Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality

by Rebecca Merrill Groothuis

Book Overview

"Most evangelical discussion of the gender issue has been spent in feverish debate over the exegetical intricacies of the traditional prooftexts," writes Rebecca Merrill Groothuis. And though faithful exegesis is certainly crucial, a "myopic fixation on a handful of controversial biblical texts will not ultimately resolve the gender debate." In Good News for Women, Groothuis looks at the Big Picture, the overall outline of biblical teaching on relationships...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801057205
• ISBN13: 9780801057205
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 15 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 10

Customer Reviews

Good news, great scholarship, godly conclusions

For this PCA Presbyterian woman, happily married in an egalitarian marriage for 18 years, blessed with four children, this book was indeed good news. Not only is the scholarship excellent, but it has helped give me the tools to intelligently discuss this issue with my children, in helping them to understand who they are in God's image. Furthermore, in my region of the US, Groothius's work is pivotal in equipping godly PCA women who desire God's best for the denomination - full inclusion of women in leadership. This text, filled with outstanding biblical scholarship, has helped to open up discussion of full inclusion of women's ordination at high levels within the PCA church.

hoists non-egalitarians on their own petard

I have just finished part 1 and it is a very insightful and useful summary of the overall idea that the Bible and especially the new covenant teaches equality across the spectrum of races and ethnicity, wealth and poverty, and gender, with an emphasis on the latter, as most everyone accepts the former 2. It is very enjoyable to see the phrases of non-egalitarians shown to be self-contradictory but still in a respectful way; the author has a sharp wit to cut thru the fog and yet respect the other's viewpoint. I learned from her on that and also on the genderless property of God. I am looking forward to finishing this book.

A call to gender equality

I praise God for Rebecca and the research she has placed into the subject of gender equality. This book has been written not only with great revelation but also with love. She takes the time, not to attack traditionalists views, but to challenge the church on what it has believed about womens place in the Body of Christ. Jesus will not come back for his church until it is without spot or wrinkle. I pray that women and men will read this book, their eyes will be opened and women will be able to take their rightful place in the body of Christ answering God's call upon their lives, not cultures.

Logical and exegetical discussion of women in God's kingdom.

This book presents the most logical and exegetical discussion of the role of women in the kingdom of God. Chapter 2, which defines functional equality, is a must read for anyone who wants to take part in the discussion on the street or in the church. Rebecca Merrill Groothuis is a very thorough Christian, thinker, and writer. Do not dismiss this book as the influence of society, rather give it a thorough reading before coming to a conclusion. Sulia