You Tube Theology

On this episode of Mutuality Matters, Dr. Mimi Haddad meets with Dr. Preston Sprinkle to discuss his new book, "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership." A deeply committed Christian, husband, and father, Preston said his career has focused on serving the church as a scholar. As such, he approaches questions concerning faith and life through a deep dive exegetical analysis of the related biblical passages and related historical contexts. For many years, as a complementarian, Preston read the key passages (1 Tim. 2:11–15, 1 Cor.14:34–36, and Eph. 5:21–33) at face value—through a plain reading of the text which, seemingly, supports male leadership in church and the home. Yet, over time, he noticed how the Greek syntax in these passages was complex. Attending more carefully, he began to focus on single words in the text like “silent.” This practice was quite fruitful in helping him realize how women were not silent in Scripture contra 1 Corinthians 14:34–36. This seeming inconsistency evoked questions around what NT women were talking about. Clearly, they had a voice. In fact, leading Bible women were far from silent. God called and gifted women to speak as prophets, judges, warriors, and diplomats. Women were Christ’s disciples, and women served beside Paul as deacons, apostles, church planters, and his coworkers. Romans 16 abounds with the voices of women, slaves, and non-Jews—aligning with the welcome of women as Gospel agents (Gal. 3:28). Stunningly, women's voices were heard in Corinth, as they prayed and prophesied in the church (1 Cor. 11:5), raising questions about the meaning of 1 Corinthians 14:34–36. Other passages in 1 Corinthians, such as 1 Corinthians 7:4-5, 1 Corinthians 11:7, and 1 Corinthians 11, challenged Preston as a complementarian because:

⦁ Wives and husbands have authority over each other’s bodies: 1 Cor. 7:4–5
⦁ Women prayed and prophesied: 1 Cor. 11:5
⦁ Women “… have authority over her own head, because of the angels” 1 Cor. 11:10
⦁ Woman and man are interdependent: 1 Cor. 11:11–12

Turning to 1 Timothy 2:11–12, Preston points to the extreme use of authority (authentein) Paul evokes in this passage that mirrors the unilateral, domineering authority of slave owners over their slaves, as it demeaned slaves ontologically as lesser humans for a lesser purpose. It was a devaluation Jesus challenged in Matthew 20:25–28.

Summing it up, Preston suggests that three complex, poorly translated texts cannot overturn the “wide ocean of women leaders in Scripture.” Which is why he cautions against silencing women based on a plain reading of the Bible. Add to this the many women scholars he admired even before becoming an egalitarian. Women like Drs. Linda Belleville Sandra Ritcher, Lynn Cohick, Cynthia Westfall, and others are deeply regarded and highly respected throughout the Christian world. We add Preston to the list of egalitarian scholars and leaders, thanking him for his very insightful work throughout this podcast and in his newest book, "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership," available in CBE’s bookstore: https://www.cbeinternational.org/books/from-genesis-to-junia/

00:56 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:59 Preston’s Journey Shift
04:56 Deep Dive Research Process
06:31 Key Textual Turning Points
11:04 Women Scholars and Influences
13:24 Feedback and Early Critiques
19:51 Jesus Centered Vision for Women
21:46 Conference Invitation Chicago 2026
24:39 Hopes for the Book
25:33 When Egalitarianism Gets Real
26:45 Why Change Takes Time
30:37 Texts of Terror Overview
31:06 Women Silent in Church
33:29 Marriage and Household Codes
35:18 Authority in 1 Timothy
37:32 Hardest Passage 1 Corinthians 11
40:24 Mutuality in Paul
43:29 Closing Prayer and Support

Guest Bio: Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, New York Times bestselling author, international speaker, and author of over a dozen books, including "From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership," "Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?" and "Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire." He is co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization that equips Christians to engage questions about faith, sexuality, and gender with theological faithfulness and courageous love. Preston is the president of Theology in the Raw, which includes the popular Theology in the Raw podcast and the annual Exiles in Babylon conference. Dr. Sprinkle earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007) and has taught theology at various institutions.

For the full show notes with links, see: https://www.cbeinternational.org/view-resources/.