In this episode, host Kelly Wolfe is joined by scholar and professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, Nijay Gupta (DPhil) to discuss themes from his book Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church, in particular:
looking closer into the three main issues (used by those seeking to uphold or defend complementarianism/patriarchy) that come from Genesis 1-3: the created order, the use of the word "helper", and the fall/curses
looking at the broader context of the Roman world -- Roman households, social & socioeconomic dynamics, gender roles, etc. -- which is the backdrop to the New Testament and has a huge influence on what is written in there, and which we are too far removed from today to know instinctually
comparing the narrative + the greeting/commendation/salutation passages (which show Paul's ministry and convictions to be in partnership with many women for the sake of the gospel -- and described as deacons, apostles, missionaries, leaders of house churches, teachers, mothers in the faith, etc) with the specific prohibitions in 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14-- and how to reconcile all of it together without rewriting history..... and much more!
Guest Bio: Dr. Nijay Gupta, DPhil. (he/him) is a professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and is an author, scholar, and Bible translator. His most recent book is called Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. He recently co-edited the second edition of Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, and has written & contributed to numerous other books, commentaries, and academic articles in theological journals. He lives in California.
