Product Overview
For too long, the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are “bad girls,” such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored. However, the women of the Bible are complex, multidimensional individuals whose lives are inspiring, funny, and tragic in ways too many of us never hear.
In this second of two volumes, Lynn Japinga acquaints readers with the women of the Bible. From faithful forerunners like Anna and Elizabeth to female disciples like the sisters Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene to first-generation followers like Lydia and Dorcas, readers will encounter a wealth of foremothers in the faith in all their messy, yet redeemable, humanity. This Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more New Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman’s story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.
Reviews
“An engaging and imaginative study of the women in the New Testament. The women of the Bible can appear distant from our modern lives. Japinga’s prose helps us see they are not and that these women still have many things to teach us. Through the book, we can feel a connection with our ancient sisters, and their acts of bravery and dedication remind us that our Christian call is to do the same.”
—Beth LaNeel Tanner, Kansfield Chair of Old Testament, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
“A thoughtful, provocative, and theologically astute exploration of the women characters in the New Testament. Japinga writes with the keen eye of an historian and the sensitive heart of a pastor, bringing women’s history and the experience of contemporary church people into conversation with the glimpses we get of ancient women whose stories are sketched in the New Testament. Designed for church or school groups, the book includes a helpful study guide for each chapter.” —E. Elizabeth Johnson, J. Davison Philips Professor Emerita of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Like the honest, tender, and bold women in the New Testament, this book also is honest, tender, and bold. It is an exploration of the very human lives of the women who gave birth to Jesus, followed Jesus, and proclaimed Jesus and then went on to provide leadership support to the fledgling Christian movement against all the odds stacked against them. Lynn Japinga is sympathetic, insightful, and challenging.”
—Leanne Van Dyk, President and Professor of Theology, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Japinga invites us inside familiar stories and introduces us to women we thought we knew. In short—we didn't. Prepare to make some new friends and discover new insights as you read From Daughters to Disciples.”
—Carol M. Bechtel, Professor of Old Testament, Western Theological Seminary