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Equal: What the Bible Says about Women, Men, and Authority
In Equal, Church and ministry leader Katia Adams argues that the church has too often misrepresented the heart of Jesus to release and empower women and men. With sensitivity to both sides of the argument, Adams draws on the wisdom of Scripture, theology, and the Holy Spirit. Blending them with
her own personal experiences, she asserts that both women and men are equally called to serve and lead in the church and in the world—and that, by restricting the roles of women, we are missing God’s design for the church and for the gospel’s impact on the earth.
her own personal experiences, she asserts that both women and men are equally called to serve and lead in the church and in the world—and that, by restricting the roles of women, we are missing God’s design for the church and for the gospel’s impact on the earth.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2019
101 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Katia Adams
1 book6 followersKatia Adams, born in the Middle East, is a codirector of Frequentsee (frequentsee.org), a ministry aimed at resourcing and mentoring churches and church leaders around the world. In addition to teaching on theological courses and at church conferences and leadership events internationally, she is also a
medical doctor, wife to Julian, and mother to two busy children.
medical doctor, wife to Julian, and mother to two busy children.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 21, 2019
A loving, scriptural argument for why women should be regarded as qualified leaders in the church.
Pros:
- Too often I feel "Christian" books don't use scripture for their arguments but instead use the world as the basis for why they think something should change. I was refreshed to find Katia based all her arguments on scripture, and went very deep into word translations.
- While obviously taking a stance on the issue the complementarian views were neutrally expressed at the beginning of each argument which I find refreshing and necessary.
- This book was very thorough and expansive in its review of women in the Bible and what it looks like to have an egalitarian view lived out.
Cons:
- A few people that were quoted in this book I wish were left out because I don't find them godly role models.
- Other than the creation story the Old Testament is largely left out, despite having some good examples to pull from imo.
Pros:
- Too often I feel "Christian" books don't use scripture for their arguments but instead use the world as the basis for why they think something should change. I was refreshed to find Katia based all her arguments on scripture, and went very deep into word translations.
- While obviously taking a stance on the issue the complementarian views were neutrally expressed at the beginning of each argument which I find refreshing and necessary.
- This book was very thorough and expansive in its review of women in the Bible and what it looks like to have an egalitarian view lived out.
Cons:
- A few people that were quoted in this book I wish were left out because I don't find them godly role models.
- Other than the creation story the Old Testament is largely left out, despite having some good examples to pull from imo.
February 29, 2024
If you identify as egalitarian, please read this book so that you understand your own theology more deeply. If you are complementation, please read this book to allow yourself to be challenged to revisit these passages with an open mind.
I’m not sure why, but I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. As a woman who has been planted in a church environment supportive of my leadership abilities (including in the spiritual and ecclesial realm), I have not felt the urgency of understanding the theology around this stance until recently. But these verses are in the Bible, and need to be honestly examined.
Katia Adams goes case by case through Genesis, Jesus, the NT, and particularly the letters of Paul to unpack the scholarship around passages like “It is shameful for a woman to speak in church” and “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” She talks about equality in church teams, in marriage, and addresses the difference between this issue and the conversation around sexuality and other sticking points. Through all of it, she uses comparative interpretations from other scholars so that you can view the research objectively and dig deeper by reading the scholarly arguments on both sides.
The book is well-reasoned and follows an academic structure that presents the scholarship in a compelling and persuasive way, and I genuinely hope that people will take the time to consider the arguments. It matters for the sake of the full flourishing of the body of Christ, both men and women alike.
I’m not sure why, but I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. As a woman who has been planted in a church environment supportive of my leadership abilities (including in the spiritual and ecclesial realm), I have not felt the urgency of understanding the theology around this stance until recently. But these verses are in the Bible, and need to be honestly examined.
Katia Adams goes case by case through Genesis, Jesus, the NT, and particularly the letters of Paul to unpack the scholarship around passages like “It is shameful for a woman to speak in church” and “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” She talks about equality in church teams, in marriage, and addresses the difference between this issue and the conversation around sexuality and other sticking points. Through all of it, she uses comparative interpretations from other scholars so that you can view the research objectively and dig deeper by reading the scholarly arguments on both sides.
The book is well-reasoned and follows an academic structure that presents the scholarship in a compelling and persuasive way, and I genuinely hope that people will take the time to consider the arguments. It matters for the sake of the full flourishing of the body of Christ, both men and women alike.
September 11, 2020
I have some concerns about chapter 10, but besides that this is a really scriptural and knowledgeable look at gender equality in the Bible.
January 20, 2023
Adams advocates for the egalitarian position with mixed results:
1. The quality of her arguments vary from hard to ignore to tenuous at best. **Edit: After deeper study, with the greatest of respect, I believe they are largely the latter**
2. The book is tonally strange: it delves further into the scholarly debates than most lay people might be comfortable with but doesn't seem to commit to the intellectual rigour an academic text would require. I can't quite tell who Adams is targeting - perhaps I'm missing something?
3. At times the author is wonderfully charitable in her discussions, and at others a little dismissive to opposing perspectives. I'd prefer to see more of the former on both sides of the debate.
Adams is undoubtedly a gifted communicator. While I question enough of her arguments to remain unconvinced by the view she espouses, I found "Equal" to be a helpful challenge, food for thought, and catalyst for further study.
**EDIT** I have spent several weeks engaging with Adam's work and other established scholars on both sides of the debate. After a much more thorough analysis, I feel the arguments are much weaker than I originally thought in almost every area (her dialogue with Genesis, her analysis of other female leaders in the Bible, her assessment of Jesus and the disciples, her exegesis of 1 Timothy 2, etc.). As a result, I have lowered my review by one star.
1. The quality of her arguments vary from hard to ignore to tenuous at best. **Edit: After deeper study, with the greatest of respect, I believe they are largely the latter**
2. The book is tonally strange: it delves further into the scholarly debates than most lay people might be comfortable with but doesn't seem to commit to the intellectual rigour an academic text would require. I can't quite tell who Adams is targeting - perhaps I'm missing something?
3. At times the author is wonderfully charitable in her discussions, and at others a little dismissive to opposing perspectives. I'd prefer to see more of the former on both sides of the debate.
Adams is undoubtedly a gifted communicator. While I question enough of her arguments to remain unconvinced by the view she espouses, I found "Equal" to be a helpful challenge, food for thought, and catalyst for further study.
**EDIT** I have spent several weeks engaging with Adam's work and other established scholars on both sides of the debate. After a much more thorough analysis, I feel the arguments are much weaker than I originally thought in almost every area (her dialogue with Genesis, her analysis of other female leaders in the Bible, her assessment of Jesus and the disciples, her exegesis of 1 Timothy 2, etc.). As a result, I have lowered my review by one star.
November 6, 2021
I had to repent of my preconceptions about this book. Despite a couple of missteps this is a really helpful resource on this topic from a charismatic evangelical perspective. A helpful contribution with some unique cultural takes.
October 13, 2021
Very well writen and biblically centered… lots to think about.
August 1, 2019
An excellent analysis of all the key Bible passages relating to women in leadership. Although written from an egalitarian viewpoint it honestly wrestles with the difficulties in each passage, reflecting on different possible understandings for each one. The book also helpfully reflect on what the Bible teaches about authority both within marriage and the Trinity, as well as looking at key women in the New Testament and what we can learn from their roles. I thoroughly recommend it.
December 31, 2022
This book is similar to the numerous recent attempts by Egalitarians to defend their position and dismiss complementarian exegesis. Like many recent egalitarian authors, Katia Adams relies heavily on Philip Payne’s verbose tome on man and woman in Christ. Pages from Payne’s book are repeatedly listed in the endnotes. But if Payne’s exegesis is faulty, then referencing him is a shaky support for your own arguments. The only advantage to reading this work rather than Payne is you don’t have to wade through Payne’s extensive verbiage. But simply referencing and repeating Payne does not provide convincing arguments.
The ease with which the author sets aside the inerrant Scriptures is alarming. This approach is especially on display in her handling of 1 Corinthians 11. For example, she pits the inspired author, the Apostle Paul, against himself when she states:
“In addition to the complexity of deciphering Paul’s meaning in language, we have the added challenge of interpreting Paul’s seeming double mindedness in the text. Verses 3–10 communicate something quite different to verses 11–16 with regards to how men and women should relate.”
She further claims:
“We are reminded again that 1 Corinthians 11 is not the best scripture to lean on for gender roles as it seems to argue for both sides of the debate in different moments. If the whole text is a reflection of Paul’s views on gender roles, then it is impossible to come to a conclusion either way.”
She also incorrectly claims 1 Corinthians 11:7 is contradictory to the teaching of Genesis 1-2:
“To top it all off, how do we reconcile the representation of the Genesis account in verse 7, which is different to what Genesis itself states?”
All of this is fallout from the lack of a robust conviction regarding the inerrancy, authority, clarity, sufficiency, and necessity of the divine Scriptures. What’s the result? Confusion that results in blatantly dismissing 1 Corinthians as making any coherent contribution to the gender theology:
“For our purposes here, it is enough to point out the existence of these significant questions in order to highlight the difficulties we face in approaching this passage of Scripture and, hence, the caution required in claiming anything definitive for gender roles from this text.”
And this:
“In approaching theological study, scholars agree that the wisest approach is to allow more straightforward passages to interpret complex ones. Therefore, whilst my aim is to offer a plausible interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 which has been put forth by a number of scholars, I would still be reticent to use this text as a lens to justify gender roles in the church. There are clearer texts to turn to for that.”
The ease with which the author sets aside the inerrant Scriptures is alarming. This approach is especially on display in her handling of 1 Corinthians 11. For example, she pits the inspired author, the Apostle Paul, against himself when she states:
“In addition to the complexity of deciphering Paul’s meaning in language, we have the added challenge of interpreting Paul’s seeming double mindedness in the text. Verses 3–10 communicate something quite different to verses 11–16 with regards to how men and women should relate.”
She further claims:
“We are reminded again that 1 Corinthians 11 is not the best scripture to lean on for gender roles as it seems to argue for both sides of the debate in different moments. If the whole text is a reflection of Paul’s views on gender roles, then it is impossible to come to a conclusion either way.”
She also incorrectly claims 1 Corinthians 11:7 is contradictory to the teaching of Genesis 1-2:
“To top it all off, how do we reconcile the representation of the Genesis account in verse 7, which is different to what Genesis itself states?”
All of this is fallout from the lack of a robust conviction regarding the inerrancy, authority, clarity, sufficiency, and necessity of the divine Scriptures. What’s the result? Confusion that results in blatantly dismissing 1 Corinthians as making any coherent contribution to the gender theology:
“For our purposes here, it is enough to point out the existence of these significant questions in order to highlight the difficulties we face in approaching this passage of Scripture and, hence, the caution required in claiming anything definitive for gender roles from this text.”
And this:
“In approaching theological study, scholars agree that the wisest approach is to allow more straightforward passages to interpret complex ones. Therefore, whilst my aim is to offer a plausible interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 which has been put forth by a number of scholars, I would still be reticent to use this text as a lens to justify gender roles in the church. There are clearer texts to turn to for that.”
September 21, 2020
This book is the perfect quick launch into an ongoing debate in modern bible scholarship that concerns every local congregation (whether as an outspoken or unspoken debate).
I love this book because it is filled with references and quotes of well established bible scholars, yet it requires no prior study of other academic literature. Katia has done the work of gathering and comparing arguments and put them together in a clear and logical way.
Compelling arguments and proper research define this book and, apart from a few minor disagreements, I could see a clear line of thought throughout the whole book. I have a hard time imagining how anyone could continue to be convinced that the Bible teaches restriction of women without offering significant arguments in answer to these.
Finally, I must say that her remarks about the LGTBQ movement are absolutely not an unnecessary or hateful addition like others have said in their reviews. Her arguments continue to follow scripture and neither personal experiences nor modern cultural trends. The last chapter shows that the belief in gender equality does not lead onto a "slippery slope" of theology, but can be built on firm truth that draws lines between wrong and right.
I love this book because it is filled with references and quotes of well established bible scholars, yet it requires no prior study of other academic literature. Katia has done the work of gathering and comparing arguments and put them together in a clear and logical way.
Compelling arguments and proper research define this book and, apart from a few minor disagreements, I could see a clear line of thought throughout the whole book. I have a hard time imagining how anyone could continue to be convinced that the Bible teaches restriction of women without offering significant arguments in answer to these.
Finally, I must say that her remarks about the LGTBQ movement are absolutely not an unnecessary or hateful addition like others have said in their reviews. Her arguments continue to follow scripture and neither personal experiences nor modern cultural trends. The last chapter shows that the belief in gender equality does not lead onto a "slippery slope" of theology, but can be built on firm truth that draws lines between wrong and right.
September 2, 2022
I was delightfully surprised by this book. As someone who has spent an extended amount of time in Christian higher education, I was doubtful about the scholarly legitimacy this book would contain when I found it at the library. Its author, Katia Adams, is a Doctor, but not in any field, even remotely related to Christian theology. All it took was one flip through a few randomly selected pages to see that this was not the case. Katia quoted recognizable scholar after scholar, cites the original Greek and Hebrew, and digs into the minutia of language studies and the history of interpretation as she makes the argument for egalitarianism across the span of scripture and it's overall message.
Seriously, while I'm sure there are ways that it is not, this book and it's author seemed bulletproof. It was clear that she had well grounded intentions, her research was full of integrity, and she was self-aware about the strength of every argument she put forward, most of which seemed strongly convincing to me. I would highly recommend this book.
Seriously, while I'm sure there are ways that it is not, this book and it's author seemed bulletproof. It was clear that she had well grounded intentions, her research was full of integrity, and she was self-aware about the strength of every argument she put forward, most of which seemed strongly convincing to me. I would highly recommend this book.
June 21, 2020
Really liked the first 7-ish chapters, didn't really feel the last couple of chapters.
I did really like the first couple of chapters for their reasoning, the clear arguments and the explanations of what the original text is about. It's clear to me now that even in translating the Bible, men have taken it upon themselves to put men and the established order first.
I didn't really follow the reasoning in the latter chapters and I hated the fact that LGBTQ people get hated on in the last chapter, was totally unnecessary. The chapter about the hierarchy in the Triunion and what that means for genderroles was also very unclear to me.
I did really like the first couple of chapters for their reasoning, the clear arguments and the explanations of what the original text is about. It's clear to me now that even in translating the Bible, men have taken it upon themselves to put men and the established order first.
I didn't really follow the reasoning in the latter chapters and I hated the fact that LGBTQ people get hated on in the last chapter, was totally unnecessary. The chapter about the hierarchy in the Triunion and what that means for genderroles was also very unclear to me.
September 12, 2021
Well researched
As a woman that is gifted but treated badly, this book is a breath of fresh air. The author explains the various arguments for and against women in ministry and adds her name to other theologians with this well thought out book. Thank you from all of us battle scarred females. The world is bereft of much needed ministry due to the Church's treatment of women. This book is a step toward a new freedom for women in ministry.
As a woman that is gifted but treated badly, this book is a breath of fresh air. The author explains the various arguments for and against women in ministry and adds her name to other theologians with this well thought out book. Thank you from all of us battle scarred females. The world is bereft of much needed ministry due to the Church's treatment of women. This book is a step toward a new freedom for women in ministry.
January 2, 2022
Challenging yet careful
The book is radical, yet carefully considered exegesis of gender theology.
Whilst occasionally flippant, Katia Adams carefully considers the established reasoning, looks through the lens of biblical truth and reaches conclusions with far reaching implications. A must read for our current Church context
The book is radical, yet carefully considered exegesis of gender theology.
Whilst occasionally flippant, Katia Adams carefully considers the established reasoning, looks through the lens of biblical truth and reaches conclusions with far reaching implications. A must read for our current Church context
July 9, 2023
This book has been very helpful to me. I always knew that the "christian" tenets of "woman should shut up, be submissive and obey unquestioningly" was in deep error. This book has helped me further develop my opinions and belief in this area. I can finally stop feeling like my creator did me a huge disservice by having me be born female.
July 9, 2025
Dr. Katia Adams provides the research and applied logic that is so needed around this topic for leadership in the church. Always focused on God at the center of the discussion, with scripture and a strong historical framework, this is a must read for anyone with questions or opinions about women, men and authority in the church.
December 4, 2020
Such a good book! It was intelligently written to reveal the heart of God for women in the scripture. This book looks at the true meaning of any pieces in the Bible that seemingly shut down women in ministry, including historical and cultural context. I definitely recommend it!
August 31, 2021
Gender equality
This book try to answer questions and issues around gender equality. From the eden and many scriptures usually bring forth because the issues. The interpretation was explicit enough.
This book try to answer questions and issues around gender equality. From the eden and many scriptures usually bring forth because the issues. The interpretation was explicit enough.
July 29, 2022
Highly recommend this to anyone exploring the ideas of what the Bible says about women.
Very easy to read and follow. If you are going to read one book about women- make it this one!
Very easy to read and follow. If you are going to read one book about women- make it this one!
June 19, 2024
Very well done read on the subject, gracious and solid scholarship
September 22, 2020
I have always believed that both men and woman could lead. I love Katia's interpretation that the heart of Jesus was to empower and release women and men, and that women and men are called to serve and lead in the world as well as in the church.
I also enjoyed her impactful personal experiences as a women in the Church leadership, that she so expertly blended with sound doctrine and theology and Holy Spirit wisdom.
I enjoyed her frank and down to earth style of discussion and her comments that not allowing women to take up their rightful places lessens God's impact and destiny for both the globe and the church.
An awesome though-provoking read.
I also enjoyed her impactful personal experiences as a women in the Church leadership, that she so expertly blended with sound doctrine and theology and Holy Spirit wisdom.
I enjoyed her frank and down to earth style of discussion and her comments that not allowing women to take up their rightful places lessens God's impact and destiny for both the globe and the church.
An awesome though-provoking read.
September 8, 2019
Katia Adams displays wonderful knowledge of a topic that is being debated in the church in the 21st century! Her exegesis of controversial passages allows you to understand the language that Paul used and the context he was writing in to develop a further understanding of his letters. I was also blown away by the constant need to be reminded that it's not Paul's theology that should be defining our understanding of women in leadership, but Jesus', for it was him who Paul looked to in order to develop his theology. This book is definitely worth reading and sharing to others!
October 10, 2025
My biggest problem with this book was that she seemed to decide what is good and right before looking at what is biblical. It can be difficult to reconcile Galatians 3:28 with 1 Timothy 2:11-14 for example. If women are equal in value to men, then surely God doesn’t restrict eldership to men only! But maybe he does. We need to trust God. His ways are better than ours. (Isaiah 55:8). We need to pray that God would convince our hearts that his way is better.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews