Search — Theology Explorer

Colossians 3:16 Philip Payne Colossians 3:16 teaching ministry

Rebutting Philip Payne's use of Colossians 3:16 to claim all Christians should have a teaching ministry

Mike addresses Payne's argument that Colossians 3:16 proves every woman should have a teaching ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Philip Payne teaching ministry 1 Corinthians 12:29-30

1 Corinthians 12:29-30 — Paul's rhetorical questions show not everyone is supposed to teach

Mike cites Paul's own words against the idea that all Christians should have a teaching ministry.

N.T. Wright persecution argument

Video summary — Argument 1: Persecution argument is clearly false

Mike begins his final summary of all five arguments.

N.T. Wright rabbinical training women in theological education

Video summary — Argument 2: 'Sat at the feet' meant rabbinical training is false, but women should pursue full theological education

Summary of the rabbi-training argument.

universal priesthood of believers complementarian correction husband as priest

Video summary — Argument 3: Universal priesthood is true but priesthood is not the only factor in eldership

Summary of the universal priesthood argument.

soft complementarianism prophecy argument complementarian correction

Video summary — Argument 4: Women can prophesy in mixed gatherings but prophecy is radically different from eldership

Summary of the prophecy argument.

eldership spiritual gifts argument women teaching

Video summary — Argument 5: Women can teach and lead but should find expression outside the role of elder

Summary of the gifts argument.

Galatians 3:28 egalitarian proof text Galatians 3:28

Preview of next video: Galatians 3:28 — 'the ultimate egalitarian proof text'

Mike previews the next video in the series.

Mike invites substantive, detailed critique rather than vague pushback

Mike asks critics to provide specific claims, sources, and evidence when challenging his arguments.

methodology

N.T. Wright Surprised by Scripture Kenneth Bailey

N.T. Wright's argument sourced from Kenneth Bailey who based it on cultural parallels

The persecution argument relies on Kenneth Bailey's claim that persecution of women only makes sense if they were leaders, based on 'cultural parallels.'

N.T. Wright Kenneth Bailey source verification

Mike spent 12 hours searching for Bailey's source; read two of his books and papers on Google Scholar

Mike attempted rigorous scholarly verification of Wright's cited source.

etymology presbyter hiereus

The English word 'priest' comes from Greek 'presbyter' (elder), not the actual Greek word for priest

Mike explains etymological confusion between priest and elder.

soft complementarianism secondary doctrinal issue

Mike calls himself a 'soft complementarian' because egalitarian arguments bring needed balance

Mike explains why he uses the term 'soft complementarian.'

cessationism continuationism

Mike is not a cessationist — he believes prophecy still occurs today

Mike briefly states his position on the continuation of spiritual gifts.

Romans 16:7 Romans 16:7 Andronicus and Junia female apostle debate

Andronicus and Junia — debate about whether there were female apostles

Mike briefly mentions the debate about Junia's status as an apostle.

soft complementarianism women apostles

Series recap: Videos 5-6 and complementarians also receiving correction

Mike positions himself as correcting both sides, though more strongly opposing egalitarianism.

1 Timothy 2 1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 11 1 Timothy 2 1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 11

Ben Witherington III's (1981) two arguments against over-reading the Genesis allusion

Mike cites Witherington's earlier work to push back against the creation/new-creation dichotomy.

Galatians 2 eldership Galatians 2 Cynthia Long Westfall

Westfall's 'out-group status' argument: excluding women from eldership communicates they are outsiders

Mike engages Westfall's use of sociological language about out-grouping.

Cynthia Long Westfall belonging vs. representing category shift fallacy

Two category shifts identified: from 'belonging in Christ' to 'representing Christ' to 'any function'

Mike isolates the precise logical moves he finds problematic.

Acts 10 Acts 15 1 Corinthians 7:18-20 Peter Acts 10 Jew/Gentile distinctions

Jew/Gentile distinctions continued after conversion: Jews kept the law, Gentiles did not

Mike demonstrates that the Jew/Gentile pair retained functional differences in the early church.

Ben Witherington III Rite and Rights for Women What's in the Word

Ben Witherington III changed his position between 1981 and 2009 without building a bridge

Mike traces the evolution of an important egalitarian scholar's views.

Stephen Bedale scholarly echo chamber citation practices

Egalitarian scholars echo each other's errors, tracing back to Bedale's short article

Mike critiques the pattern of egalitarian scholars citing each other rather than primary sources.

Ephesus Clinton Arnold Asia Minor medical schools

Clinton Arnold: Rufus's views were well-known in Asia Minor, famous for advanced medical schools

Mike cites Clinton Arnold on the significance of Rufus's teaching in Asia Minor.

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.

Lynn Cohick logical fallacy both source and authority

Cohick's either/or: she does not acknowledge kephale could mean both source and leader

Mike critiques Cohick's framing of the lexical evidence.

kephale TDNT determinative member

TDNT (1964): kephale means 'first, supreme, prominent, outstanding, determinative'; acknowledges source for rivers but includes subjection

Mike surveys the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

egalitarianism cultural influence on theology

Egalitarian view of marriage gaining popularity primarily in westernized First World countries

Mike notes the cultural context of the debate's popularity.

Colossians 3:19 Colossians 3:19 pikraino (embitter) authority and abuse

'Do not be harsh' (do not embitter) implies husband's authority

Mike argues the warning against harshness actually confirms authority.

2 Corinthians 13:10 2 Corinthians 13:10 restrained authority godly authority

Paul's own practice of restrained authority as a model (2 Corinthians 13:10)

Mike draws a parallel from Paul's apostolic practice.

household codes Josephus Against Apion

Josephus' household code actually supports complementarian view, not egalitarian

Mike argues the Josephus example backfires on the egalitarian case.

Acts 19 Acts 17 Emperor Trajan Acts 19 Acts 17

Paul's actual behavior toward persecution shows he didn't strategically accommodate Roman sensibilities

Mike uses Paul's track record to refute the cultural-defense theory.

1 Peter 3 Craig Keener Christianity seen as Judaism Plutarch

Christianity was seen as Jewish -- household codes were not the primary cultural threat

Mike adds another historical argument against the cultural-defense theory.

Ephesians 5:21-22 Craig Keener Ephesians 5:21-22 husband's submission

Keener and egalitarians find husband's submission in two places

Mike identifies where egalitarians claim to find the husband submitting.

original audience understanding hypotasso hermeneutical principle

How Paul is NOT different from his culture: submit meant authority imbalance to everyone

Mike identifies where Paul aligns with cultural understanding.

Ephesians 6:5-9 Ephesians 6:5-9 divine impartiality warning to masters

Ephesians 6:5-9 to masters: threats and divine judgment, not divine institution

Mike reads the slave passage to show its different character from the marriage passage.

women in ministry charitable debate

Real believers exist on both sides, but the issue still matters.

Framing the tone of the debate

Linda Belleville Two Views on Women in Ministry Huldah

Linda Belleville says Huldah's renown as a religious counselor was such that Josiah's advisors sought her out specifically.

Third egalitarian quote on Huldah

eldership Deborah prophetess

Preview: next week will address whether female prophets prove women can be elders — transitioning now to women in other roles and the priesthood.

Transition to Deborah and priesthood topics

Judges 4:4-5 Deborah Judges 4:4-5 Lappidoth

Some complementarians claim Deborah did only private counseling — Mike says this is wrong based on Judges 4:4-5.

Rebutting complementarian minimizing of Deborah

judges Deuteronomy 17 judges Deuteronomy 17 Levitical priests

Deuteronomy 17 describes the role of judge: deciding hard cases involving homicide, legal rights, and assault — with Levitical priests assisting.

Defining the judge's role from Deuteronomy 17

1 Corinthians 11 head coverings 1 Corinthians 11 male-female relationships

Introduction: video goals and scope of head covering debates

Mike introduces the video as an in-depth analysis of 1 Corinthians 11, acknowledging its length but emphasizing timestamps for navigation.

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 Katherine Bushnell Alan Padgett 1 Corinthians 6:12-13

Paul does quote Corinthians elsewhere in 1 Corinthians

Mike acknowledges the basis for the refutation view.

1 Corinthians 11:9 Craig Keener translation comparison 1 Corinthians 11:9

Keener translates verse 9 as 'through' instead of 'for the sake of,' absorbing it into verse 8

Mike identifies Keener's handling of the problematic verse 9.

1 Corinthians 11:10 Craig Keener 1 Corinthians 11:10 exousia

Keener on verse 10: the authority belongs to the woman, not someone over her

Mike presents Keener's strongest egalitarian claim about verse 10.

1 Corinthians 11:15 Romans 12:17 1 Thessalonians 5:15 1 Corinthians 11:15 Alan Padgett anti

Greek word analysis: anti in verse 15 means equivalence, not replacement

Mike examines the Greek preposition debate in verse 15.

Philip Payne peribolaion Alan Padgett

Alan Padgett and Philip Payne: even with equivalence, hair replaces cloth covering

Mike examines the revised arguments of hair-up proponents.

Plutarch Elaine Fantham Valerius Maximus

Plutarch's error about older customs doesn't invalidate his knowledge of his own time

Mike addresses Plutarch's misunderstanding about pre-150 BC customs.

Craig Keener physis nature vs. custom

Craig Keener acknowledges 'nature' normally means the opposite of custom

Mike shows that even egalitarians concede the normal meaning.

Numbers 6 Craig Keener Samson Epictetus

Exceptions to hair length rules: Nazirite vows, philosophers, and the principle behind exceptions

Mike discusses how exceptions to the general rule were understood.