Jesus and the Feminists: Case Studies in Feminist Hermeneutics -- By: Margaret Elizabeth Köstenberger

Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 14:1 (Spring 2009)
Article: Jesus and the Feminists: Case Studies in Feminist Hermeneutics
Author: Margaret Elizabeth Köstenberger


Jesus and the Feminists:
Case Studies in Feminist Hermeneutics1

Margaret Elizabeth Köstenberger

Adjunct Professor of Women’s Studies

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Introduction: Feminist Approaches To Scripture

There are three general groups of feminists that interact with the Bible in one way or another: (1) radical feminists; (2) reformist feminists; and (3) biblical or evangelical feminists/egalitarians. Radical feminists reject Scripture and Christianity as a whole, owing to what they perceive to be the Bible’s irredeemably patriarchal nature. Their approach is such that they acknowledge what Scripture teaches but proceed to create a theology in conscious opposition to it. Some of these feminists call themselves “post-Christian.”

The same is true to a lesser extent with reformist feminists, except that they do not reject Scripture in its totality but selectively use or discard what does or does not conform to their feminist presuppositions. A reformist feminist typically starts out with the “enlightened notion” that all men—and women—are equal in value and role and then critique and supplement Scripture as they see fit. The authority of Scripture is rejected where it does not conform to their feminist outlook. Additional writings that reflect more closely their own beliefs are included in their canon as well. Some of these reformist feminists are very radical in the views that they espouse. Also, it is not uncommon for feminists to move from a more conservative to a more radical stance over time.

Evangelical or biblical feminism, a movement also called “egalitarianism” due to its emphasis on the full equality of men and women, professes commitment to scriptural inspiration and authority. This movement represents an effort within evangelicalism to revisit the traditional interpretation of gender passages in the Bible, including Jesus’ perspective on women, in order to align it with a notion of gender equality. Within an inerrantist framework, egalitarians consider themselves to be both evangelical/biblical and feminist. While radical and reformist feminists rally around the notion of liberation from oppression, evangelical feminists adopt equality as their central tenet.

The teaching of Gal 3:28 that in Christ “there is neither male nor female” serves as the key biblical text by which all other teachings of Scripture on gender issues are measured. Egalitarians have a higher view of Scripture than radical or reformist feminists. Unlike the latter, who already start ...

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