Why gender matters in Scripture
583479
This book provides a coherent and thorough account of the significance of sexual difference and gender complementarity in Catholic theology. The real strength of this book is that it demonstrates that gender complementarity is not just one metaphor among many in Scripture but deeply ingrained in the logic of revelation itself. The text also points out that the very conception of authority used by the opposing sides is not even remotely synonymous. For Miller, authority is liturgical and rooted towards service, not a blunt expression of power. If you do not hold the beliefs of the author, this text will provide insight to the opposing position and will point to some very serious challenges that Catholic feminism tends to underplay or ignore. The text is not perfect - "feminism" and "feminists" are used without reference to the complexity and range of feminist thought. Additionally, the author sometimes elides the distinction between gender and sex and risks not attending to the different cultural expressions of gender. But even with that, the questions and arguments raised by Miller are not incidental to Catholicism but touch upon some of the most fundamental teachings of the Church.
2994489
Robert Stein (professor of NT at Bethel Theological Seminary) explains the importance of playing by the rules of Bible interpretation to grasp the author's original intent.

One point the author makes is to establish the Rules of Interpretation. Stein breaks this into a four part teaching consisting of Hermeneutics, Vocabulary, Spiritual and Biblical, and the different Forms of Scripture. Stein lays out the roles of the Author, the Text, and the Reader. The second main point in the book is the specific rules of the individual games such as; Wisdom, Prediction, Poetry, Idioms, Hyperbole, Parables, Biblical Narrative, Epistles and Treaties, Laws, and Songs.

Another concept that is covered is the literary genre (literary form) being used by the author that governs that form. An example is the author had previously struggled with the correct meaning of the Beatitudes. Stein realizes that the Beatitudes were not addressed as "conditions for membership" rather, as blessing addressed to "as blessings pronounced upon those already within the kingdom" The author gives very convincing details as to why we should believe this interpretation.

A final important point is the Sensus Plenior (fuller meaning) of the text in chapter six. And the difficulties when this speaks about when the author willed to convey one truth, God had a different truth he willed to convey by the same vocabulary and grammar. An example of this is addressed in Isaiah 7:14 and Hosea 11:1 (Isaiah's day) which would mean a maiden (described as a virgin in the NT) would give birth to a son named Immanuel.

In conclusion, "A Basic Guide to Interpreting the BIBLE" by Robert H. Stein discusses a myriad of scriptures, putting them in the proper literary form to discover the original intention of the author. The author has presented the necessary steps needed to put the scriptures in proper context as the Biblical authors intended.

My opinion of the book is that the author has spent a great deal of time in his research, and he has a vast knowledge of scripture. Many valuable resources are utilized within the book, and the book is very well outlined from start to finish. I found the book challenging and somewhat difficult to read at times, yet it heightened my awareness to the importance of proper hermeneutics. If you are countering struggles in understanding scriptures, I highly recommend adding this book to your shelf as a valuable reference tool whether you are an apologist or lay Christian. Each chapter ends with a questionnaire to get you engaged with the concepts.
4305762
This book discribes a scriptural foundation for how men should consider their masculine role. It covers multiple aspects of life for men to  consider and act in a way that pleases God. The book covers areas of relationship to God, work ethic, marriage to a female, children, friendships, church and in general beiing a leader and a servant.
934938
A new (to me) perspective of the woman of the old testament.  I have unknowingly been reading the Bible from a male perspective, even though I am female. This has helped to change that.
1657770
The NIV 2011 erases gender-specific details which appear in the original language and has gone beyond acceptable translation standards.

Just one example of the NIV 2011's gender-neutral language is John 14:23, which reads, "Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." The NIV 1984 read, "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." Changing "him" to "them," removes the emphasis on an individual, personal relationship with Christ.

Endorsing this translation amounts to a rewriting of what the original authors and - according to 2 Tim. 3:16 - God intended. All translations over the years must, by their nature, take some liberties with language to fit into the current culture. But most accurate translations try to stay as close to the literal text as possible. This new NIV goes way beyond those bounds and changes wording that was clearly, in the Hebrew and Greek, intended to be perceived a specific way.
83583
The text of the book, The Bible Sex and You, covers more material about the subject of sex than I could ever imagine and transcends both the Western medical model and the Western Christian model. If anyone would like to understand the subject of sex from a biblical point of view you would be pleased to read the well researched words of Dr. Roy Blizzard. The author is both an excellent researcher and writer as well as a highly engaging speaker. I wasn't aware that all of this was referenced in the Bible. This knowledge should or could reduce much of the controversy concerning the subject. It should become clear that sex is a natural act condoned by the early biblical authors and teachers and not to be held out to be some kind of evil act as sometimes protrayed in fundameltalist Christianity.
557344
This is a great book for anyone wanting to better understand what the Bible says about women in church leadership. The outline of Biblical support and the identification of why the church and the world need more women in leadership in our day should serve to help bring about change in this area - and we will all be better for it!
2964437
Author Sarah Ruden takes a fresher look at the translation of selected texts from the ancient Hebrew version of Old and New Testaments. The commonly used Bible is the King James Version (KJV) that is largely focused on religious and theological meaning rather than the cultural and historical significance of the texts. In the last fifty years, Biblical scholars have challenged the idea that New Testament is a sacred scripture. John Dominic Crossan, Robert Funk, James R. Butts, Barnes Tatum and Elaine Pagels have used historical and cultural methods to interpret Jesus parables and apostolic writings. This group created Jesus Seminar to discuss the Gospels, Epistles, and Parables of Jesus to understand the real Jesus  However the church had the drive to find God in these writings, hence many translators and commentators overlook smaller details that may have given a different meaning to the texts of the sacred scripture.

Christianism arose when a small group of Jews became convinced that their leader, a poor and relatively uneducated man from the tiny town of Nazareth (a back-water of the Galilee), whom the Romans tortured to death as a troublemaker had risen from death. He is known to have paid with his own life for the sins of others. How can another man pay for our sins? Is that logical or rational? But for more than two billion people this is a divine truth; we have to accept Jesus as a savoir so that all our sins are forgiven. Then we are reborn and will find ever lasting peace in heaven (John 3:16.)

The first Bible translated by Jerome into the Latin version (Vulgate) occurred almost 500 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Martin Luthers Bible in German was published in the early sixteenth century. William Tyndale lost his life popularizing the sacred scriptures as the Word of God and everyone has the right to read it. This was a revolutionary thought for those days but the publication of the King James Version of Bible in 1611 challenged the monopoly of Roman Catholic Church on the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

One interesting conclusion reached by the author is with regards to Paul and his epistles. The first four Pauline epistles in conjunction with the four canonical gospels forms a major work in the teachings of Jesus, but she boldly suggests that  Paul  did not write about willingness to give up my body to be burned (1 Corinthians 13:3.) It is really give up my body so that I can boast about it. But that is not what came out of the pulpit, observes Sarah Ruden. Paul is discussed in greater detail in her previous book, Paul among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time.

Some of the passages translated in this book includes; Paul on circumcision (Galatians 5:1-12); Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:6-21 and Leviticus 19:18); fragile joys of life (Ecclesiastes 9:7-11); Ezekiels Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Genesis 1:1-15); the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel II 12:7); The beatitudes of (Mathew 5:3-12); Genesis 1:1-5; and Mathew 6: 9-13 (The Lords Prayer).

There is a chapter on the re-interpretation of the Parables of Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which concludes that you must know who your friends are. Paul on the love of God through Jesus (Roman 8:31-39) and Revelations Martyrs in Paradise (Revelation 7:9-17) are few interesting translations and interpretations I have read in this book. Proverbs 27:19 says, As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man, which may have played a role in the mind of the author for the title of this book.
480925
The author begins with a presumtive assumption about what the Bible is saying about his subject. From there he sets out to prove his point ignorning the most common rules for Biblical interpretaion including even his claim that certain passages do not mean what they say. Take this book as a indication of why women are struggling with the subject rather than resolving their struggle. The author is at best "dangerous" for women and clergy who are seeing truth in God's word.
284778
90 Days in John 14-17, Romans & James is a helpful resource in a number of ways. First, the authors walk one through the interpretation of the text. This is facilitated by the use of both probing questions and insightful interpretation. While there are certainly remaining questions related to the text, overall the readers are left with a good sense of what is being said.

Second, not only is the text explained but it is also engaged. Put differently, questions are asked that are designed to help the reader think though the impact of the text. This is very helpful. It is one thing to understand what the Bible is saying, it is another to understand how the truth of the text should impact ones heart.

Finally, help is offered in the area of prayer. As the text is unfolded challenges are exposed. The authors help readers think about how one should request the Fathers aid in applying His word.

In summary the book aids in understanding the Biblical text. Help is offered in the area of application and prayer. Perhaps the greatest value of the book is the help it offers in thinking about how scripture should be understood and applied. The model employed might be applied to any Biblical text. In other words, the book helps one understand how to take the raw Biblical text and think about how it should look in ones life.
1809885
Payne's new book is an incredible work.  He gives very good insights into the "gender" verses in the Bible.  If you think you know what the Bible says on gender but have not read this book, I strongly encourage you to read it.

Payne has a blog where he answers questions and responds to reviews, most recently to Schreiner's negative review.
2056415
Malestrom was an eye-opener for me. One of those moments where I asked myself, "where have I been?" I think the most freeing thought was to consider that Patriarchy in the Scripture is a descriptive reality not a prescriptive one. God worked within culture, even in-spite of culture, to accomplish His redemptive work. It opened my own heart to consider the "father wounds" that I carry and will pass on to my children. There is still a lot of work to be done now as I go through other texts, especially in the NT to evaluate my interpretation of God's view of gender relations and roles. It has generated lots of thought, sorrow, repentance, and excitement. Half way through I praised God for giving me my wife and see her through new eyes. I think the applications will extend to how we train women in the church to join us in this effort to advance the Kingdom while remaining committed to male accountability. Even now we see God raising up our sisters in new ways to join us in the work. Praise the Lord.
4470982
Very interesting to read, as this book addresses the many conflicting passages in Scripture.  If read at face value and given a literal interpretation,  the Bible is undeniably full of contradictions which are difficult to reconcile.  If you have many troubling questions after reading Biblical passages which seem contrary to Christ's teachings, this book will help you achieve a more correct interpretation and understanding.  An important point made by the author is that we must understand the Biblical authors' writings within the context of their time and culture.  For example, today we surely recognize as evil both slavery and genocide, two practices which seem to be accepted (even advocated at times) in the Bible.
4764615
Dr. Gafney's Womanist Midrash is an informative and insightful look at the women in the texts of the Hebrew Bible. Dr. Gafney's aim is to acknowledge (by name, as often as possible) the women in, around, and behind the text. This was extremely helpful to me because I have been trained to read the Scriptures with from an androcentric viewpoint, where the women are included in the text as props for the actions of the dominant men. Dr. Gafney's book aims to humanize those women in the eyes of readers.

Because this is a self-acknowledged Midrash, Dr. Gafney makes interpretive choices. Not all of her "sanctified imagining" (a term used repeatedly throughout the book) can be fully supported by the text, but she goes to great pains to ensure that those interpretive choices are well-grounded within the text of the Hebrew Bible, ancient interpretive traditions, and the culture of the time.

I think this book is a very important book for ministers to read because it causes us to question our received interpretations of many biblical passages. I consider myself to have a fairly open mind when it comes to biblical interpretation, and yet Dr. Gafney's womanist perspective provides commentary and insights that I, as a straight, white man in ministry have never before considered (and I find myself now questioning how I could not have ever considered some of these things).

This book is a reminder that the Western, androcentric approach to scripture does not have a monopoly on biblical interpretation, and that serious students of scripture should engage with many other perspectives to try and get a more complete picture of what is going on in the biblical narratives.
48476
The Lord said to Moses, 2 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, 3 set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels[a] of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel[b]; 4 for a female, set her value at thirty shekels[c];

Leviticus 27:1-4

Bible promotes sexism, I can't really get behind that.
On to the Qur'an! :)
2698282
Interesting insights on passages that have bothered many Bible readers. His comments on "Is God sexist" is worth buying the book. It is useful to be aware of the culture of the surrounding nations when reading many sections of the Old Testament.
835880
An insightful and thoughtful look at the possible reasons why women have been and continue to be overlooked for leadership in the Christian church. This is not a feminist manifesto! It is a serious look at what it means that in Christ there is no male or female. A great book for men and women of faith who want to tackle the issue. A perfect book for women who maybe have walked away from God, who feel like
the church has punished them for being female.