and Woman, One in Christ equality in Christ

Philip Payne's related argument in 'Man and Woman, One in Christ': if we are equal in Christ, we cannot exclude anyone from leadership based on gender.

Mistake #4: Payne's variant of the philosophical argument

eldership Philip Payne equality in Christ

Mike's rebuttal to Payne: role differences are about God's calling/assignment, not nature or equality in Christ. Payne's logic would make eldership part of what it means to be Christian.

Mistake #4: Rebutting Payne

bypassing scripture Philip Payne biblical authority

Both Groothuis and Payne's philosophical arguments kill Bible study by leaving only two options: the Bible supports egalitarianism, or the Bible is wrong.

Mistake #4: Conclusion

Discovering Biblical Equality domestic abuse complementarianism and abuse

Discovering Biblical Equality chapter 28 argues complementarianism causes domestic abuse from a social science perspective.

Mistake #5: Academic version of the abuse argument

Discovering Biblical Equality domestic abuse complementarianism and abuse

Quote from Discovering Biblical Equality: complementarianism is 'by definition a system of permanently unequal power distribution' that creates conditions under which abuse flourishes.

Mistake #5: Academic version of the abuse argument

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Definition of complementarian and egalitarian positions in the debate over women in ministry.

Framing the two sides of the debate

Gen 1-3 Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway

Both egalitarians and complementarians agree that Genesis 1-3 is theologically foundational for understanding male-female relationships.

Establishing common ground between the two sides

Discovering Biblical Equality Gen 1:28 Mary Conway

Mary Conway's argument that all plural imperative verbs in Genesis 1:28 include both man and woman with no restriction on any activity, including dominion.

Egalitarian argument from Genesis 1

Gen 2 negative vs. positive case egalitarian hermeneutics

Two types of egalitarian arguments for Genesis 2: negative case (refuting complementarian points) or positive case (Genesis 2 rules out authority differences).

Framework for evaluating egalitarian arguments

Philip Payne Man and Woman, One in Christ Gen 2:24

Payne's second argument: the man (not the woman) leaves father and mother, which implies equality rather than male authority.

Egalitarian argument from Genesis 2:24

Philip Payne Discovering Biblical Equality Phyllis Trible

Trible's influence: her arguments are borrowed by Payne, 'Discovering Biblical Equality,' Tucker and Liefeld's 'Daughters of the Church,' and other egalitarian works.

Trible's scholarly influence despite flawed arguments

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway primogeniture

Mary Conway's counter-argument: biblical exceptions to primogeniture (Jacob, Esau, Joseph, David, Ephraim, Manasseh) show the Bible doesn't care about birth order -- Mike's rebuttal: exceptions prove the rule.

Egalitarian counter-argument on primogeniture exceptions

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway ezer

Mary Conway and R. David Freedman's etymology argument: 'ezer' derives from a root meaning 'strength/power,' making Eve 'a power equal to man.'

Alternative etymology for 'ezer'

Gen 2:23 naming as authority mutual submission

The naming of Eve implies leadership within their equality: Eve didn't name herself, God didn't name her, and they didn't name each other -- God let Adam do it.

Significance of who does the naming

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway naming as authority

Mary Conway's alternative approach to naming: it's an act of discernment, not authority, based on George Ramsey's 1988 paper.

Alternative egalitarian argument on naming

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Linda Belleville's claim: no lack of women leaders in the early church

Mike introduces egalitarian scholar Linda Belleville's claims about women leaders.

Romans 16:1-2 Linda Belleville Discovering Biblical Equality Two Views on Women in Ministry

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Nympha in Colossians 4:15 -- Lynn Cohick's claim she led a house church

Mike begins examining individual women named in the NT, starting with Nympha.

Colossians 4:15 Discovering Biblical Equality Nympha Lynn Cohick

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Belleville's third footnote: Philippians 2:19-30 -- all males, no women deacons

Mike checks the third footnoted passage.

Philippians 2:19-30 Linda Belleville Discovering Biblical Equality scholarly methodology

Discovering Biblical Equality Stanley Grenz priestly character of eldership

Some complementarians argue eldership is priestly in character, therefore reserved for men — Mike rejects this

Mike introduces and then rejects a complementarian argument that the pastoral office is priestly and therefore male-only.

Discovering Biblical Equality universal priesthood of believers Stanley Grenz

Grenz: the NT parallel to Levitical priesthood is the church as a whole, not ordained leaders

Grenz argues that the priesthood of all believers means the parallel to OT priests is all Christians, not just clergy.

Discovering Biblical Equality universal priesthood of believers Stanley Grenz

Grenz's positive case: whoever is a priest should be able to be an elder

After Grenz dismantles the complementarian argument, he builds his own: women are priests, therefore they can be elders.

1 Corinthians 12:7 Discovering Biblical Equality Stanley Grenz 1 Corinthians 12:7

Grenz argues the Spirit's sovereign call and gifting, not gender, determines who can be an elder

Grenz's more detailed argument: since the Spirit calls believer-priests to ministry, gender cannot be an overriding disqualifying factor.

Discovering Biblical Equality spiritual gifts argument Stanley Grenz

Stanley Grenz argues 'the integral relation between gifts and ministry' means the church must give place for the giftedness of all persons

Mike quotes another egalitarian scholar's version of the gifts argument.

Discovering Biblical Equality Rebecca Groothuis Ronald Allen

Rebecca Groothuis and other scholars calling Galatians 3:28 the most important egalitarian text

Mike cites multiple egalitarian scholars to demonstrate the verse's centrality to their position.

Philip Payne Discovering Biblical Equality Cynthia Long Westfall

Decision to focus analysis on Cynthia Westfall's chapter in Discovering Biblical Equality

Mike explains why he chose Westfall's work as the primary egalitarian argument to engage.

Galatians 3:28 Craig Blomberg equivocation fallacy Galatians 3:28

Craig Blomberg's refutation: 'heis' (one) does not mean 'equal in all respects'

Mike uses Blomberg's analysis to defeat the argument that 'one' means total equality.

1 Peter 3:1-7 1 Peter 3:1-7 Sarah Abraham

1 Peter 3 proves full heirship status with continued role distinctions

Mike uses 1 Peter 3 as a decisive counter-example to the egalitarian reading.

Exodus Rabbah Beshallach 21:4 Ben Witherington III Madeleine Boucher Seder Eliahu Rabbah 7

Jewish rabbis used similar 'no male and female' language without implying role obliteration

Mike cites ancient Jewish parallels to demonstrate the phrase's cultural meaning was narrower than egalitarians claim.

Ephesians Colossians kephale Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Discovering Biblical Equality

Contextual/Bible study argument: Ronald Pierce and Rebecca Merrill Groothuis claim Paul only reinforces 'source/provision,' not authority

Mike presents the egalitarian contextual argument from Discovering Biblical Equality.

Discovering Biblical Equality Ronald Pierce contextual argument rebuttal

Pierce and Groothuis's claim that Paul 'only reinforces source/provision' is contradicted by the biblical evidence

Mike summarizes his rebuttal of the contextual argument.

Ephesians 5:25-30 Discovering Biblical Equality false dichotomy Ephesians 5:25-30

Pierce and Groothuis argue that Paul commands husbands to love, not to exercise authority — a false dichotomy

Mike addresses the egalitarian argument that love commands exclude authority.

kephale Discovering Biblical Equality Lynn Cohick

Lynn Cohick claims seeing authority in headship 'violates Paul's intention in metaphor'

Mike presents Lynn Cohick's argument from Discovering Biblical Equality.

John Chrysostom John Chrysostom Kathleen Kroeger Christians for Biblical Equality

Church history argument: Kathleen Kroeger, founder of Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE)

Mike introduces the church history argument and Kathleen Kroeger's significance.

Galatians 3:28 1 Peter 3:7 Galatians 3:28 1 Peter 3:7 equal inheritance in Christ

Wife as precious vessel and co-heir -- equal inheritance in Christ

Mike explains the vessel analogy and spiritual equality.

1 Peter 3:1-7 Discovering Biblical Equality 1 Peter 3:1-7 Peter Davids

Peter Davids' egalitarian view of 1 Peter 3: submission is only for evangelism

Mike begins the egalitarian rebuttal section with Peter Davids from 'Discovering Biblical Equality.'

Colossians 3:18-19 hypotasso Colossians 3:18-19 Lynn Kohick

Lynn Kohick's egalitarian view of Colossians 3:18-19: no talk of husband's authority

Mike examines an egalitarian scholar's treatment of the Colossians passage.

internal contradiction Craig Keener mutual submission vs cultural binding

Internal contradiction in egalitarian interpretations: mutual submission AND cultural binding cannot both be true

Mike identifies a fundamental tension in the egalitarian case.

Mike Winger idea 2022-11-11

Payne on verses 11-12: Paul repudiates hierarchy of man over woman

Mike presents how Payne makes the passage actively egalitarian.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Philip Payne egalitarianism 1 Corinthians 11:11-12

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

The Bacchus/Dionysus cult clatter explanation from CBE International

Mike examines the view promoted by the Center for Biblical Equality (CBE International) connecting the passage to ecstatic cult practices.

Livy CBE International Bacchus/Dionysus cult

role differences egalitarianism authority

Definition of egalitarianism as one of three positions in the debate

Mike defines the three sides of the debate, starting with egalitarianism.

egalitarianism scholarly methodology social justice

Egalitarians treat their position as a moral mission, not just a theological view

Mike describes the activist nature of egalitarian scholarship.

Galatians 3:26-28 inheritance sons of God Galatians 3:26-28

Women as 'sons of God' — Galatians 3:26-28

Mike unpacks the 'sons of God' language as powerful status language for women.

Industrial Revolution feminism critique LGBT

Feminism took unhealthy male self-advancement and transferred it to women

Mike critiques the progression from Industrial Revolution to feminism.