Journal: Eikon
Volume: EIKON 06:2 (Fall 2024)
Article: Revisiting "Evangelical Feminism": A New Path To Liberalism
Author: Jonathon Woodyard

Eikon 6.2 (Fall 2024) p. 115

Revisiting Evangelical Feminism: A New Path To Liberalism

Jonathon Woodyard

Jonathon D. Woodyard is Vice President of Student Life and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO.

Several years ago, a debate surrounding the inner workings of the Trinity erupted. One theologian whose views were in the crosshairs was Wayne Grudem, recently retired distinguished research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary.1 Through his voluminous writings and decades of lectures, Grudem has significantly influenced the evangelical theological landscape. His most popular work, Systematic Theology,2 has gone through multiple editions and sold more than 500,000 copies.3

In 2016, however, Grudem’s explanation of the Trinity in reference to the eternal relationship of the divine persons, specifically the Father and the Son, came under fire from other Protestant theologians.4 Though filled with complexities, Grudem has consistently explained that he believes in ontological equality within the Trinity. That is, within the nature of the Trinity, all persons are equal in essence. Functionally,

Eikon 6.2 (Fall 2024) p. 116

however, the Son submits to the Father and always has (thus, eternal subordination). For years, some theologians and pastors have found this to be a helpful explanation of the Trinitarian relationship and used such arguments to undergird their complementarian theology. That is, men and women are equally created in the image of God and are of equal value and worth (just like the Father and Son are equal in divinity). Yet, women are called to submit to the leadership of their (male) husbands and to their (male) elders (like the Son submits to the Father).

As critics have taken Grudem’s trinitarian theology to task and offered a corrective that many have found convincing, some pastors and theologians have decided to cast Grudem aside altogether. But this is a mistake. Grudem is not perfect, but his many writings are still helpful today. Pastors and professors alike would find his work on various subjects a real help to them in their ministries.

One of the areas of theology that Grudem has spent a lot of time addressing is that of manhood and womanhood.5 Specifically, he has written extensively on the topic of egalitarianism and complementarianism. For more than fifty yea...