The debate about men and women in the church and in marriage continues to cause division among Christians. Most books on this issue are written from a firmly partisan point of view – complementarian or egalitarian. This one is unique.   
  
Andrew Bartlett draws on his theological learning and his skills as a judge and arbitrator to offer an even-handed assessment of the debate. His analysis is thorough but accessible. He engages with advocates of each view and all the key biblical texts, weighing the available evidence and offering fresh insights. He invites the reader to move beyond complementarian and egalitarian labels and seeks progress towards healing the division.

"Men and Women in Christ" by Andrew Bartlett provides a balanced analysis of gender roles in church and marriage, engaging with key biblical texts and perspectives for thoughtful discussion.

\["For Christians seeking unity on gender roles", "Addresses division in the church over gender issues", "You will gain insights for healing and understanding"\]

This book provides a balanced view on gender roles in the church.

Andrew Bartlett

To all scholars, whether complementarian, egalitarian or unaligned, who with sincere hearts and true faith have laboured to understand and explain God's word concerning men and women

PREFACE

ABBREVIATIONS

Bible versions

Bible acknowledgments

1. REVISING TRADITION, SEEKING UNITY

What is this book about?

How did these issues become so divisive?

The obligation to maintain unity

The traditional 'Christian' view of a woman's place

Jesus Christ and women

Rejection of the traditional view – new terminology

The competing stories

Methods of interpretation

The path ahead

Does it really matter?

Summary of chapter 1

Questions to consider

2. HUSBAND AND WIFE, MEN AND WOMEN: 1 CORINTHIANS 7

Marriage: hierarchy or not?

Some recent history of 1 Corinthians 7

Threefold relevance of 1 Corinthians 7

1. Paul's end-time perspective: the world in its present form is passing away

2. Marital relations and equal authority

3. Equality of men and women in personal relations

Complementarian acceptance of the significance of 1 Corinthians 7

Is Paul an egalitarian?

Where next?

Summary of chapter 2

3. HIERARCHIES, SUBMISSION AND LOVE: COLOSSIANS 3 AND EPHESIANS 5

Three disputed questions

Preliminary topics

1. Relationship of Colossians and Ephesians

2. Submission and hierarchies

3. The ideas associated with 'submitting'

4. When not to submit

5. How the marriage relationship was viewed in first-century culture

6. Some practical reasons for Paul's emphases

Colossians and the three disputed questions

Does comparing the three pairs show Paul's approval of a hierarchical view of marriage?

Summary of chapter 3

4. MARRIAGE PORTRAYS THE SAVIOUR: EPHESIANS 5

The big picture of Ephesians 5

Paul's kephalē metaphor

The context and Paul's use of kephalē

1. Paul's use of apposition in verse 23

2. The theme of saviourhood in verses 25–33

3. Paul's use of Genesis

4. The first word of verse 24

The first question: unilateral authority of the husband?

The second question: one-way or mutual submission?

The third question: does Paul differentiate the responsibilities of husbands and wives?

The beauty of Paul's vision of marriage

Leadership of the household?

Summary of chapter 4

5. CREATION AND LIFE: GENESIS 1 – 3 AND BEYOND

Man and woman in Genesis

Narrative structure

Male rule in Genesis 1 – 3

Genesis 1 – 2 and authoritative headship?

Genesis 3 and authoritative headship?

What does it mean to be male or female?

Differentiation of man and woman

Marriage in the Old Testament

Who should protect and provide?

What if Genesis 2 – 3 teaches authoritative male headship?

Women's leadership and authority in the Old Testament

Summary of chapter 5

6. SUBMISSION AND HONOUR: 1 PETER

Peter's focus

Peter's theme

Submission and honour in wider society

Submission: hierarchical or mutual?

Instructions to wives in 3:1–6

Is Peter supporting a hierarchical view of marriage?

Peter's instructions to husbands

Translation issues and Peter's three points for husbands

The example of Sarah and Abraham

Dangers of coercive power

Submission and leadership

Summary of chapter 6

7. VEILED MEANINGS? 1 CORINTHIANS 11

The thickets surrounding 1 Corinthians 11:2–16

The first thicket: the doctrine of the Trinity

The second thicket: unjustified conclusions from word studies

Grudem's word studies

Metaphorical meaning is not determined by usage elsewhere but by context

The third thicket: authority structures

Eight red lights for the hierarchical interpretation

The significance of the red lights

The fourth thicket: veils

Cultural context

Does the veils interpretation fit what Paul writes?

The fifth thicket: translating for veils or only for hairstyles?

The structure

__Few questions are more divisive among Christians than the Bible’s teaching on the role of men and women in the church and in marriage.__

In this accessible yet thorough study, theologian Andrew Bartlett brings his experience as a judge and international arbitrator to the complementarian - egalitarian debate, throwing fresh light on the key biblical texts and offering an even-handed assessment.

By engaging with advocates of each view, on pivotal themes such as male headship and female leadership, he encourages the reader to challenge previously held assumptions, and to move beyond partisanship towards mutual understanding.

"Men and Women in Christ" by Andrew Bartlett offers a balanced examination of gender roles in the church and marriage, engaging with key biblical texts and diverse viewpoints.

\["For anyone interested in the the roles of men and women in Church","Andrew Bartlett presents a fair, biblical and insightful approach to the debate","You'll find a steady understanding that takes you beyond either side of the matter"\]

Helping to arbitrate one of the most divisive topics in the Church today, Andrew Bartlett looks at men and women in faith and in the Church from an even-handed perspective.

Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts

Men and Women in Christ

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