The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth

by Beth Allison Barr

Patriarchy exists in the Bible because the Bible was written in a patriarchal world. Historically speaking, there is nothing surprising about biblical stories and passages riddled with patriarchal attitudes and actions. What is surprising is how many biblical passages and stories undermine, rather than support, patriarchy. Even John Piper admitted in 1984 that he can’t figure out what to do with Deborah and Huldah.53 The most difficult passages in the Bible to explain, historically speaking, are those like Galatians 3:26–28: “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” This is what is radical. This is what makes Christianity so different from the rest of human history. This is what sets both men and women free.