Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts

by Andrew Bartlett

The debate about men and women in the church and in marriage continues to cause division among Christians. Most books on this issue are written from a firmly partisan point of view – complementarian or egalitarian. This one is unique.

Andrew Bartlett draws on his theological learning and his skills as a judge and arbitrator to offer an even-handed assessment of the debate. His analysis is thorough but accessible. He engages with advocates of each view and all the key biblical texts, weighing the available evidence and offering fresh insights. He invites the reader to move beyond complementarian and egalitarian labels and seeks progress towards healing the division.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Womens, Gender, Christian Living

431 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2019

Reviews

[Daniel Greiwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It almost seems inappropriate to describe a 400 page academic analysis of the complementarian and egalitarian viewpoints as riveting, but, even from page one, Bartlett had me hooked. I felt like I was in a courtroom while Bartlett, in a true litigator fashion (he is a lawyer), presented his closing arguments after hearing all the evidence from both sides.

He meticulously address arguments on disputed topics from prominent authors/speakers on biblical manhood, womanhood, gender roles, and church leadership. Bartlett objectively evaluates each argument on their own merits which leads him to affirm some well thought out and supported points while firmly dismissing blatantly inaccurate and erroneous statements.

I will not get into details of his conclusions as to not spoil the captivating first hand experience for each of you, but I will say this. While neither complementarian nor egalitarians escape unscathed, there is still one clear winner at the end of Bartlett’s case: women in the church.

[L.L. Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog: https://lightenough.wordpress.com/201...

An entire shelf of books in my library is dedicated to the issue of women in the church and home. Many are exceptional. Could yet another book have fresh light or just be written from a new approach? Yes! This review is for: Men and Women in Christ, Fresh Light From the Biblical Texts by Andrew Bartlett, Inter-Varsity Press, 2019.

My reviews can be rambling, and this is a 400 plus page book. I rate it 5 stars. It is a tremendously helpful contribution to the debate that rages in evangelicalism over the role of women. The author Bartlett is concerned that the sharp divide between complementarian and egalitarian viewpoints has harmed the unity and witness of the church. He has a degree in theology but his career has been in the field of law, and his specialty has become arbitration. A judge or arbitrator is different than a lawyer. A lawyer represents one side, but an arbitrator seeks to be neutral, listens to both sides, and must go where the evidence leads. Bartlett wanted to take an arbitrator approach to the egalitarian/complementarian divide. Most books are written more like a lawyer defending one side, but I think Bartlett has very successfully stepped back, assessed both sides as neutrally or objectively as possible, and shared his conclusions. This is what makes the book a unique stand-out.

He interacts a lot with Grudem on the complementarian side, and Payne on the egalitarian side since both of these individuals are solid examples of the reasoning for their respective positions. However, Bartlett focuses less on their disagreements with each other and more on whether their proposed interpretations accurately reflect Scripture. Bartlett uses what he calls 7 tools to properly interpret Scripture: primacy of Scripture over tradition, paying appropriate attention to culture, going back to the source language in context, coherence, a Christ-centered canonical approach, spiritual openness, and practical wisdom.

Bartlett is a careful and thoughtful thinker and writer. No one could accuse him of not being clear! Sometimes a writer can go overboard trying to make points clear, and it ends up annoying. Not Bartlett. He is clear in a helpful way.

Frequently in the book he utilizes bullet points or has numbered lists as he works through Scripture passages and critiques viewpoints. The end of every chapter has a succinct, numbered summary of the key points of the chapter. He explains the direction he is headed or his reasoning as he “unpacks” a passage. Some of the key passages receive 2 chapters: Ephesians 5 is covered in chapters 3 and 4, 1 Corinthians 11 is covered in chapters 7 and 8, 1 Corinthians 14 is covered in chapters 9 and 10, and 1 Timothy 2 actually gets 3 chapters!

No one could accuse Bartlett of not being thorough. But again, not in an annoying way, but as someone wanting to come to accurate conclusions based on all the available passages and evidence, rather than glossing over certain things. He leaves no stone unturned. Chapter 2 is on 1 Corinthians 7. He notes: “Despite the prominence of 1 Corinthians 7 as the longest discussion of marriage in the New Testament… complementarian analyses have tended to overlook it or downplay it.” (page 29) A deserved criticism! Maybe complementarians tend to do so because “the hammer of 1 Corinthians 7 breaks into pieces the rock of marital hierarchy.” (page 28) Bartlett was not willing to overlook or downplay passages. Other chapters in the book cover: Genesis 1-3, 1 Peter, I Timothy 3, a biblical survey of church leaders, as well as valuable introductory and closing chapters. There are also 7 appendices.

Because of the clear writing and explanations, this book is accessible to the interested lay person but I think it would too overwhelming to someone new to the debate. If you are new to the debate, I’d begin with another book (such as Gender Roles and the People of God by Matthews) before reading Bartlett.

I have read exceptional books on this issue (such as titles by Payne, Keener, Westfall) but Bartlett will now be the book I most highly recommend for a combination of reasons such as its readability, thoroughness, and diplomacy.

Diplomacy. The beginning of the book emphasized that Bartlett wanted to help bridge the divide between complementarians and egalitarians, and that both sides must be open to critique – and he would indeed critique both sides as the book progressed. I think Bartlett was fair. When he critiqued a certain position or interpretation, you can not accuse him of unfairly doing so. He is not just nitpicking, but demonstrates the validity or significance of his concern about a certain interpretation. Sometimes Bartlett found problems with both the complementarian and egalitarians arguments, and provided fresh insight or took a new approach – in particular with 1 Timothy 2 – which is a challenging passage. He also implores both sides to stop certain unfair representations of the other side’s positions or motives, and to move closer together. Indeed, certain people on both sides can be guilty of polarizing, exaggerated, unfair distortions.

Bartlett says that some of his own opinions changed as he researched and wrote this book, as he followed the evidence wherever it lead him. I can only “disagree” with one thing in this book. In chapter 1, he summarizes that the conclusion of the book “will be that the complemementarian and egalitarian positions are each partly correct and partly mistaken” (page 16). Well, in a general sense this is accurate, because, as said, he sometimes pointed out strengths and weaknesses in the arguments on both sides. However, I would describe the book’s conclusions this way: The complementarian position is a little correct and mostly mistaken, and the egalitarian position is mostly correct and a little mistaken.

The author’s final position is fully egalitarian in the church setting, and partly egalitarian and partly complementarian in the marriage setting.

Well, I suppose some reading this will now come to the conclusion that Bartlett was just an egalitarian in disguise and tricked his readers by this so-called arbitrator approach. If you actually read the book, however, I do not see how you could possibly come to that conclusion!! Men and Women in Christ is worth your time, effort, and money to obtain and read.

[Jake Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I’ve read on the topic of God’s design for men and women. It is truly a fresh perspective, focused on the Bible, that is sorely needed.

Bartlett examines debated texts in the complementarian-egalitarian divide like Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 14, and 1 Timothy 3, showing how both sides often miss key insights from the context of the letters that are crucial for proper interpretation. While not necessarily new, it is obvious that he has conducted the research required to come to adequate conclusions.

I greatly appreciated the final chapter where Bartlett reminded readers (and leaders in the debate) that the question is one of interpretation, not obedience. Many of those who hold to an egalitarian position are not being unfaithful to Scripture or seeking to embrace theological liberalism; rather, they take an egalitarian reading because of their belief in the Bible’s authority. And on the flip side, many complementarians embrace a view of male leadership from a place of honesty, not as a cover for upholding patriarchy or perpetrating abuse. We desperately need to assume the best of others, especially those who share our faith in Jesus.

Ultimately, I find myself agreeing with many of Bartlett’s conclusions that both sides have truth to offer, but sometimes fall short. Men and women are different and complementary. To erase the difference (as some egalitarians do) is to negate God’s original design in Genesis 1-2. At the same time, complementarity doesn’t necessitate male authority. Instead, it could mean that men and women, in their difference, are needed at all levels of leadership in the church so that the Body can function as God intends.

I learned so much from Bartlett’s studies and continue to hope that the debate over men and women will lead both to greater unity in the church and a positive witness to a world in disarray and struggling to make sense of gender and sexuality.

[Grace Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read!! 🙌🏻 This book has made me think more than any other book I have read! This is the first book I have read on a Woman’s role in marriage & ministry and I think it was a great first choice. People who are both strong egalitarians OR complementarians will disagree with large sections of this book due to his presentation of a middle path forward, that is faithfully submitted to scripture.

This is a comprehensive commentary & dissection of almost every passage in scripture that discusses women in marriage, men & women’s roles, and men & women in ministry. Bartlett has a such a fresh approach to each of these passages and takes in to account currently held beliefs by both complementarians and egalitarians. He repeatedly goes back to the original Hebrew/Greek and seeks to understand the passage through the lens of those who would have read or heard it at the time. So many passages I’ve been taught my whole life, that limit women, are explained in a way that makes more sense than the more traditional interpretations I have learned. I especially loved his sections (almost the whole back half of the book) on 1 Timothy 2-3. His commitment to placing passages of scripture in the context of the whole letter is so important and what makes this book great.

Above all, this book gave me hope for a way forward in one of the most polarizing debates of the western church. It breaks my heart when women are not permitted to exercise their God-given gifts on the basis of a poor interpretation of scripture, and tradition. In the same way- it also breaks my heart when women feel they have to become like men in order to be a respected leader, because God so clearly made us differently but both in his image. If you’re wanting a DEEP dive on what scripture has to say about men & women in Christ, I highly reccomend.

[Chris Meiring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not recommend this book more highly.

Andrew Bartlett QC dons his hat as an arbitrator to approach the complementarian / egalitarian debate as if it were a legal dispute. The result is excellent. The book, which reads a little like an (accessible) High Court judgment, divides the dispute into a series of issues, sets out the position of each side clearly and without apparent bias, and weighs the arguments against one another and the biblical text. This produces a book which is as close to impartial as can be expected and appears to be a genuine pursuit of the a proper construction of the relevant parts of scripture, untainted by the starting cultural presumptions apparent in so many texts on the issue.

This is the most helpful book I have read from the 21st century. Thank you, Andrew.

[J.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Bartlett’s Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts is a major study on the question of how women and men are to relate to each other according to the Bible. Bartlett approaches the question from a more judicial approach, using his experience as an arbitrator as well as his background in theology to shed light on the biblical texts.

The book is more than 400 pages of text and it is filled to the brim with exegetical insights. The first chapter is about tradition and unity; the second explores 1 Corinthians 7’s implications for marriage and male-female relations; the third interprets Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5; the fourth focuses more closely on Ephesians 5; the fifth examines what Genesis 1-3 has to tell us about men and women; the sixth looks at 1 Peter; the seventh through the eighth focus on 1 Corinthians 11; the ninth and tenth look at the meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and its place in Scripture; the eleventh through the thirteenth are about 1 TImothy 2; the fourteenth surveys the biblical evidence for women leaders; the fifteenth asks about women elders in light of 1 Timothy 3; the sixteenth and final chapter brings the conclusions together and offers a way forward. Appendices explore methods of biblical interpretation, arguments against mutual submission, uses of the Greek word authenteo, the structure of 1 Timothy 2:12, interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:15, shortcomings in complementarian readings of 1 Timothy 2, and translation issues.

Bartlett begins with a chapter on “revising tradition, seeking unity” in which he looks into how these issues have become as divisive as they are alongside the development of various views. Here it is particularly of interest that Bartlett spends some time arguing that the “complementarian” view is not the traditional view of the church. It is demonstrably the case that complementarianism is not, in fact, that traditional view, despite many of its proponents claiming that title. Bartlett shows that the traditional view, in fact, viewed women as ontologically inferior to men. Woman, on that view, was by nature inferior. By contrast, Jesus explicitly went against his cultural conventions and elevated women throughout the NT. Additionally, modern complementarianism at least claims to support the equality of men and women, itself a direct contradiction to the traditional view.

1 Corinthians 7 is extremely important to the questions related to male-female relations. Bartlett notes that this chapter gives the only explicit details about how decisions are to be made in marriage. Despite the clear importance of this passage to the questions at hand, then, it is curious that so few complementarians offer thorough exegesis of the text. Bartlett notes the various qualities of male-female relations brought to the front in this text, including that they have equal duties in the marriage bed, equal authority to the other partner, the same advice to both widowers and widows, same restrictions on divorce, same rule about unbelievers for men and women, the spiritual impact of the spouses on each toher, the same advice for engaged persons of either sex, the same advice for married/unmarried persons of either sex, and more (25-26).

1 Peter finds that husbands are to give honor in the same way as wives are to do so. English translations may obfuscate the mutuality of the relevant passages, but in 1 Peter 3:7 there is a clear wording that parallels Peter’s other use of the same notion, thus leading to the conclusion that the honor/respect that many complementarians so often attribute only to the male side of the relationship is mistaken. Bartlett challenges egalitarians to see that there are specific biblical obligations for husbands to wives that he says are “asymmetrical” and thus not something wives must do. Specifically, the concept of self-sacrifice, argues Bartlett, is something husbands are called to do in marriage (62-64). His argument here is indeed challenging, but one might counter that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence–having “asymmetry” in this specific instances does not imply asymmetry in function with certainty.

Bartlett’s careful exegesis of 1 Corinthians 11 deserves a thorough read. Essentially, he notes the various unjustified conclusions from word studies people have drawn from this text. Additionally, he notes problems with Trinitarian theology as taken from the text. The question of what exactly is the “veil/symbol of authority/etc.” looms large, and Bartlett makes a convincing case for reading these passages as referencing sources and hairstyles (143-148). Additionally, he argues that the reading of “a woman ought to have authority over her head” is to be preferred because it avoids major pitfalls of rival views (148ff). It both goes along with Paul’s context in which he specifically mentions women praying and prophesying and also fits in with the concepts related to “source” in the passages.

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is one of the best known passages in this debate, and Bartlett makes a convincing case, going along with several other scholars, that this text is, in fact, an interpolation that was not in the original text. This is due to both internal and external evidence, such as preserving the unity of thought in the letter, questions about what the verses are supposed to be referencing, and numerous textual evidences related to the floating of the text in different locations as well as marks that indicate it is likely an interpolation.

1 Timothy 2 is another major section of the book, and Bartlett does a service by laying out the context of the text in great detail. There is little doubt that 1 Timothy was written to discuss false teachings and false teachers, with numerous mentions throughout the letter as well as in 2 Timothy of these problems. Bartlett, however, goes more deeply into the context and uses primary sources to note that it appears as though the letter is referencing astrology specifically in numerous places and that the false teaching is related to sorcery/astrology. This puts 1 Timothy 2:9-12 contextually in a discussion of wealthy women with ungodly conduct who should learn to do good works and learn in full submission to God. The nature of the letter as a periodical sent for a specific purpose must not be ignored.

A survey of women church leaders leads to numerous examples of women in various leadership roles in the church. This leads into a discussion of 1 Timothy 3 and whether women may be elders. English translations have mangled these verses in a number of ways, adding male pronouns prolifically where there are none. Additionally, interpreters have failed to take into account that the list of qualifications parallels qualifications Paul explicitly gives for women throughout the letter as well (318-319).

Bartlett ends the book with a call for Christian unity in spite of sharp disagreements on the place of men and women in the church and alongside each other.

If there is one point of critique of I have for Bartlett’s work, it is the occasional uncritical acceptance of anecdotal evidence in questions of modern application. Nowhere is this more clear than in Bartlett’s discussion of the alleged inherent differences of men and women on pages 82-83. Here, Bartlett chides egalitarians for being “sometimes shy of acknowledging innate differences between men and women” (82). What evidence does Bartlett offer for his own perspective, that some differences beyond child-bearing are “innate”? He offers a journalist’s comment from a game show in the UK, who, in trying to offer a good reason why two all-male teams should be the best representatives for a quiz show, offered the example of her husband who arranges his books in alphabetical and chronological order, and whose “proudest boast is that while on holiday in North Wales in 1974, he won a hubcap identification competition. Who could compete with that? Who would want to?” (82-83). It is honestly difficult to fathom how this single anecdote can be taken seriously as an example of alleged innate differences between the sexes. [Edit: The author contacted me and let me know this was intended as a joke–a possible cultural miss on my part not understanding the joke. I’ve made a correction in the rest of this paragraph.] He also offers a footnote referencing a study that argues for hard-wired differences in how male/female brains have differences. I haven’t read that study, so I can’t comment on it specifically. Again, this is a minor complaint in a massive text, but it seemed out of place and worth commenting on.

Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts is a monumental achievement. It sets standards for rigor as well as for Bartlett’s attempt to find unity in Christ among such hotly contested issues. Anyone who is truly interested in engaging in the questions related to women in the church and home from a Christian perspective will find this book a must read. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of the book for review by the publisher. I was not required to give any specific kind of feedback whatsoever.

[Jacob Wigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book I have ever read on this topic, and I have read many. "Headship and submission in marriage" was the topic of my undergraduate dissertation, so I am very familiar with the literature. The book is very fair and balanced. It is theologically rigorous, but Bartlett writers with a clarity and simplicity that makes the scholarship accessible.

For content, style, and structure, this book is absolutely five stars. My one complaint is that the book feels slightly dishonest in its self-identification as neither complementarian nor egalitarian. As much as Bartlett tries to give the illusion that he is somewhere in the middle, he is egalitarian in his views of both marriage and ministry. That's fine - he comes to his views through serious biblical study and sound scholarship - I just want to say to him: be honest about where you stand!

The book claims to deny egalitarianism only by refuting a form of egalitarianism that no Christian really holds to. Similarly, he tries to speak of complementarity, to show some affiliation with both sides, but the complementarity he speaks of is entirely arbitrary. Having argued in length against all forms of male headship, both in church and in marriage, there is basically nothing left to hold onto to claim to be more on the complementarian side. The most he manages is a vague inclination that husbands have some 'special responsibility' for self-sacrifice, but this is rendered entirely abstract since he denies any other differentiation.

To summarise, this is the best book I've read arguing the egalitarian position, I just wish Bartlett would own it! The claim to be somewhere in the middle or somewhere beyond the categories is a little pretentious.

The book ends with a very helpful consideration of how the church can move forward in the conversation, and find unity in disagreement. Arguably, this is the most important part of the project. Thank you to Bartlett, who has in this book helped me shape, develop, and clarify my own views.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite the same level of scholarly depth as many of the other books I’ve read on this topic, BUT I think this is a great intro to the most important debates, and it is definitely the book I would hand to someone just starting to look into these questions, especially if that person is not as academically invested in the question. (Though this does go into the academic debates in good depth.) I’d say it’s halfway between an academic and popular level book.

[Lee Bertsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ought to become the gold standard reference in researching any text on the topic of the role of women in the church. His study is exhaustive, leaving no relevant text unexamined, even the inconvenient ones, and leaving no etymological or grammatical stone unturned. We all bring our theological and sociological preferences to the reading of any biblical text, creating a built in bias. Bartlett has taken great pains to minimize that in his study. He does not hesitate to call out partisan interpretations that claim either too much from a text or are too dismissive of its substance. He was firm in making a distinction between what a text actually says and the inferences people draw from it that are not explicitly stated. I took more than three months to work my way through this book but it was worth the effort.

[Martin Gunther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I read this book I was confused over what the teachings in the Bible meant about Women and Men's position.
Now it is much clearer and it has changed my attitude and therefore my life. The Holy Spirit guided me to it and He has taught me through it. I wholeheartedly recommend this book whatever your opinion is now. A great read.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My denomination recently hosted a theology conference at which Andrew Bartlett presented (along with Beth Alison Barr). I was thoroughly impressed with Bartlett’s non-partisan approach. He challenged the interpretations of both egalitarians and complementarians. And so I thought it wise to dig deeper and purchase his book. And it did not disappoint. Never have I encountered a more thorough, carefully studied, and balanced presentation of Scripture on this subject.

Bartlett explains that when he started research for this book he “was unsure what conclusions [he] would arrive at” (xxii). As a lawyer with a theology degree, he approaches the work as a judge or arbiter with “no prior commitment to a particular result” and goes “wherever the evidence and reasoned arguments lead” (xxi). While he interacts widely with both egalitarian and complementarian scholars, his primary engagement is with Wayne Grudem and Philip Payne. In the process, Bartlett avoids rhetoric, overstatement and understatement. His process of unpacking Scripture passages is meticulous, incredibly well-structured and easy to follow. No stone is left unturned.

In the end, you may not agree with his conclusions. But, Bartlett has helped reset the conversation, challenging both egalitarian and complementarian interpretations while moving the discussion forward in some very significant ways.

[Michael Sisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wary going into this one. I was turned on to it in the first place after the author wrote a blog post for some Christian publication about harmful scripture to women (that I saw on Facebook) that was quite well written, but still the topic is so fraught with odd politics and “tradition” that I was still uneasy.

Thankfully, it was excellent. The dive into the text is focused on the original language, which a lot of charlatan authors avoid, and includes similarly deep analysis of culture and life in the time the text was written. Concepts of text translation and analysis are presented clearly and without any academic arrogance. Make no mistake, there’s a lot of jargon and numerous acronyms, but it seemed mostly to be unavoidable rather than an attempt to “flex” on the reader.

In all, an excellent analysis with conclusions drawn from careful study. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Careful, methodical, and fair

The roles of men and women in Christianity—in the church, the home, and the public sphere—constitute one of the most contentious issues in Christianity over the last century and change. Bartlett brings a fresh and unique perspective to these debates, turning the eye of a devout Christian, trained as a lawyer, who has also served in various church leadership roles, on the biblical text and on the leading arguments for all positions in the debates. His approach is thorough, fair, and meticulously logical. He does not let anyone—complementarian, egalitarian, or other—get away with shoddy logic. Rather, he demands consistency from everyone, including himself. The result is a book that is at times quite demanding of the reader but that contains the best treatment I have ever read of many of the topics it addresses. Highly recommended to anyone interested in how Christians can best understand the Bible and God’s purpose for men and women.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a serious book.

For the last few years I've been looking for a book that I could give to my more conservative/complimentarian friends and family to explain why I'm an egalitarian, and believe that all offices of the church are open to both men and women. I've come to that conclusion from reading widely, and so giving people a stack of commentaries and technical texts is a bit daft.

This book is it.

Bartlett is fair to the text, and to the positions he engages with. He changes his mind by looking at the Bible - and has questions and challenges for those he agrees with.

I'm not an egalitarian because of feminism, but because of what the Bible actually says. This book makes the reasons behind that statement accessible. I'd recommend it widely.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book attempts to stick to the plain exegesis and does a good job at it all things considered. That being said, while Bartlett sticks to the modern exegetical method, I found myself time and time again (as I do in all modern exegetical works) thinking, hey... that's quite the stretch bro. All things considered, this is a very valuable work to have on the issue of gender roles in the church and is equally (most of the time) critical of both sides of the discussion in light of the text itself
.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to five. Bartlett takes a new approach to the debate for the stance of a judicial arbiter. His approach to the texts is refreshing as he doesn’t have preconceived notions on where her would land, and actually changes his mind on the outcome throughout his writing if the book.

With the recent release of “Nobody’s Mother” by Dr. Sandra Glahn, some of Bartlett’s arguments could use some updating due to Glahn’s recent published findings on the Artemis cult in Ephesus.

[Scatters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen some of the other detailed reviews and would agree with all the comments about the book being forensic, clear, cautious in drawing conclusions and very readable. I have dipped in and out, as I never intended to read it all in one go. It is excellent and I am sure I shall return to it frequently.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise, logical and careful account of the key issues at stake and key texts involved in what's labelled as the complimentarian-egalitarian debate.
Andrew Bartlett writes without skirting difficult questions or implications, but also has a generous and kind approach. The evidence and arguments are laid out honestly.
I've found this book to be both joyful and humbling to read.

[Rebecca Tredway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves a space on my bookshelf—and I’ll be returning to it from time to time. It’s an excellent exploration of some tricky biblical texts and I’m grateful for Barlett’s willingness to dig deeply into scriptures in order to bring clarity to modern day church practices.

[Neil Bassingthwaighte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read on this topic

[Robin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense in parts but otherwise an excellent and well balanced look at the biblical arguments for egalitarianism and complementarianism in marriage and church roles.

[Brian Broom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough analysis of the relevant passages, including summaries of current best theories and issues with them. A couple of conclusions are somewhat speculative, but not without evidence.

[Connie Maier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dense, comprehensive, excellent!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of compelling arguments. This book gave me a lot to think about and makes me want to learn Greek.