ACADEMIC VOLUME 14 . NUMBER 1 . winter 2005 ALERT IVP’s BOOK BULLETIN FOR PROFESSORS
INSIDE Making Grace Visible: Anabaptist Theology and
P A G E 4 Spiritual Activism A New Look at the Cross homas N. Finger recently had a recessive gene, because I was deeply interested in Peter G. Bolt’s addition to Tcompleted his monumental big religious and philosophical questions from the time I the New Studies in Biblical work, A Contemporary Anabaptist was twelve. I sought to answer them through intellectual Theology series examines Theology: Biblical, Historical, inquiry but dropped out of college (actually, flunked out), Constructive. Editor Gary Deddo largely due to discouragement and accompanying emo- Christ’s atonement as found in had a chance to speak with him tional struggles. While I was a dropout, I finally became the Gospel of Mark. about his own background and a Christian in a way that seemed ridiculously simple: by the development of this work. simply asking Jesus into my heart. So I thank God for P A G E 4 Deddo: Tom, could you tell us allowing me to get to that low point where I was humble Thomas N. Finger a little about your background enough to accept whatever God offered. I had a definite Now Let’s Hear What the Rest and your relationship to the conversion experience—though I certainly don’t think of the World Has to Say . . . Anabaptist tradition? that everyone must. That was over forty years ago, but it Two new volumes in the Finger: My family of origin was not particularly reli- still seems like only a few years. It was wonderful to enjoy Christian Doctrine in Global gious, though we did attend a Presbyterian church occa- a fairly simple, lively faith at first. But I gradually real- sionally, beginning when I was about ten. My parents ized that God had not simply wanted to rescue me, but Perspective series assist Western and relatives were mostly business people, climbing the wanted to make me into everything for which I had been Christians in listening to our economic and social ladder. My background was very created. So I began the frightening journey back into aca- brothers and sisters around the far from Mennonite or evangelical. But I seem to have demia—in an evangelical context, which was brand new. world. continued on page 2
P A G E 5 Biblical Gender Equality: Complementarity Without Examining Evangelical Ecclesiology Hierarchy A reticence toward ecclesiologi- n October IVP released a lengthy, multidisciplinary cal reductionism meets efforts Ibook on gender issues—Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy (hereafter DBE)— toward a constructive theology edited by Ronald W. Pierce and Rebecca Merrill of the church. Groothuis, with Gordon D. Fee as contributing editor. Jim Hoover recently interviewed Ron and Rebecca. P A G E 5 Hoover: With as many books out there on the subject of men and women in the church, what was the impetus Questioning the Consensus for this project? What makes it stand out from others in Ronald W. Pierce Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Editors Mark Goodacre and the field? Nicholas Perrin introduce a Groothuis: There seemed to be a clear need for a Hoover: You’ve subtitled the book Complementarity single resource that covered the main issues and argu- Without Hierarchy. Is that just deliberately provocative, diverse group of scholars who ments for biblical equality. I wanted people to see that or is there something substantive that you are trying to challenge the current consensus biblical equality makes sense from every angle; it’s not get at? just a matter of exegeting a few controversial biblical Groothuis: It is not intended to be deliberately pro- regarding Q. vocative, but it does make a point—namely, that the idea proof texts—or, in some cases, “proof words.” of male-female complementarity is not the issue at stake Pierce: DBE is the first comprehensive scholarly col- in the gender debate. Indeed, the concept fits as well with lection of essays from an egalitarian perspective to have gender equality as with gender hierarchy. It is axiomatic been published in North America in the past thirty that male and female are complementary; that is, they years. complete and correspond to one another.
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Anabaptist Theology, continued from page 1
Deddo: Some of our readers might be curious to mation of this book? know what a good Anabaptist is doing publishing Finger: I received my Ph.D. in a liberal set- in evangelical circles. Can you shed some light on ting but spent a year in Germany with Wolfhart the relationship you see between the two? Pannenberg. My main concerns were issues dis- Finger: Though I did not fully realize this then, cussed among evangelical, neo-orthodox and I was initially attracted to Anabaptism because it liberal Protestants. But through some hints in offered a creative way of integrating two valid fea- John Howard Yoder’s Politics of Jesus and Robert tures of Christian faith that other Christian groups Friedmann’s Theology of Anabaptism, I began to see affirm one-sidedly. Not, however, because it offered that while Anabaptists/Mennonites had writ- some easy compromise, some fifty/fifty solution, ten very little formal, or explicit, theology, a pro- but because it offered very creative ways of both found implicit theology underlay their practical understanding issues—for example, social vs. per- Christianity. Yoder hinted at how this perspective sonal dimensions of faith—and proposing viable might creatively resolve some main contemporary solutions. Early on I sensed that Anabaptism car- theological issues. From then on, I understood ried significant ecumeni- the explication of this implicit cal potential and was not theology to be my main schol- EVANGELICALS COULDN’T REALLY really “sectarian.” I dis- arly task. as Nicaea and Chalcedon. Other Anabaptists ADDRESS SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES. covered this standpoint Deddo: What of interest value approaches and beliefs affirmed by other LIBERAL CHRISTIANS, HOWEVER, in 1970 but didn’t join a to our readers can you tell us Christians. But this can lead to granting academic Mennonite congregation SEEMED REALLY INTERESTED ONLY IN about current developments methods or a broad ecumenical consensus a prior- until 1980. CHANGING SOCIAL STRUCTURES, AND in Anabaptist theology and ity. I argue that some ecumenically shared beliefs, As I finished semi- SEEMED TO HAVE A VERY SHALLOW church life? And how might rightly articulated, far from diluting Anabaptist nary, Vietnam protests PERSONAL FAITH. your book intersect them? distinctives, can help express them more strongly. were in full swing, but F i n g e r : E v e r s i n c e Second, Anabaptists/Mennonites have I had no clear idea of the Reformation, most always stressed ethics and community. Yet a strong what a Christian sociopolitical outlook might Anabaptists/Mennonites have been neither highly tendency to ethical and social reductionism exists be. At that time, most evangelicals claimed to be educated nor culturally sophisticated—mostly among Anabaptist theologians. At the same time, apolitical, though many were quite far to the right because mainstream society forced them to the this predominantly ethical, practical emphasis and supported the Vietnam war. During Ph.D. margins. Not until the 1940s did American is leaving many Anabaptist churches and their studies in a very different, left-wing environment Mennonites have a few visible Ph.Ds. By the members exhausted and spiritually hungry. I argue my social and political questions became acute. 1960, they were doing sophisticated work in New that the spiritual dimension, rightly understood, This, for me, was the basic problem: Evangelicals Testament and ethics. Constructive, or systematic far from diluting ethical, communal and socio- seemed really interested in personal conversions theology, in Anabaptist perspective began about political activities, can greatly strengthen them. alone. Their converts either became apolitical 1980. My book seeks to survey this field and inter- Deddo: In the researching and writing of this or maintained, uncritically, whatever social out- act with other Anabaptist theologians—as well as book did you have any “aha” moments where you look they held before. Evangelicals couldn’t really with Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox believ- recognized something really important that you or address sociopolitical issues. Liberal Christians, ers—on some main issues. These developments others had overlooked? however, seemed really interested only in chang- reflect greatly increased Mennonite involvement in Finger: The book took over seven years to ing social structures, and seemed to have a very higher education and mainstream society, but also write. Such experiences were not so much single shallow personal faith. How could the person- a quest for Anabaptist identity. When identity is moments as repeated ones of deeper wonder and al and social dimensions of Christian faith fit no longer defined by ethnicity and culture-specific excitement. I kept being amazed at how implic- together? It was as I wrestled with this amidst behavior, it must be defined, in part, by theological itly “sacramental” Anabaptists have been—in the protests and campus shut-downs over Vietnam convictions. practical sense of making invisible, spiritual grace that Anabaptism offered a fresh answer. For In my view, two intra-Anabaptist debates visible through every facet of their physical lives Anabaptists, I learned, faith is personal, since it are most important. First, how much emphasis and work. Yet their explicit theology—which involves decisive commitment to Jesus. Yet it’s should be placed on Anabaptist distinctives— was often somewhat unclear—downgraded the also social, since this involves commitment to the peace, believers’ baptism, etc.—and how much physical world, and especially their bodies. I was overall way of life that Jesus taught, and to com- on commonalities with other Christians? Some increasingly amazed at how profoundly Pilgram munities which made, and continue to make, that theologians rightly worry that as Anabaptists Marpeck understood this, and, often far better commitment. become more mainstream, they will blend in and than other Anabaptists, gave it explicit expression. Deddo: Could you tell us a little about your more lose the unique things they have to offer. But this This included reflection on the church sacra- formal training and how it contributed to the for- effort can lead to trashing beliefs as widely shared ments. While Anabaptists insisted on believers’ continued on page 6
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Discovering Biblical Equality, continued from page 1 Pierce: We acknowledge and embrace this argue in my chapter, if this so-called role is, in fact, ways. DBE has an entire chapter explicating these truth. But we do not attempt to define in a pre- biblically mandated and justified for all women for watershed differences. scriptive way how masculinity and femininity are worked out in our human fallenness and in all time, then it logically entails women’s funda- Hoover: What surprises do you think readers our various cultural contexts. The Bible does not mental inferiority in being and not merely in func- will find in this book? provide adequate data for such an enterprise. tion. Yet we know from Scripture that man and Pierce: Here the term discovering in the title Complementarity need not necessarily lead to woman are created equal in being. Thus woman’s male hierarchy, but it can exist, and flourish, with- subordination is contradicted by woman’s equality. out it. We cannot, as the saying goes, have our cake and Hoover: Becca, your chapter “Equal in Being, eat it too when it comes to acknowledging women Unequal in Role” tackles head-on a major prem- as equals while we keep them in their “place.” And ise of those who challenge the notion of biblical it won’t do to insist that even if it’s not logical it equality without hierar- must be true because the chy. Why do you think Bible says so. Not even this stock response has WHEN ONE APPLIES TO THE TEXTS ON God can make a logical so much appeal? Why HOMOSEXUALITY THE HERMENEUTIC THAT contradiction true. And do you think this issue is EVANGELICALS USE IN DERIVING GENDER if it can’t be true, then it so critical? EQUALITY FROM THE BIBLICAL TEXTS, THE can’t be biblical. Groothuis: For most Hoover: Opponents of CLEAR CONCLUSION IS THAT, ALTHOUGH of church history women your point of view often were denied equal status THE TRADITIONAL BAN ON WOMEN IN suggest that egalitarian- with men because it was LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE ABANDONED, ism inevitably leads to held that women were THE SCRIPTURAL BAN ON HOMOSEXUAL- liberalism in the church. simply inferior persons, ITY SHOULD BE RETAINED. How do you respond to by God’s design. Then that charge? later in the twentieth Pierce: The charge century the church came to believe that God did would be appropriate if we based our conclusions not create woman to be personally inferior to man; merely on cultural pressure in opposition to the comes in, especially for those unaware of the work yet the submission texts were still understood to teaching of Scripture. But the opposite is true. We of evangelicals for biblical gender equality, or for exclude women from equal participation in the affirm and submit to the teaching of God’s Word, those who have heard about this position through church and in the home, especially with respect which we believe teaches a complementary gender those who oppose our work. Contrary to the to any activities deemed spiritually authoritative. equality—not patriarchy. charges of many of its critics, the biblical equality But this left dangling the question, Why should Groothuis: This charge seems to be more a position affirms the truth of Scripture, celebrates an equal person be excluded from certain key perception of guilt by association than anything the “maleness and femaleness” of God’s creation, is areas of human activity and ministry? To reconcile else, an emotionally laden impression, not a well- not the product of “contemporary feminist cultural this conflict, the “equal in being/unequal in role” reasoned conclusion. We believe it is the right trends,” and does not deny the enduring principles construct was devised. This is the linchpin of the thing for churches to permit women whom the of all the gender-related texts of the Bible. In short, entire hierarchical-complementarian enterprise. Spirit has gifted and called to serve in leadership many will be surprised to discover how biblical They must be able to uphold equality of being ministry alongside men without restriction based gender equality is. alongside inferiority in role, and this hermeneuti- on gender because the Bible affirms the gifts and Hoover: Gordon Fee served as contributing edi- cal device is the widely accepted way of reconcil- ministries and priesthood of all believers in Christ, tor to this volume. Would you like to say a little ing these two propositions. Yet in my chapter I regardless of gender or any other social or physical more about the role he played in the development show that it simply is not logically possible to have difference. of this project? women be both equal and unequal in this way. Hoover: The other charge I often hear is that the Pierce: The work of the three editors was inten- Because of its rationale as intrinsic to God’s sort of reasoning that is used to defend egalitarian- tionally complementary—that is, we sought to original creation design, and its nature as neces- ism leads to acceptance of homosexuality. How do practice what we preach. I initiated the project sary, permanent and grounded in woman’s unalter- you respond to this charge? and brought Old Testament expertise to the task. able ontology, woman’s inferior “role” does not fit Groothuis: When one applies to the texts on Rebecca brought significant editorial skill and the definition of a role. Calling woman’s subordi- homosexuality the hermeneutic that evangelicals experience, along with a razor-sharp theological nation a mere “role” or “function” serves as a rhe- use in deriving gender equality from the biblical and philosophical mind. Gordon is our interna- torical decoy that makes woman’s subordination to texts, the clear conclusion is that, although the tionally recognized New Testament and herme- man’s authority appear compatible with woman’s traditional ban on women in leadership should be neutics scholar, as well as text critic. As contribut- full spiritual and ontological equality with man. abandoned, the scriptural ban on homosexuality ing editor, he wrote four vitally important chap- Herein lies its appeal. It appears to resolve the should be retained. This is because the Bible itself ters, and read and critiqued all the others. conflict between equality and inequality. But, as I treats these two issues in diametrically different Hoover: Ron, you seem to be vitally interested
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aul Chamberlain’s Talking Distance (NSBT) examines the PAbout Good and Bad Without narrative, history and theology Getting Ugly describes both the n e w of Christ’s atonement found challenges to moral discourse in the Gospel of Mark. Bolt in contemporary culture and noteworthy addresses exegetical questions, the means to overcome them. touches on the polemical issues An excellent supplemental text & surrounding our doctrinal for- for undergraduate ethics or mulations and takes up our apologetics courses. ried couples and help for counselors in finding practical concerns for evangel- transforming forgiveness and reconciliation even ism. That God moved toward humanity in the In The Truth About Tolerance: in the most desperate of situations. She offers no very moment of its greatest rebellion was and is Pluralism, Diversity and the Culture easy, back-to-the-status-quo solutions but direc- cause for hope and wonder. Wars, coauthors Brad Stetson tion as to what it takes for couples to find healing and Joseph G. Conti counter and new health in relationship. Informed but very A User’s Guide to Bible the charge that conviction about accessible for professionals and laypersons looking Translations offers a sweep- tolerance and the commitment for real hope. ing history of the translation to truth are mutually exclusive. At its core, racial division is a of Scripture. David Dewey They in fact make the claim spiritual problem. At the same lays out not so much what that the opposite is the case. Tolerance as often time injustice must never be version to use but what ques- understood easily collapses into intolerance, and spiritualized. In The Heart of tions ought to be asked. A a Christian—even evangelical—commitment to Racial Justice: How Soul Change word-for-word translation truth provides a secure foundation for a tolerant Leads to Social Change Brenda may not serve the purposes of society which provides room for others to pursue Salter McNeil and Rick preaching, while a loose paraphrase may offer little a knowledge of the truth. Richardson make the crucial scholarly benefit. In the end, this book provides a connection between the role of healing prayer and helpful anchor for scaling the big wall of English Asbury Theological Seminary spiritual warfare in bringing about justice. They translations looming over us. professor of counseling call their readers to do the internal work that will Virginia Todd Holeman then allow them to do God’s work in the world. brings together in Reconcilable Find out why John M. Perkins calls this book “a Differences her own clinical 2005 Wheaton Theology blueprint for the Christian church.” experience and research with Conference: “Women, biblical and theological insight Growing out of lectures at Moore Theological to provide guidance for mar- College in Sydney, Peter G. Bolt’s The Cross from a Ministry and the Gospel”
h e 1 4 t h A n n u a l TWheaton Theology Now Let’s Hear What the Rest of the World Has to Say . . . Conference will be held April 7-9, 2005, at Wheaton h e M a j o r i t y Majority World, revis- College. The theme will be World contin- its his plea for unity T “Women, Ministry and the ues to make its voice in the newly revised Gospel,” and speakers will heard in the Western Evangelical Truth. He explore the possibility of finding fresh church. IVP celebrates fleshes out an evangeli- perspectives in this often entrenched cal understanding of this development with debate. Biblical scholars, church histori- truth centered in the two additions to the ans and systematic theologians who have trinitarian gospel, with landmark Christian represented a range of positions on this a strong emphasis on Doctrine in Global issue will be involved in considering new the faithful living out Perspective (CDGP), paradigms for understanding the nature of our evangelical con- with more volumes on of gender and Christian public ministry victions in fellowship with one another. Stott’s the way. in light of the gospel. reliable voice, guided by his years of listening to Joe Kapolyo, former principal of the The conference is sponsored the church outside his native London, makes this Theological College of Central Africa, brings us by the Wheaton College Graduate highly personal book an important resource in the The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives Through School Department of Biblical & ongoing effort to bring a global perspective to our African Eyes. Kapolyo asks questions of what is Theological Studies, Archaeology and understanding of Christian doctrine. central to human identity from a perspective World Religions, and by InterVarsity Taken together with Samuel Escobar’s The largely shielded from the fierce individualism and Press. For more information visit www. New Global Mission (CDGP), these books invite competitiveness in Western culture, informed wheaton.edu/Theology/theology- the Western church to engage the strong scholar- conference.html or e-mail Theology. more closely instead by an African, tribal context. ship and vital faith of the church in the Majority [email protected]. John Stott, himself no stranger to the World.
4 winter 2005
Attending to Evangelical Ecclesiology
he Community given attention because its neglect really constitutes An evangelical vision of the church must somehow Tof the Word: a detriment to evangelicalism’s maturity and abil- include its missional, moral, doxological and cul- Toward an Evangelical ity to participate in wider Christian church discus- turally engaging dimensions all on the basis of its Ecclesiology, edited by sions. worship, which is in response to the creative call- Mark Husbands and Fourteen essays by notable scholars including ing together and transformation of the people of Daniel J. Treier, is the John Webster, William J. Abraham, Allen Verhey, God through Jesus Christ and in the power of the fruit of the work and D. G. Hart and Ellen T. Charry, take up the task Spirit. The essays together constitute an overview interaction of pre- of reviewing the situation from historical, bibli- of the richness and depth of evangelical thought senters at the 2004 cal and theological perspectives. The result is a on the nature of the church and promise to con- Wheaton Theology multidimensional treatment that illuminates an tribute to a more satisfactory ecclesiology that can Conference. There is evangelical resistance to ecclesiological reduction- be of benefit for the whole church in its variety of a growing sense that the ambiguity among evan- ism but also highlights the challenge of formulating expressions. gelicals about the nature of the church needs to be a cohesive and coherent theology of the church.
New Commentaries for Your Enjoyment
s k e d a b o u t Scripture marches forward with the volume on mentary on the letter. Awhether a new Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, edited The Bible Speaks commentary series by J. Robert Wright from General Theological Today has two excel- was worth launch- Seminary in New York, and the volume on lent additions: The ing years ago, David Hebrews, edited by Philip D. W. Krey and Message of the Trinity Scholer commented, Erik M. Heen, both from Lutheran Theological by Brian Edgar which “Well, scholars like Seminary in Philadelphia. The former shows again offers a practical bib- to write them, and how adept the church fathers were in seeing Christ lical theology of the people like to read in the Old Testament in rich and edifying ways. Trinity, complete with them.” So we are Krey and Heen, while still giving the big picture, study guide; and The pleased to announce have relied heavily on Chrysostom’s Homilies on the Message of Exodus, a several new offerings in ongoing series. Epistle to the Hebrews as a prism for looking at the skilled exposition of the book from series editor The Ancient Christian Commentary on book of Hebrews and other early Christian com- J. Alec Motyer.
Questioning the Consensus
ckhard Schnabel, winning web directory The New Testament Eric Eve of the University of Oxford engages Ein his monumen- Gateway
5 ACADEMICALERT
Anabaptist Theology, continued from page 2 baptism and correct celebration of the Lord’s Supper Finger: Surprisingly, in 1983 I found myself represent- ACADEMICALERT at the risk of their lives, they had no category for God’s ing Mennonites in the National Council of Churches IVP’S BOOK BULLETIN FOR PROFESSORS presence in these but “spiritual.” Their opponents, under- and, even more surprisingly, I’ve continued until now! standably, wondered why Anabaptists insisted on using I considered myself on the evangelical side of the divide Andy Le Peau Editorial Director water, wine and bread. I was stunned by Marpeck’s against liberalism. NCC’s goals related to ultimate insight that the issue was “not the element . . . but the church union seemed vague and even undesirable. But James Hoover activity . . . not water, bread and wine . . . but baptism I’ve always found myself and Mennonites wonder- Associate Editorial Director and and the Supper.” Church sacraments were not things, fully welcome. I’ve learned more from articulate spokes- Senior Editor for Academic & Reference Books but actions, or rituals. The essences of water, bread and persons of other churches than would fill another six- wine did not change. Nevertheless, they belonged to the hundred-page book! In that context I began to really Daniel G. Reid ritual’s “essence.” For Christ chooses to convey grace in a learn about Catholicism and Orthodoxy. My desire for Senior Editor for Reference & Academic Books special way through the Supper, and its physical elements the unity of Christ’s true church has continued to grow. play an indispensable role. Without bread and wine, Through many conversations on many issues, I kept dis- Gary Deddo the Supper wouldn’t be the Lord’s Supper. Marpeck, I covering how Anabaptism’s implicit theology could help Associate Editor for Academic Books maintain, expressed well explicitly Anabaptism’s implicit in this task. This is a major theme of my present book. Joel Scandrett sacramentality—and provides ways to connect with Many of these learnings are in it—along with my insis- Associate Editor for Reference & “sacramental” Christian traditions, and offer them the tence on maintaining Anabaptist distinctives like peace, Academic Books
Anabaptist awareness of the sacramentality of everyday economic sharing and believers’ baptism, which many Al Hsu life and work. churches consider divisive. Things I’ve learned from Associate Editor for General Books Deddo: Your work has also gotten some interest outside evangelicals—like vital faith in Jesus, transformation Ellen Hsu of Anabaptist circles besides the evangelical branch. Can by the Spirit, biblical authority and global mission—are Rights Coordinator you tell us something about that development? also essential to any ecumenism that I’d favor. Emily Varner Academic Sales & Marketing Manager
Discovering Biblical Equality, continued from page 3 Brooke Nolen Print Publicity Manager in getting both sides talking. Tell us about the session read a strong defense of both views from a wide array of that you have planned at ETS. Even though we’re talk- recognized scholars and make up their own minds. I am Matthew J. Smith ing now, the session will be over before this interview thankful that such a volume now exists. Academic Alert Editor appears in print. Hoover: What are your hopes for this book? The Academic Alert is published three times Pierce: Yes, this is a passion of mine. My twenty-eight Pierce: My hopes are, first, that DBE will encourage a year by InterVarsity Press. To order any years of work among a faculty of fifty evangelicals who both men and women to practice the truth of bibli- books featured in this bulletin, return the generally represent a male-leadership position has taught cal equality in their churches and homes; second, that accompanying reply card or contact: me the need to foster a more civil and higher level of thinking Christians will more fairly and clearly consider InterVarsity Press P.O. Box 1400 dialogue and debate, rather than the heated arguments the strengths and weaknesses of both positions in light Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426 and reactionary attacks that have often characterized of the authoritative teaching of Scripture; and third, that (630) 734-4321 [email protected] the “gender discussion” in the past several decades. Our we might set a corrective course toward a more positive www.ivpress.com work in the Evangelicals and Gender Study Group at and charitable dialogue on this important topic. ETS has been focused on this goal, to which the steering Groothuis: My hope is that DBE will receive a wide Manuscripts and book proposals should be sent to the appropriate academic editor. committee members and panel participants consciously and fair reading in and beyond the evangelical world. Questions, comments, change of address contribute. I believe that with God’s help our best years I hope and pray that many will hear and heed its lib- notifications and all other correspondence may be sent to [email protected]. lie ahead, during which we can model more fully the one- erating message that men and women can and should ness that Christ desires for the church, without minimiz- minister to the glory of God by the power of the Spirit For information about translations of InterVarsity Press titles, please contact ing the significant differences that we have on this topic. according to their gifts and abilities, and not be hindered Ellen Hsu, Rights Coordinator, at Hoover: How might this book be used in a classroom by gender restrictions that are not mandated by Holy [email protected] or visit our website at www.ivpress.com/info/translations. setting? Writ. When believers in Christ come to understand Groothuis: It would serve well as a main textbook for that women stand before God with the same responsi- Academic journal editors, for media copies visit www.ivpress.com/media. any class addressing the gender debate in evangelicalism. bilities and privileges as men, then the church will not It could also be used as a supplemental text for classes in be hampered by any perceived need to keep women Vol. 14, No. 1 Copyright © 2005 by InterVarsity Christian Christian social ethics or theology. subordinate but will instead be more fully empowered Fellowship/USA. All rights reserved. Pierce: I have dreamed of a volume like DBE for by the Spirit as all members of the body are able to pur- decades and had my first discussion of such a project sue the ministries to which God has called them. The with Andy Le Peau at IVP about fourteen years ago. mission of biblical equality is not simply to empower I wanted a text to set beside John Piper and Wayne women as individuals but to empower the church as the Grudem’s 1991 comprehensive work, Recovering Biblical body of Christ on this earth. Manhood and Womanhood, so that my students could 6