Annotated Bibliography for Gender-Related Books in 2005
Oren Martin and Barak Tjader
In this issue of the journal we profile some of the most significant gender-related books from 2005. Here is a brief reminder about the categories we are using and our intent in using them. Complementarian designates an author who recognizes the full personal equality of the sexes, coupled with an acknowledgment of role distinctions in the home and church. Egalitarian classifies evangelicals who see undifferentiated equality (i.e., they see no scriptural warrant for affirming male headship in the home or the church). Under the Non-Evangelical heading, we have classified important secular works and books that address the subject of biblical gender issues from a religious, albeit, non-evangelical point of view. This category also serves as our classification for liberal scholars wanting to retain some sort of Christian identity. Finally, under the Undeclared heading, we have listed those books that do not give sufficient indication of their fundamental stance for us to classify them more specifically.
Complementarian
Botkin, Anna Sofia, and Elizabeth Botkin. So Much More: The Remarkable Influence of Visionary Daughters on the Kingdom of God. San Antonio: Vision Forum, 2005.
This book, written from the perspective of two teenage sisters, deals with the theological framework, practice, and importance of the father/daughter relationship. The Botkins's emphasis on the family unit and distinctive biblical roles for men and women will be appreciated, although many will disagree with a number of their conclusions and applications, as they appear to go beyond what Scripture commands.
Crotts, John. Craftsmen: Skillfully Leading Your Family for Christ. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2005.
Crotts opens up the wisdom of Scripture, particularly Proverbs, to instruct men on how to lead their families for Christ. Bringing rich application and a caring pastoral perspective, he demonstrates how biblical wisdom should inform men to live wisely in the areas of work, godliness, speech, sex, discipline, and temperament. This short book contains a wealth of wisdom that will help men become the godly leaders God has called them to be as they look to Christ, the perfect wise man.
Farrar, Steve. King Me: What Every Son Wants and Needs From His Father. Chicago: Moody, 2005.
Without minimizing the role that the mother plays in raising sons, Farrar argues that every son wants and needs his father to mentor him. By looking at various stories of the kings in the OT, both good and bad, he draws examples and lessons that fathers can apply as they raise their sons to become mature men who will one day lead their own families. Using his own experience and knowledge of the Scriptures, Farrar describes that the task of mentoring takes place through mistakes, discipline, masculinity, guidance, sexual purity, manly communication, and friendship.
Grudem, Wayne with Jerry Thacker. Why Is My Choice of a Bible Translation So Important? Louisville: The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, 2005.
This valuable resource reviews the translation inaccuracies of Today's New International Version (TNIV). The authors demonstrate that in changing thousands of verses by removing male-oriented words or by changing the singular to the plural, the gender-neutral translation loses the details of meaning in the original text. This brief overview will aid the Christian community in choosing a Bible translation that faithfully conveys the words of God. For more information concerning gender-neutral translations, see www.genderneutralbibles.com.
George, Elizabeth. A Young Woman's Call to Prayer: Talking With God About Your Life. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2005.
George writes a practical book for young women on the theme of prayer. She encourages her readers to experience the joy and centrality of prayer in the Christian life. In many ways this book is simply a description of a relationship with God lived in utter dependence upon him. Included are sections on hindrances to prayer, when to pray, discovering God's will through prayer, how to pray, and developing the habit of prayer. She offers practical wisdom from Scripture and thoughtful application that will help deepen her reader's relationship with the God who hears and is mindful of his children.
Jaynes, Sharon. Building an Effective Women's Ministry. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2005.
Jaynes has provided a helpful resource in planning and building a women's ministry in the church. The majority of the book offers very practical advice on beginning a women's ministry, cultivating leadership, programming, and overcoming difficulties. Jaynes works through the details and develops a strategy for developing a biblical model of women teaching, encouraging, and ministering to other women.
Jones, Rebecca. Does Christianity Squash Women? A Christian Looks at Womanhood. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2005.
In this excellent work, Jones articulates the meaning of femininity through a biblical worldview and answers questions regarding womanhood and Christianity. This book shows that, contrary to many assertions that the Christian faith oppresses and demeans women, in reality, a proper understanding of what it means to be a woman actually provides fulfillment and meaning. Looking at examples of women in the Bible, the treatment of women by Jesus and the biblical authors, and evidence from Christian experience, Jones provides an important and compelling case for the goodness of God-ordained gender roles and the freeing disposition of biblical womanhood.
Kassian, Mary. The Feminist Mistake. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005.
In this revised and updated version of The Feminist Gospel (1992), Kassian traces the history of feminism from 1960 to 1990 and looks at the sociological impact of feminism during the 1990s, as well as the convergence of secular and evangelical feminist thought. Kassian's critique of feminism provides clarity and warns the church against the dangers of feminist theology. Especially helpful in this volume are Kassian's insights into the effect of feminism on popular thought and its infiltration into mainstream culture.
Kassian, Mary A. In My Father's House: Finding Your Heart's True Home. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2005.
In this very thoughtful volume, Kassian demonstrates that the universal human need to be fathered was placed there by the God who has revealed himself and relates to his sons and daughters as Father. Kassian shows that throughout Scripture, and most fully in the New Testament, God has revealed himself as Father, which is most clearly seen in his relationship with his Son Jesus Christ. In understanding this, Christians can know how to correctly relate to their heavenly Father as he guides, protects, provides for, corrects, and is faithful to his children.
Köstenberger, Andreas J., and Thomas R. Schreiner, eds. Women in the Church: An Analysis and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15. 2d ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
Ten years have passed since the first edition of this book was published, and it still stands as the definitive work on 1 Tim 2:9-15. As new material has emerged over the past decade concerning the interpretation and application of this fiercely debated passage, this second edition has been updated in light of current scholarship. Also, it has been streamlined as articles deemed less crucial to the overall flow and argument of the passage have been removed, while a new chapter with rich and thoughtful application has been added. The contributors include S. M. Baugh, Henry Scott Baldwin, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Thomas R. Schreiner, Robert W. Yarborough, and Dorothy Kelley Patterson. They address issues that are crucial to understanding and applying the passage such as historical background, grammar, syntax, exegesis, hermeneutics, and application. Once again, this resource is unsurpassed in its presentation and argument, and the church is well-served by its immeasurable contribution.
MacArthur, John. Twelve Extraordinary Women. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005.
In this complementary volume to Twelve Ordinary Men (Thomas Nelson, 2002), MacArthur looks at the lives of twelve women in biblical history who played a critical role in the story of redemption. He examines and describes the lives of Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Anna, the Samaritan woman, Martha and Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Lydia. MacArthur hopes that his readers will be encouraged by the gracious and faithful work of God that made each of these women extraordinary so that they will be challenged to imitate their examples.
Mahaney, Carolyn, and Nicole Mahaney Whitacre. Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005.
The authors provide a wonderful picture from their own experience of the mother-daughter relationship and discuss how to pass on the legacy of biblical womanhood in a way that commends the gospel. Part One focuses on various aspects of the mother-daughter relationship, and Part Two focuses on how to apply biblical womanhood in the world. In addition to describing God's design for women in the context of a mother-daughter relationship, the authors conclude with a variety of ways to apply the contents of the book. Complete with sections on how to lead your daughter to Christ, ideas for mother-daughter memories, practical discussion on modesty, and discussion questions, this book is an excellent resource for mothers and daughters who desire to live out the roles God has given them in a way that points to the gospel.
Piper, John, and Justin Taylor, eds. Sex and the Supremacy of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005.
This is a book about the importance of viewing and enjoying God's gift of sex from a biblical, God-glorifying, Christ-exalting perspective. Each contributor demonstrates that sex is a good gift given by God and is designed to increase our joy in him as it is kept within the institution of marriage. The book proceeds in five main sections, successively addressing sex as it relates to God, sin, men, women, and history. Contributors include John Piper, R. Albert Mohler Jr., C. J. Mahaney, Carolyn Mahaney, Mark Dever, David Powlison, Carolyn McCulley, Justin Taylor, and Ben Patterson.
Piper, Noël. Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005.
In this hope-inspiring and challenging book, Noël Piper recounts the lives of five ordinary women with an extraordinary God who enabled and used them to do extraordinary things. She demonstrates how Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare-whether as sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, missionaries, or friends-challenge women today to be faithful in their calling as they fulfill their God-given roles for his glory.
Ryken, Phillip Graham. Galatians: Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2005.
For the purposes of the present bibliography, comments will be limited to Ryken's interpretation of Gal 3:28. Ryken rightly emphasizes that divisions of race, rank, and gender can only be overcome in Christ. Just as all people are equal under the law and therefore deserve God's wrath due to sin, so all who are united to Christ by faith are equal in status before God. He argues against the view that portrays Paul as a male chauvinist who viewed women as inferior and second-class citizens. To the contrary, Paul recognized that women were created in the image of God and that through Christ they were remade to live as his image-bearers. However, this equality in status does not obliterate the differences between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female. Rather, this fundamental equality in status is the basis for which diversity can be most appreciated. It is here that Ryken clearly sees that differences remain between men and women, and that God-given gender has implications for the distinct roles of men and women in the home and the church. In other words, differences in roles can remain without diminishing equality in Christ. He then specifies that men are called to exercise servant leadership as husbands and officers in the church, while women are called to submit to this leadership as wives and as members of the church. This commentary provides solid exposition and pastoral application as it follows the flow of Paul's argument to the Galatians.
Ware, Bruce A. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005.
This book is rich in its presentation and application of the one God who has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Ware examines the ways in which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit relate to one another, how they relate to us, and what difference it makes in our pursuit to know God as he has revealed himself. Rather than succumbing to the spirit of the age that wishes to erase any role distinction between men and women, he argues that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simultaneously equal in essence, yet differentiated with respect to their roles and relationships, with respect to each other, in creation, and in their unified work of salvation. This biblically-saturated presentation provides a wonderful pattern for men and women who are both equal in essence and personhood yet distinct in their God-given roles. This awe-inspiring picture is applied throughout the book to relationships, marriages, parenting, families, the workplace, and the church. Ware has provided a rich and invaluable resource that will help Christians both grasp the doctrine of the Trinity more clearly and worship him more truthfully, and the church is indebted to his contribution.
Complementarian/Egalitarian
Beck, James R., ed. Two Views on Women in Ministry. Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
This revised edition includes essays by complementarians Thomas R. Schreiner and Craig L. Blomberg and egalitarians Linda L. Belleville and Craig S. Keener. A helpful update to the first edition (2001) is that after each contributor offers his or her position, a response is given by each of the other contributors. It should be noted that, although he uses the term "complementarian" and clearly affirms differences in roles for men and women, Blomberg's "mediating" position places less restrictions on the roles of women than the traditional complementarian view.
Egalitarian
Allender, Dan B., and Tremper Longman III. The Intimate Mystery: Creating Strength and Beauty in Your Marriage. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2005.
This title looks to Genesis to unpack the "leave-weave-cleave matrix" of marriage. Allender and Longman seem to be on solid footing as they suggest that the relational aspect of marriage is reflective of intra-Trinitarian relationships that are ontologically equal yet different in function. However, by this the authors simply mean that marriage should be lived out in a self-sacrificial and giving framework. Allender and Longman then develop a model of marriage that is strictly egalitarian in decision-making and structure.
Creegan, Nicola Hoggard, and Christine D. Pohl. Living on the Boundaries: Evangelical Women, Feminism, and the Theological Academy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2005.
Creegan and Pohl examine the landscape of evangelicalism with regard to women in theological institutions. Their methodology includes a survey of women who have pursued vocations in theological education. By interacting with answers from these women as well as relating personal experience, the book attempts to give a picture of the tension that exists for evangelical feminist women in the academy. In doing so, Creegan and Pohl wish to encourage evangelical-feminist dialogue in the academic world and an acceptance of egalitarian principles in the practices of evangelical institutions.
Scorgie, Glen G. The Journey Back to Eden. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
Scorgie argues that the Holy Spirit is moving the church toward a model of complete gender "equality, freedom, and mutuality" (20). He asserts that while God created gender relations as good, the Fall initiated a pattern of gender oppression and dominance. Scorgie asserts that the key to understanding the biblical teaching on gender requires one to discern the "trajectory of the Spirit" present in Scripture. According to Scorgie, just as NT authors no longer advocate OT practices such as the slaughter of unbelievers, the gender ethic presented in the NT is culturally conditioned. One must acknowledge then, argues Scorgie, that at times the New Testament does not present a finalized ethic for all believers. Rather, NT passages such as 1 Timothy 2 and Ephesians 5 make temporary accommodations for a persistent hierarchal view of gender in the societies that the apostles were trying to reach with the gospel.
Stackhouse, John G., Jr., Finally Feminist. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
In this book, Stackhouse suggests a paradigm that explains why both sides of the gender debate are right and wrong at the same time. In doing so, Stackhouse does not propose a via media as some have attempted. Instead, he argues that some NT texts present a double message-one that accommodates cultural patriarchy but also affirms its ultimate abolition. Although Stackhouse asserts that both complementarians and egalitarians are right and wrong on these gender-related texts, he proposes that when properly understood, the Bible presents an egalitarian model of gender roles with no distinction of role or function in the home, church, or society. Stackhouse rightly points out that understanding the Bible's teaching on gender is a matter of hermeneutics. He argues that egalitarians have often mistakenly attempted to deny gender differentiation in the NT. Maintaining that Paul did not have in mind a hierarchal ordering of gender roles in Ephesians 5, for example, is a wrong approach to biblical interpretation. Stackhouse concedes that complementarians have correctly recognized a pattern of male headship in the NT. According to Stackhouse's hermeneutic, however, the purpose is pragmatic given the apostles' eschatological expectations and the priority of the gospel in their ministries (42). And in a society that vigorously rejects patriarchy, Stackhouse suggests that Christians should dismiss gender distinctions, as they are no longer needed as a social concession for the sake of the gospel and that the complementarian position has become incoherent in the modern-day context. After conceding hierarchal meanings in many biblical texts, Stackhouse wonders why God would call equal sexes to completely different roles and functions. He concludes that this made sense in the biblical times but no longer in a mostly-egalitarian society. Stackhouse's irenic tone can be appreciated in this debate even though complementarians, of course, will find his method of biblical interpretation unacceptable, since it dismisses the gender distinctions that Scripture recognizes as good and Christ-honoring as culturally insensitive and unnecessary.
Non-Evangelical Books
Cochran, Pamela D. H. Evangelical Feminism: A History. New York & London: New York University Press, 2005.
According to the author, this book follows "the story of the emergence and theological development of biblical feminism, why the members of the movement split, the results, and what all this reveals about conservative Protestantism and religion generally in contemporary America." Cochran rightly centers the debate on the nature, meaning, and scope of biblical authority and how presuppositons and methods affect the way the Bible is interpreted. She focuses on the two leading evangelical feminist organizations-the Evangelical Women's Caucus and Christians for Biblical Equality-and chronicles not only their beginnings, growth, and struggles, but also their theological development and progression.
Deweese, Charles W. Women Deacons and Deaconesses: 400 Years of Baptist Service. Macon, GA: Mercer University, 2005.
This volume provides a history of women serving as deacons and deaconesses in Baptist churches. Although complementarians have allowed some room for disagreement as to whether Scripture allows for women deacons, Deweese argues for the inclusion of women in the diaconate using clearly egalitarian reasoning. Interestingly, while texts such as Rom 16:1, 1 Tim 3:11, as well as the nature of the diaconate itself, have been used by some complementarians to support women's inclusion as deacons, Deweese actually dismisses these verses as inconclusive and appeals to the same arguments that egalitarians have espoused in favor of women pastors. Moreover, the positive examples of women in the diaconate provided by Deweese are those in which women have had governing authority in the church.
Epp, Eldon Jay. Junia: The First Woman Apostle. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.
Epp's primary purpose in this short volume is to argue that Junia is both female and an apostle. To build his argument, Epp demonstrates the inseparability of textual criticism and biblical interpretation. Pointing to 1 Cor 15:34-35 as an example of exegetical concerns leading to a text-critical conclusion of interpolation, Epp argues that similar exegesis led to textual corruption of the feminine form of Junia in Rom 16:7. Even though this is in keeping with much of recent evangelical scholarship, complementarian and egalitarian alike, Epp devotes most of his attention to these text-critical matters. Epp gives far less time to the more pertinent issue of translation of the dative preposition en in Rom 16:7. Epp concludes that this should be translated as inclusive, "distinguished among the apostles," rather than the exclusive "well-known to the apostles."
Myers, David G., and Letha Dawson Scanzoni. What God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage. San Fransisco: HarperCollins, 2005.
This book claims to provide a bridge between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people. Myers and Scanzoni build a case for the legitimacy and goodness of same-sex marriages. To do so, the authors examine the nature of homosexuality, the meaning of marriage, and even the biblical "evidence" for their argument. Noteworthy are the marriage paradigms noted by Myers and Scanzoni, one in which complementary gender makeup is the bottom line in life and, thus, marriage, and another that sees marriage primarily as an inclusive covenant of fidelity and commitment and is, therefore, open to homosexual unions. And while the arguments presented against gay marriage are fairly superficial and biblical appeals are obviously weak, it is important to note that at least these authors see two marriage paradigms-one based on creation and ordered by complementarity and the other governed by a liberal sexual ethic that is accepting of homosexual marriage.
Olson, Laura R., Sue E. S. Crawford, and Melissa M. Deckman. Women with a Mission. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama, 2005.
The authors of this volume conducted research on the political attitudes and activism of female clergy. They examine the influence of gender roles and professional experience on both political ideology and mobilization of clergywomen. The authors' data suggests a highly homogenous liberal political outlook among female ministers and rabbi with a focus primarily on social injustices. This interest in issues such as poverty and racial intolerance as well as abortion and homosexual rights stems largely from perceived professional discrimination. The authors suggest that women clergy have the potential to affect a relatively broad contingent of people as they are uniquely positioned as females championing liberal causes while at the same time leading religious bodies that are looking for spiritual guidance.
Ruether, Rosemary Radford. Goddesses and the Divine Feminine: A Western Religious History. Berkeley: University of California, 2005.
Ruether traces the history of goddesses and divine female imagery from prehistoric society to modern-day Wiccan goddess worship. Ruether explores goddess worship and religious life in the ancient Mediterranean, arguing that priestly duties were carried out in a fairly egalitarian manner. She also discusses biblical wisdom literature, arguing that Wisdom is a female personification of God-a Hebrew goddess. Ruether also details ancient and Medieval Mariology in addition to modern Wiccan and neopagan ecofeminists with a goal of restoring the "feminine life principle" and resisting patriarchal destruction.
Sax, Leonard. Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences. New York: Doubleday, 2005.
Sax has written an important book about recent scientific research on sex differences. He offers advice for parents and educators on the importance of recognizing and welcoming gender-specific differences in child development. Bucking the sociological trend of blurring gender distinction, Sax explores the relationship between gender and sexual activity as well as parental discipline. Much to be welcomed are some of Sax's arguments for strong gender and age-related discipline in the home, preferring an inductive, reflective method of discipline for girls and "power assertion," including physical restraint and corporal punishment, for boys. While one will certainly not agree with every conclusion, this volume provides a helpful reminder that gender affects every aspect of life and that gender differences need to be enforced in parenting and teaching.
Undeclared Books
Eldredge, John and Stasi Eldredge. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005.
John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart (Thomas Nelson, 2001), teams up with his wife, Stasi, to offer a female counterpart to the very popular men's volume. The Eldredges promise to connect women with their three core desires: to be romanced, to play a part in their own adventures, and to be beautiful. The Eldredges can be appreciated and commended for their realization of deep God-given differences that exist at the heart of masculinity and femininity, as this flies in the face of cultural trends that minimize gender distinction. Nonetheless, serious problems plague Captivating in that it approaches femininity first and foremost from human experience, leaving it with an inflated view of women and an inadequate picture of God. For a review of Captivating, see the article by Donna Thoennes in the present issue of JBMW.
James, Carolyn Custis. Lost Women of the Bible: Finding Strength & Significance through their Stories. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
James suggests that the model of womanhood presented in the church simply does not fit the experiences of many women today. The book tries to apply examples of marginalized women in the Bible to the struggles of women in the modern context. Problematic is James's picture of marriage as a "blessed alliance" in which the woman is called as a "strong warrior" to fight alongside man in every sphere of life. James claims that a proper understanding of the Hebrew word ezer-usually translated as "helper"-sees the Garden of Eden as a war zone in which man and woman co-labored to exercise dominion over the earth and fight against the enemy. This ezer-warrior motif characterizes the entirety of the book, as James sees this as the essence of biblical femininity.
Murrow, David. Why Men Hate Going to Church. Nashville: Nelson Books, 2005.
Murrow observes the widespread lack of men in churches and seeks to answer the question of what is driving them away in modern Christianity. Through examining various aspects of the differences between men and women, such as physiological and psychological, he finds that men want things such as adventure, danger, and opportunities to take risks. His conclusion is that men are being driven away because they are not being offered opportunities to be masculine in the context of the local church. His solution is for churches to recover a place for men through masculine-oriented leaders and pastors (whether male or female), teaching, worship, and ministry which caters to the masculine spirit. Although his observations are helpful, his pragmatic solutions and acceptance of women pastors undermine the authority and sufficiency of Scripture to provide what men and churches need to recover biblical masculinity. What the church must recover is a biblical understanding of sin and its effect on men's, as well as women's, God-given roles, and a faithful proclamation of the whole counsel of God which includes not merely a risk-taking and adventurous Christ, but rather a Christ who gave himself up for his bride.
Seamands, Stephen. Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2005.
It is not Seamand's intention in this volume to deal specifically with the issue of gender as it relates to the Christian life and ministry. He argues and demonstrates that in an age when the Trinity is largely misunderstood and ignored, a fuller understanding of it provides a pattern for how Christian ministry should be done. However, he includes a chapter on the mutual self-denial and deference of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As each person of the Godhead denies and defers himself for the sake of the others, he argues that each "finds his personhood by being subject to the others and allowing his identity to be established by the others" (80). Seamands also attributes the Gospel of John's minimization of the self-giving and deferring nature of the triune persons to his emphasis on the economic trinity. This, he says, is not the way it was from eternity past. Although he does not deal specifically with gender as it relates to ministry, certainly these ideals will lend themselves to a form of egalitarian ministry.
