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Andrew Bartlett's debut theological work, 'Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts' landed like a bomb in the evangelical debate on gender 'roles'. Reviews from both sides of an entrenched disagreement ranged from defensively ignoring his main points, to strongly affirming the value in his careful, measured and even-handed approach.
Bartlett was invited to speak on the topic of this book in the USA at the Evangelical Theological Society (in a packed debate with Tom Schreiner), at Christians for Biblical Equality's International conferences, and in other countries.
In this magisterial new book, Bartlett takes the discussion wider and deeper, engaging with more voices, both historical and contemporary. Seeking to be rigorously biblical, he argues that on crucial points 'complementarian' teachings add to God's word. He challenges some cherished assumptions on both sides of the debate and sets out a mutualist position. Doing much more than updating his first book, True Complementarity includes examination of:
- The teaching of Jesus on women and apostles.
- Historical interpretations of the key passages.
- Whether egalitarianism is a 'slippery slope'.
- Issues of authorship and hermeneutics pertinent to the debate.
He provides a new and thorough engagement with 1 Timothy 2:9-15.
True Complementarity invites the reader to consider what the Bible really says about the way of Christ for men and women. It builds greater confidence in distinguishing between commands of God and traditions of men. It is sure to reset the discussion.
— Mimi Haddad, PhD, President, CBE International
"Andrew Bartlett's 2019 book Men and Women in Christ set a high standard in the handling of Scripture. The "devastating thoroughness" and "rigorous scrutiny" which I commended then continues now in a deeper and wider study that listens to many more voices, both contemporary and historical. There is much new material, including Chapter 31, which addresses the differences between the complementarian - mutualist debate and the debate over same-sex unions. This is required reading for anyone who assumes some easy equivalence. I was reminded of Paul taking every thought captive to obeying Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Andrew's evident desire and my hope, like that of the apostle, is that this book, by taking us back to Scripture, will bring us more into conformity with Christ - not tearing down his body but building it up."
— The Rt Revd Keith Sinclair, Chair of EFAC (The Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion), 20
"Few scholars are better equipped to navigate this debate than Andrew Bartlett. Having already earned the respect of readers for his careful handling of Scripture, Bartlett brings again to this work a rare qualification: the disciplined judgment of an international arbitrator, entrusted with resolving multinational disputes worth billions of dollars. He weighs evidence fairly, distinguishes strong arguments from weak ones and refuses easy conclusions... 'Bartlett combines meticulous biblical scholarship, an extraordinary command of the history of interpretation, wide engagement with contemporary voices and analytical precision. This unique combination enables him to assess competing interpretations with exceptional clarity - and to produce one of the most comprehensive and rigorous studies yet seen on the vital and life-enhancing topic of what Scripture teaches about the way of Christ for men and women..."
— Terran Williams, MTh, co-pastor of Nova Church, Cape Town, South Africa, co-leader of the A2 Movemen
2 A brief history of women's inferiority
3 How Jesus treated women 40
4 Jesus, male apostles and ministry 59
5 Genesis and God's image 86
6 Hints of male leadership in Genesis 2 - 3? 106
7 Does the Old Testament teach masculine and feminine 'roles' based on male leadership? 135
8 Women and leadership in the Old Testament 156
9 Men and women in 1 Corinthians 7 174
10 Ephesians 5: Paul's mutualist view of marriage 196
11 Objections to mutual submission 231
12 1 Peter: submission, honour and ministry 259
13 Women's ministry at and after Pentecost 283
14 Priscilla and Aquila - teachers mentored by Paul 313
15 Junias or Junia, man or woman? 335
16 Does Paul refer to Andronicus and Junia as apostles? 353
17 Andronicus and Junia: what kind of apostles? 378
18 1 Corinthians 11 and 'headship' theology 394
19 1 Corinthians 11: more questions 419
20 1 Corinthians 11: men and women co-leading with propriety 438
21 1 Corinthians 14: silencing women? 460
22 Silence added in 1 Corinthians 14 492
23 1 Timothy 2: introducing the issues 524
24 1 Timothy: context and contents 552
25 1 Timothy: Paul's vocabulary and misbehaving women 570
26 1 Timothy 2: teaching while female or teaching falsely? 600
27 1 Timothy 2: an absence of appropriate 'authority' 620
28 1 Timothy 2: Adam and Eve 652
29 1 Timothy: the Childbearing 677
30 Elders' qualifications 699
31 Culture war and slippery slopes 738
32 Affirmations and questions 763
Appendix: Translations affecting women 774