‘Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women’ by Lucy Peppiatt
A Book Review
This will be the third book of Lucy’s that I have read in the last two months. Honestly, I do not know why it took me so long to get to them! Lucy is the Principal of Westminster Theological Centre, and she and her husband lead a small community/church in Bristol. She is one of those people who’s wisdom and holiness is a little scary. She is always worth listening to.
This is a much easier book to read than the study she did on 1 Corinthians 11, and summarises it nicely, so, probably, unless you enjoy the deep study, buy this one. It is nevertheless an “academic” book and full of very deep scholarly thought and insight.
As the title would suggest this is a book about motor-racing. Not really! it is about what the Bible (mainly Paul) actually says about women. It is radical and challenging. Lucy puts all the disputed passages into a right context that not only enables them to make sense, but enables them to give a consistent picture of Paul who, supposedly prohibits women from any authority or influence, while, at the same time, applauding women apostles, deacons, prophets and teachers. These texts have been used for years to oppress women and not only do they not say what they’ve been made into, but in most cases say the opposite. A radical affirmation of women and a radical challenge to men in an incredibly male-centred, 1st century culture to value women as equals. The reality is that Paul’s challenge to men was nothing short of a cultural earthquake, in overturning the fundamental values of the time.
Not only that, Lucy presents us with a Biblical vision for what the kingdom is and how the church should be a place of unprecedented safety and nurture for all women. More than anywhere else, women should be free to be who they were made to be, as leaders, influencers, prophets, teachers, pastors, visionaries – where being a women makes no difference to their opportunities or roles. Not only should there be no place for misogyny in the church, but Christians should model what feminism and equality really are, where there is no Jew or Greek or slave or free or male or female.
Anyway, if you are a woman or you know one, then I recommend reading this. It is not a simple, light read, so you will need your thinking pants on, if you are going to read it, but it is worth it.
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