The story of God’s love for humanity: highlights from Genesis to Revelation. In the 4th century AD, Bible translations and commentaries were written by men who had a strong prejudice against women. This podcast shares Bible passages and commentary drawn from sources that predate the latter part of the 4th century AD. We hope you will be encouraged! For additional resources, feel free to visit awakedeborah.com.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis chapter 44 from the Good News Bible, Today's English Version. In this story, Judah shows us what it means to repent. His actions also prophetically foreshadow the Easter Story of Jesus' atoning death on the cross.
In our 50th podcast episode, on International Women's Day, we focus on exposing and removing a sexist bias from the following passages, as they are wrongly portrayed in the ESV Study Bible:
-Genesis 3:16
-Ephesians 5:22
-Titus 2:3-5
-Romans 16:7
Male authority is nowhere depicted in the Bible as God's plan. Rather, it is portrayed as the tragic outcome of humanity's decision to turn away from God, and try to make our way without Him.
The Christian message is one of hope and deliverance from social injustice: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 43 from the Good News Translation of the Bible, Today's English Version. In this story, we see Joseph finally reunited with his family. Unfortunately, the Good News Bible makes an error in the translation of an important verse in this passage. This error, and others like it, stem from Latin translations of the Bible in the 4th century AD that began to marginalize the Jewish People. Similar translation errors, made by theologians of the same era, also began to marginalize women. At this time in history, the church had newly become an arm of the Roman state--a state that was prejudiced against women and Jews. In this episode, we restore the original meaning of the passage, as found in ancient Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic manuscripts--all of which were written long before the 4th century AD.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 42 from the Good New Translation, Today's English Version. In this story, we see that Joseph was chosen by God to be Governor of Egypt. Joseph was chosen because he was filled with God's Holy Spirit, who gave him greater wisdom and insight than any other person. In addition to being filled with God's Spirit, Joseph was also strongly emotional, and this did not disqualify him from a position of leadership. Ironically, patriarchal theologians have wrongfully accused women of being "too emotional to lead."
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 41:1-41 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version. In this story, God warns the King of Egypt through his dreams that a famine is coming. Joseph correctly interprets these dreams, and then helps Egypt prepare for the coming hardship. As a result, Joseph is elevated to a position of power in Egypt. As strange as it may seem, influential patriarchal theologians--past and present--make an inaccurate assumption about God, based on this story. This faulty assumption is then used to justify the subjugation of women to male authority.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 39 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version. In this story, Potiphar's wife attempts to commit adultery with Joseph, and then falsely accuses him of rape. In almost every English translation of the Bible Joseph is described as "well-built and good looking." Two English Bibles, however, omit this information. They are the Geneva Bible and the King James Version. Written during the rise of the Puritan movement, it seems their translators were concerned that it might be sinful to draw attention to someone's physical appearance. Doing so, it was believed, might even "cause others to stumble." For centuries, this way of thinking has made women feel responsible for the sexual conduct of men. Joseph's appearance, however, did not cause Potiphar's wife to make her sinful choices. Similarly, a woman's appearance is never responsible for the sexual behavior of men.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 38 from the New English Translation of the Bible. This passage has been frequently misused to demonize human sexuality. The story also highlights double standards and oppressive traditions that are often found in patriarchal cultures.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis chapter 37 from the Good News Translation, Today’s English Version. This story tells us how Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Envy and strife were connected to Jacob’s practice of polygamy. It was a longstanding ancient custom for Jewish men to have either more than one wife at a time, or more than one wife in succession. In the New Testament, both Jesus and the apostle Paul confronted these practices. Sadly, some patriarchal theologians take Paul’s words out of context, in an attempt to prevent women from sharing leadership positions in the church.
In this podcast episode, we read Genesis 35:16-21 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version. We read about the death of Rachel in childbirth, and how God responds to her tears with a promise of redemption for her children.
In this episode, we read Genesis 35:1-15 from the Good News Translation, Today's English Version. Jacob and his family turn from idolatry. This entails leaving behind jewelry that was engraved with the images of Canaanite gods. This does not mean that women may not wear jewelry. It also does not suggest that the outward beauty of women will "cause men to stumble." In addition to examining the original meaning of Genesis 35, we also investigate the meaning of other biblical "modesty" passages, in their original languages and contexts.
