The Bible Message without Patriarchy

Genesis 48, God is Compared to a Mother; Salvation Does not Rely on Patriarchal Tradition

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis chapter 48 from the New Heart English Bible.  In this chapter, one of the Hebrew names for God compares the provision of God to the life giving nurturance of a mother.  We also see that God disregards patriarchal tradition by passing over first born sons to grant blessings to younger siblings.  We also see that patriarchy has nothing to do with the message of salvation--a message that is received only through repentance and faith.

Genesis 47, The Idolatry of Ancient Egypt; Exposing the Nonbiblical Origins of Today's Complementarian Movement

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 47 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version.  In this story, Joseph's leadership saves Egypt during a time of famine.  History and archaeology give us an in-depth look at the culture of ancient Egypt.  Central to this culture was the religious concept of Ma'at.  Ma'at taught that male authority was part of the "order of nature" ordained by the gods.  It was believed that observing Ma'at would bring prosperity to the land.  We trace the influence of this belief from ancient Egypt to Greece, and finally to the Roman church of the 4th century AD.  Borrowing from these ancient sources, today's complementarian leaders continue to confuse the core beliefs of an idolatrous religion with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 46, Israel Moves to Egypt; Confronting Those Who Twist the Bible to Support Their Racist or Sexist Views

In this podcast episode, we read portions of Genesis chapter 46 from the Berean Study Bible.  In this story, Israel and all of his family move to the land of Goshen in Egypt.  Unfortunately, a Bible commentary on this passage wrongly depicts racial segregation as God's will.  The author of the commentary similarly believed that God made women subordinate to men.  Today, this commentary and others like it are used to defend both racism and sexism.  Neither of these examples of social injustice reflect an accurate reading of the Bible, or the loving heart of God.

Genesis 45, Joseph Saves His Family; Correcting Deterministic and Sexist Theology

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis chapter 45 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version.  In this passage, Joseph reveals his true identify to his brothers.  He also makes provision for his whole family to be cared for in Egypt, during a time of famine.  Certain English translations of this passage modify the text to support a deterministic view of God.  These modifications are absent from our oldest available Bible manuscripts.  Theologians who held these deterministic views also insisted that women must be subject to the will of men.  Through this podcast, the errors of these men are highlighted and corrected.

Genesis 44, Judah has a Change of Heart; What it Means to Repent and Believe

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis chapter 44 from the Good News Bible, Today's English Version.  In this story, Judah shows us what it means to repent.  His actions also prophetically foreshadow the Easter Story of Jesus' atoning death on the cross.

Separating the Will of God from the Traditions of Men: Exposing the Sexist Bias of the ESV Study Bible

In our 50th podcast episode, on International Women's Day, we focus on exposing and removing a sexist bias from the following passages, as they are wrongly portrayed in the ESV Study Bible:

-Genesis 3:16

-Ephesians 5:22

-Titus 2:3-5

-Romans 16:7

Male authority is nowhere depicted in the Bible as God's plan.  Rather, it is portrayed as the tragic outcome of humanity's decision to turn away from God, and try to make our way without Him.

The Christian message is one of hope and deliverance from social injustice: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  (Galatians 3:28)

Genesis 43, Joseph is Reunited with His Family; Correcting Errors in Bible Translation that are Rooted in Prejudice against Women and the Jewish People

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 43 from the Good News Translation of the Bible, Today's English Version.  In this story, we see Joseph finally reunited with his family.  Unfortunately, the Good News Bible makes an error in the translation of an important verse in this passage.  This error, and others like it, stem from Latin translations of the Bible in the 4th century AD that began to marginalize the Jewish People.  Similar translation errors, made by theologians of the same era, also began to marginalize women.  At this time in history, the church had newly become an arm of the Roman state--a state that was prejudiced against women and Jews.  In this episode, we restore the original meaning of the passage, as found in ancient Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic manuscripts--all of which were written long before the 4th century AD.

Genesis 42, A Strongly Emotional Person is Chosen By God to Lead

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 42 from the Good New Translation, Today's English Version.  In this story, we see that Joseph was chosen by God to be Governor of Egypt.  Joseph was chosen because he was filled with God's Holy Spirit, who gave him greater wisdom and insight than any other person.  In addition to being filled with God's Spirit, Joseph was also strongly emotional, and this did not disqualify him from a position of leadership.  Ironically, patriarchal theologians have wrongfully accused women of being "too emotional to lead." 

Genesis 41:1-41, God Warns of a Coming Famine; How John Calvin's Commentary on this Passage has Been Used to Justify the Subjugation of Women

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 41:1-41 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version.  In this story, God warns the King of Egypt through his dreams that a famine is coming.  Joseph correctly interprets these dreams, and then helps Egypt prepare for the coming hardship.  As a result, Joseph is elevated to a position of power in Egypt.  As strange as it may seem, influential patriarchal theologians--past and present--make an inaccurate assumption about God, based on this story.  This faulty assumption is then used to justify the subjugation of women to male authority.

Genesis 39 - Joseph and Potiphar's Wife: A Person's Appearance Does Not Cause Others to Sin

In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 39 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version.  In this story, Potiphar's wife attempts to commit adultery with Joseph, and then falsely accuses him of rape.  In almost every English translation of the Bible Joseph is described as "well-built and good looking."  Two English Bibles, however, omit this information.  They are the Geneva Bible and the King James Version.  Written during the rise of the Puritan movement, it seems their translators were concerned that it might be sinful to draw attention to someone's physical appearance.  Doing so, it was believed, might even "cause others to stumble."  For centuries, this way of thinking has made women feel responsible for the sexual conduct of men.  Joseph's appearance, however, did not cause Potiphar's wife to make her sinful choices.  Similarly, a woman's appearance is never responsible for the sexual behavior of men.