Even in today's societies that espouse equality of the sexes, the hot potato of women teaching and preaching to Christian congregations comprising men as well as women, or women holding authority positions within the Church, remains a bone of contention amongst its leaders and members alike. Indeed, given the strength of feeling that the subject arouses on both sides, universal unity on the issue appears a very distant prospect. Yet the simple truth is that there should be no argument. The overwhelming position of the Bible is that women as well as men have been used by God and chosen for positions of influence, authority and leadership from Genesis through to the New Testament epistles. However, a handful of verses that appear in Paul's epistles have been misunderstood, even mistranslated, so that a doctrine rose up declaring that women were not to teach men or to have authority over them. This led to the consequent subjugation of the female to the male, and a controversy that has racked the Christian church for centuries. This book charts the biblical position of women from the Garden of Eden, through the Old Testament times of the Israelites to the days of the clear teaching and example of Jesus when He exploded on to the socio-religious scene that was Jewish society. Finally (and possibly the most relevant of all to the Church today), after the Old Covenant relationship is concluded in the death of Jesus and the New Covenant has begun in newness of life in the risen Christ, the doctrine of Paul and the apostles concerning women is examined in detail, particularly the handful of scriptures that are cited in support of the conventional male authority teaching. The resulting conclusion is as much inevitable as it is undeniable; that there never was any prohibition on women to teach or preach, or to lead men.
About the Author: Having completed an honours degree in business studies, Ian Robinson continued in academia to obtain a doctorate in strategic market modelling during which time he became a Christian. He then entered the commercial world as a strategic planner and analyst in the advertising and marketing industry. His career spanned over thirty years, the latter half as a director and shareholder of a London advertising agency. On the successful sale of the company, he was able to serve the church full time, having done so in the roles of elder, trustee and pastor. He has a preaching and teaching ministry, often using his research and analytical disciplines to bring a fuller understanding of the Bible to those who love Jesus. He has also ministered as an itinerant in Uganda. Currently, he is a leader in his local church where he regularly teaches and preaches. He lives in London with his wife Ruth and their two children, Johnny and Christabel, aged 10 and 14 respectively.