Women and the New Testament

The status of women in all societies throughout history seems linked to religion. Even in Christendom, where the elevation of women has been pursued to the greatest extent, there continue to be major disagreements among religious leaders.
This book is a critical examination of New Testament teachings on the social and religious status of women. A provocative and challenging alternative to the traditional interpretation of relevant passages is offered. The author sees the liberation of women from male dominance as a significant underlying theme in the New Testament, and Christian fundamentalism as a major hindrance to it.

Lesly F. Massey is an adjunct professor of religion at Amberton University. He has been a missionary in South Africa and worked in Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua and various countries in Africa. He also conducts workshops with churches on gender equality.

Lesly F. Massey
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 160
Bibliographic Info: references, index
Copyright Date: 2012 [1989]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6772-3
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9227-5
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1

1. Jesus and Women      4
2. Prominent Women in Various Apostolic Churches      41
3. Female Officers in the Early Christian Church      58
4. Female Leadership in the Early Christian Assembly      76
5. Deportment of Women in the Apostolic Church      94
6. Equality in Christ      124

Notes      137
Index      151

“this examination of the New Testament teaching on the status of women gives particular attention to social and cultural backgrounds”—New Testament Abstracts; “its importance lies in the scholarly quality of the method described in the subtitle, and its accessibility to the general reader. This is a study of solid worth”—The Church of England Newspaper.