Hey there! I decided to put out a topical list of books that I own/have read/want to read on the subject of women in the ancient Near Eastern world (ANE) and the first century Greco-Roman/Jewish world as well as serious works about women in ministry (along with one really entertaining one by Michael Bird!). More important scholarship than ever is being conducted both within and outside of the Biblical record and we know more each and every year. I will also be including in the list prominent feminist (meaning scholarship focused on presenting the Bible from a woman’s point of view), and womanist (black women’s POV) authors—some of which will actually be male scholars writing about women’s issues. My goal is to provide you all with a well-rounded list of alternatives to a lot of the propaganda out there, on one hand, and old ideas that have been struck down by historical research and new discoveries. Archaeology is constantly finding new bits of information and documentation that drastically change the landscape of what we think we know about women within the Biblical and extra-Biblical record.
(My affiliate links for Amazon products are included in the post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Barr, Beth Allison The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
Bellis, Alice Ogden Helpmates, Harlots and Heroes: Women’s Stories in the Hebrew Bible
Berman, Joshua Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought
Buckham, Richard Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels
Byrd, Aimee Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: How the Church Needs to Rediscover Her Purpose
Chavalas, Mark Women in the Ancient Near East
Clark-Soles, Jamie Women in the Bible: Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church
Cleveland, Christena God is a Black Woman
Cohick, Lynn Women in the World of the Earliest Christians: Illuminating Ancient Ways of Life
Davidson, Richard Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament
Durgin, Celina The Biblical World of Gender: The Daily Lives of Ancient Women and Men
Epp, Eldon Jay Junia: The First Woman Apostle
Fleming, Bruce CE and Joy The Eden Book Series
Gafney, Wilda Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne
Daughters of Miriam: Women Prophets in Ancient Israel
Giles, Kevin What the Bible Actually Teaches on Women
Grenz, Stanley Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry
Gupta, Nijay Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
Hylen, Susan A Modest Apostle: Thecla and the History of Women in the Early Church
Finding Phoebe: What New Testament Women Were Really Like
Women in the New Testament World (Essentials of Biblical Studies)
Kateusz, Ally Mary and Early Christian Women: Hidden Leadership
Keener, Craig Paul, Women, and Wives: Marriage and Women’s Ministry in the Letters of Paul
Matthews, Victor, et al. Gender and Law in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East
McGinn, Thomas Prostitution, Sexuality and the Law in Ancient Rome
Meyers, Carol Rediscovering Eve: Israelite Women in Context
Peeler, Amy Women and the Gender of God
Parker, Angela M If God Still Breathes, Why Can’t I?: Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority
Payne, Philip Barton The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood: How God’s Word Consistently Affirms Gender Equality
Man and Woman, One in Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Paul’s Letters
Why Can’t Women Do That?: Breaking Down the Reasons Churches Put Men in Charge
Pierce and Westfall Discovering Biblical Equality: Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives
Pitre, Brant Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah
Stackhouse, John J Partners in Christ: A Conservative Case for Egalitarianism
Stol, Marten Women in the Ancient Near East
Weems, Renita Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today and Women in the Bible
Westfall, Cynthia Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle’s Vision for Men and Women in Christ
Williams, Terran How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy
Winter, Bruce Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities
After Paul Left Corinth: The Influence of Secular Ethics and Social Change
Bloggers
https://margmowczko.com/
https://www.1517.org/sections/chadbird
https://craigkeener.com/
https://carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com/
https://michaelfbird.substack.com/
https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/21/4/1 (Joan Taylor)
https://prodigalthought.net/2012/04/11/ben-witherington-on-women-in-ministry/
https://www.cbeinternational.org/
https://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/
YouTube Playlists
(Women in ministry playlist) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvU1BZcPzoXlmZ7Mjrf0J7mMcRokKYFZ1
(Mike Davis Playlist challenging the subordination of women) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvU1BZcPzoXkgUjIbQkRLpk4a87rnIbwZ
Male Scholars who support women in ministry (many thanks go to Marg Mowczko for her list here)
Coming soon–list of prominent women scholars and theologians in Biblical Studies, apart from those mentioned in the book list. There are many but not all teach about women as a focus. And if I don’t go ahead and get this promised blog out I will definitely keep forgetting!
