Episode 92: Engaging Problematic Texts on Women's Leadership

In the final episode of their series, "Heroes for All," pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve zoom in to spend some time looking deeper at the context of several biblical passages often used or cited to forbid women's leadership in the church (or even in civil roles as well).  When they spend some time in some of the frequently-quoted passages on the subject in 1 Corinthians and in 1 Timothy, a more complex picture arises than mere proof-texting suggests.  We find that Paul, whom we have already seen make reference to women leaders who were coworkers with him in the Gospel, may well be actually turning his readers' previous words back on them to explicitly allow women's leadership, and he may also be teaching the fledgling Christian community how to worship together without shouting over each other, but in fact asking different groups at different times to take turns listening and speaking.  We also take a look at how culture informs the way biblical texts were written as well as how we hear them today.  If you have ever wondered why some people say that women cannot be leaders in the church and others are convinced the Bible encourages women's leadership, this conversation may be worth exploring.  Check it out here.