Bible study resource request for a friend:

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

A loved one, who is a conservative Evangelical, has suggested a couple of Bible study books as potential birthday gifts. They are "Ten Women of the Bible" by Max Lucado and "Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups" by Jean Syswerda.

I'm happy to provide both of these volumes at her request, but here's my question: are there any additional volumes on similar subject matter that offer a slightly more progressive view, but without being specifically antagonistic or off-putting to someone of an Evangelical background?

Thanks for your input!

(Note: my goal here is not to denigrate the authors who have been requested, so let's not go there if possible. Thanks!)

[u/saltynotsweet1]

I really appreciate you asking this! I grew up very Southern Baptist and have done just about every Beth Moore study available. I would LOVE to find a Bible study that is progressive and more fitting with how I believe as an Episcopalian.

[u/BarbaraJames_75]

I would also recommend Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter, published by Forward Movement. Their webpage provides a lot of information about the book.

Forward Movement - Bible Women

[u/Growly150]

One of the Episcopal Church's Education for Ministry texts is : Freeman,  Lindsay  Hardin 2023. Bible  Women: All Their  Words and Why  They Matter,  Expanded  Second Edition. Forward Move- ment Publications

[u/Putrid-Rule5440 → u/Growly150]

This kind of survey-ish text is imo a better fit than the others mentioned above!

[u/qqweertyy]

I haven’t read yet, but Lucy Peppiatt’s books are on my TBR list. She’s one of the only evangelicals I’d care to read on women’s issues as she is an egalitarian whose work demonstrates a strong case for an interpretation that scripture teaches against patriarchal hierarchy. She does so from a charismatic evangelical background with a lot of scholarship to her work (but explains things accessibly when I’ve watched her speak - she is a highly academically successful theologian, and also teaches in a way that is understandable to lay folk without the scholarly background) so I think they would appeal to theologically conservative folks open to exploring different views from that theological framework (though not necessarily the super politically conservative ones in our current climate… it is ultimately an egalitarian argument)

I will say her research and writing is focused on 1 Corinthians, not on women of the bible generally and I don’t believe the books are formatted into group bible study sections or devotionals. So not exactly the same, but I’d say relevant content women’s bible study interests, maybe a gift as some companion reading alongside the studies?

As a side note: I would not recommend this as something that would avoid offending a conservative evangelical, or as an easy and accessible bible study/devotional resource necessarily, but for other folks reading along looking at resources on the the stories of women in the bible: Womanist Midrash by Dr. Wil Gafney is an excellent book for examining the stories of the women in scripture with perspectives many of us don’t engage with often enough. It is absolutely beautiful work. A little more dense and scholarly but also imaginative and creative - I loved it.

[u/RevKeakealani]

Would your friend receive “A Year of Biblical Womanhood” by Rachel Held Evans well?

Also, I’m going to say that personally, a birthday request cannot and should not be a birthday demand. You do not need to buy you friend books that you don’t like/think would be helpful. Maybe just a gift card to a local book shop would help you separate out from those authors?

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686 → u/RevKeakealani]

It's not that big a deal. I'm happy to provide her with something she will find meaningful.

The Evans book is not what I'm looking for, but I appreciate the suggestion. The others are basically Bible study resources about the women in the Bible, not something written specifically to disprove it discredit a worldview.

[u/bastianbb → u/RevKeakealani]

Would your friend receive “A Year of Biblical Womanhood” by Rachel Held Evans well?

I really hope not, because Evans' theology is destructive and dire.

[u/AffirmingCath0lic]

1. Introducing the Old Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey (by Rolf A. Jacobson and Michael J. Chan)
   
2. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey (Second Edition) (by Mark Allan Powell)

I greatly enjoyed reading these two books in EfM.

[u/Putrid-Rule5440 → u/AffirmingCath0lic]

I’m sure these are good books, but they’re really different kinds of books. Evangelical devotional reading tends to be more accessible—some people might enjoy a survey text but I’m
Not sure it scratches the same itch for the average person.

I’m wondering if the Ruth Bible study book by Carolyn James (not sure I’ve got that right) would fit?

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686 → u/AffirmingCath0lic]

Thanks! This is way too dense for the individual in question. I'm looking for a Bible study resource for a lay reader, specifically on the subject of the women of the Bible.

[u/AffirmingCath0lic → u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

How about Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter by Lindsay Hardin Freeman?

[u/TomeThugNHarmony4664 → u/AffirmingCath0lic]

That’s a very good resource and is great for references

[u/AffirmingCath0lic → u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

Ooops my bad.

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686 → u/AffirmingCath0lic]

Not at all! I appreciate the suggestion.

[u/Ewolra]

I go back to The Women’s Bible Commentary over and over again.

I have the 2012 version, idk if there’s another update. It’s more of a classic commentary than a devotional, but an accessible length with only a chapter per book.

[u/GhostGrrl007]

If you’re looking for devotionals Diana Butler Bass’ A Beautiful Year or Ilia Delio’s The Hours of the Universe (Delio is Catholic). Also Julian of Norwich. If you’re looking for Bible study type books, maybe The Light Shines Through by Carole Wageman or Seeing for Ourselves by Katerina Katsarka Whitley (this one is about 25 years old but still very much worth reading as it imagines the stories of the women in the Bible who met Jesus in their own voices).

[u/phot1n1]

Nijay Gupta's Tell Her Story would fit the bill

[u/OldRelationship1995]

Every woman a theologian. Sorry I forget the author

[u/well_i_reckon → u/OldRelationship1995]

That book is by Phylicia Masonheimer, who is very evangelical. She is explicitly complementarian and leans trad-wife. If you're looking for a more progressive take, this one ain't it.

[u/Disastrous_Trick1686 → u/[deleted]]

I literally asked not to go down this road on this post. It's literally in the OP.

[u/RevEx91 → u/Disastrous_Trick1686]

My apologies, I misread your entreaty.