A Biblical Theology of Womanhood
On this week’s episode of The About Her Podcast, I chatted with Dr. Erin Shaw, Assistant Professor of Women’s Ministry at Cedarville University. Erin is dedicated to helping women of all ages learn the truth of God’s Word. In addition to serving at Cedarville University, Erin also volunteers in the women’s ministry of her local church, and as you will quickly learn in this episode, she truly loves the local church. Erin’s favorite scripture is Psalm 84:11 which states, “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Erin received a Master’s of Divinity degree in Women’s Studies with Biblical Languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She also completed a Doctorate of Education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. All this to say, Erin is a wise, wise woman, and a faithful steward of God’s Word. I have had the great joy of knowing and learning from her over the years, and I am so excited to share her wisdom with you today, specifically on the topic of biblical womanhood.
Show Notes
What is a biblical theology of womanhood?
Where would you begin a study of biblical womanhood?
There are many observations that could be drawn about the woman created in Genesis 1-2. In your own careful study of these texts, what are 2-3 observations you make about her identity? What are 2-3 observations you make about her role?
Where else in scripture do we see the identity of women discussed?
Where else in scripture do we see the role of women discussed?
What is Complementarianism?
What is Egalitarianism?
In your own words, what does it mean that men and women are equal in essence, dignity, and value, but distinct by divine design?
Why is it a good thing that we are distinct by divine design? In other words, why is God’s design for women a good thing?
How would you respond to someone who may state that God’s distinct design for men and women is limiting to women?
What is “headship” and should “headship” be considered oppressive? Why or why not?
What does Paul mean when he directs wives to “submit to their own husbands as to the Lord” in Ephesians 5:22-23?
How should single women think about the topics of headship and submission? If a woman is not married, what is she to do?
What if a woman’s husband is asking her to sin? Must she still submit to his leadership?
If a woman is asked to sin by her husband, what would you advise her to do?
What is one piece of advice would you offer women listening as we seek to model a biblical theology of womanhood in our everyday relationships with the opposite sex?
Notable Quotations
“There are a lot of practical aspects to godly living for women that can be learned best from wiser godly women who have gone before us. This is really the model we see set up in Titus 2. It is not crazy that we desire to have a mentor, and to figure out how to live this life. God set it up that way.”
“Developing relationships with godly women is so important. We are meant to be sisters, we are meant to be in the family of God. We are not meant to be competitors.”
“A biblical theology of womanhood is the study of what God’s Word says about women. It is also looking at the text of Scripture and learning what it says about how we as women should live in the honor of God or how we please him. There is an understanding of a God-defined womanhood and its practical implications in our lives.”
“We are essentially gifted our identity through our union with Jesus, made possible by his work on the Cross. We know who we are by knowing who God is.”
“I always encourage studying the life of Jesus, because that is who we are becoming like.”
“Complementarianism is this gender paradigm that we see in Scripture that teaches men and women are equal in worth and personhood but have different roles in the home and church. So, men and women complement one another. These roles are not results of the fall but are part of the creation order. These roles are distorted because of sin and the curse is introduced in Genesis 3, and through redemption in Christ, God’s original design of these roles can be regained.”
“Egalitarianism (when used in discussions of a biblical view of gender) is the belief that men and women are equal, but their equality precludes role distinctions. There is no hierarchy in their view, and they hold that gender roles are the result of sin and the curse is introduced in Genesis 3. This is different from complementarianism which says that role distinctions existed before the fall, and sin and the curse went against the natural roles given. Through redemption in Christ, they believe role distinctions will be erased.”
“God is for women, he invented us and made us. But, he is also for men.”
“God’s plan is going to be the best hope for us. For our homes, our marriage, for the church. It is good because God designed it that way, and we want to live in obedience to him and we want to live in the ways that God describes.”
“If we just obeyed God doing Titus 2 ministry, training the younger generation to know sound doctrine, to live out these biblical roles in the home, or if we just trained and mentored, we would be busy every day. There is never a lack of things to do for women in ministry.”
“When we look at headship, we have to look at how Christ leads the Church, and it is based out of love.”
“When we follow the leadership of husbands, it is our service to God first and foremost.”
“As a single woman, I concentrate first and foremost on submitting to my Savior. If I am doing that and I am respecting those he has put around me, life will be much easier for me.”
“Don’t wait around to get married if you are single but get out there and serve, serve, serve so that when you do slow down due to the demands of a marriage and family, you have no regrets.”
“I would not view all men as the enemy and the source of all sin in the world. We also are sinners as women too, and we need to humbly work together to further God’s kingdom. I don’t think God created us necessarily to be siloed as men and women. I do think there are times when we need to come together in order to push the kingdom of God forward, and we do this with humility and respect. We get wisdom on how to live that out through seeking God and His Word first.”
Recommended Resources
Elisabeth Elliot
Susan Hunt
Andreas and Margaret Kostenberger
Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild by Mary Kassian
Equal yet Different by Alexander Strauch
Men and Women in the Church by Kevin Deyoung
*You can find more recommended resources on The About Her Podcast resources page.
The Danvers Statement (Statement Summarizing Complementarianism)
Men, Women, and Biblical Equality (Statement Summarizing Egalitarianism)
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
Scripture References
Identity & Role of Women
Genesis 1:26-28
Genesis 2:18, 20
Romans 8:29
1 Timothy 2:12-14
Titus 2
Galatians 3:28
1 Peter 3:7
The Gospels
Role of Women in the Home
Ephesians 5:21-33
1 Peter 3:1-7
Colossians 3:18-19
1 Corinthians 7:1-40
Titus 2:3-5
Proverbs 31
Role of Women in the Church
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
1 Corinthians 14
1 Timothy 2:8-15
Honoring the Lord as Single Women
1 Corinthians 7:35
