Tag: women
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Instructions for Women During Times of Transition: Continuing Paul’s Humility Discourse in 1 Timothy
Men have a tendency to feel a pressing need to get things done. So, Paul reminded them to be quiet and pray. Women are notably different than men, not only physiologically but psychologically. So, Paul treats them differently in 1 Timothy than he does the men. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper…
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Welfare Without Hellfire: Wisdom From Proverbs 31 About Helping Those In Need Without Enslaving Them
In Proverbs 31, Solomon is not telling women how to be women of God. He is advising his own sons to look for certain character qualities in an excellent wife. He is passing on advice from his own mother, Bathsheba, and even using her as the example of an excellent wife. Solomon, I’m sure, has…
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The Profitable Woman Against the Yokes of Welfare and Dependency: Wisdom from Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31 is not a note Solomon wrote telling women exactly what they need to do to be godly. Instead, it is a note from Solomon to His sons about what to look for in a woman. So far, everything we have read elevates women and is countercultural even in our own day. When worldly…
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Generous Servant or High-Maintenance Miser: The Excellent Wife in Proverbs 31
I think Proverbs 31 is too often misunderstood or misappropriated to tell women exactly what they should be if they want to be godly. We know that Solomon is writing to his sons about what he advises them to look for in a potential wife. This isn’t for all women. It concerns excellent wives. Further,…
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Initial Statements About Slaves- Exodus 21:1-11
God instructs Israel concerning slavery and the appropriate times to free slaves. I always found it difficult to recognize that God gave instruction concerning slaves. Like we just saw in Chapter 20, the Law is not the standard for ethics. The Law is meant to bring longevity and prosperity for Israel. Thus, some laws were…
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Equality at the Cross
In the Old Testament, we saw that God created men and women as equals in order to fill the earth and rule over it (Genesis 1:26-28). After humankind sinned and God promised never again to destroy or curse the earth on account of humanity (Genesis 8:21-22), God chose a nation and gave a Law. The…
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Daily Devotional: Exodus 2:11-25
Moses kills an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew slave. The story tells us that Moses recognized the Hebrew as his own people, which means he identified as a Hebrew even though he was raised an Egyptian. When Pharaoh discovers what Moses has done, he tries to kill Moses, forcing Moses to flee Egypt. Moses…
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The Shameless Woman
In the second account of creation, God has formed man and placed him in the garden of luxury. He has given the first man one command, not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The man is by himself in the garden. Today, we see the creation of the first…
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Desire Prophecy, Don’t Forbid Speaking in Tongues
Paul is writing to the local church at Corinth in order to admonish the congregation toward unity in the faith—unity through maturity. He is currently addressing the practice of spiritual gifts—particularly those of prophecy and speaking in tongues. He has admonished the local church to prioritize love, which edifies. He has also instructed the congregation…
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Women Praying and Prophesying in the Local Church Gathering
Paul has been admonishing the Church at Corinth toward unity through maturity. He has expounded on Christian liberty. The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. Therefore, we are to eat and drink and whatever we do to the glory of God, not self. We are not condemned by the consciences of others,…