Course Description

Influenced by the patriarchy of Roman culture and ancient Greek philosophy, church leaders in the 3rd and 4th centuries began to translate and interpret the Bible with a systematic bias against women. This bias was carried over into the Protestant Reformation, and it continues to influence how the Bible is read and understood today.

This course is designed to help students identify and remove patriarchal bias from Bible translation and commentary. As this bias is removed, it will become clear that far from being the will of God, patriarchy is a human tradition rooted in prejudice. As patriarchal errors are corrected, the original meaning of Bible passages concerning women will be restored.

All of the following Bible passages have been misinterpreted, overlooked or altered in translation so that patriarchy (the rule of men) is wrongly portrayed as “the will of God”:

Genesis chapters 1, 2, 3, 21 and 24

Judges chapters 2, 4, 5, 19 and 20

Isaiah chapter 3

Joel chapter 2

Ezekiel chapter 34

Zechariah chapter 5

Matthew chapters 10, 20, 23 and 28

Luke chapters 13 and 24

John chapter 13

Acts chapters 1, 2, 11, 18, 19 and 28

Romans chapters 1 and 16

1 Corinthians chapters 1, 3, 7, 10, 11 and 14

2 Corinthians chapter 3

Ephesians chapters 3 and 5

Colossians chapter 3

Philippians chapters 1, 2 and 4

1 Timothy chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

2 Timothy chapter 2

Titus chapter 2

Galatians chapters 2, 3 and 5

1 Peter chapters 2 and 3

This course identifies and removes patriarchal bias from Bible translation and commentary, highlighting the meaning of all of these passages in their original languages and contexts.

This course is based on the first 6 chapters of "The Equality Workbook: Freedom in Christ From the Oppression of Patriarchy," written by Helga and Bob Edwards.

BRE, BA, MSW

Bob Edwards

Bob was a Program Director and Assistant Professor at an accredited, multi-denominational Bible College. He and his wife Helga have been married since 1988. They co-authored "The Equality Workbook: Freedom in Christ from the Oppression of Patriarchy." The first six chapters of the workbook form the basis of this course. Bob and Helga have been Therapists and Public Speakers since 1996. Both have Bachelor's degrees in Religious Education and Social Development Studies, as well as Master's degrees in Social Work. Both have studied Ancient History, the Bible, Theology, New Testament Greek, Textual Criticism, and the Social Sciences. In 2013, they each received the Delta Epsilon Chi Award for Intellectual Achievement, Christian Character and Leadership Ability, from the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Their hope is to use the gifts and training that God has given them to help people experience freedom and wholeness in their lives and relationships. Feel free to visit their website at www.awakedeborah.com.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Lesson 1: How the Christian Faith Became Confused with Patriarchy

  • 3

    Lesson 3: The Judges

    • Lesson 3

    • Review Quiz

  • 4

    Lesson 4: The Prophets

    • Section 1: Women in Isaiah and Joel

    • Section 2: Zechariah, the Woman in a Basket

    • Review Quiz

  • 5

    Lesson 5: The Apostles

    • Section 1: Women in the Book of Acts

    • Section 2: Women in the Book of Romans

    • Section 3: Women in Romans and Philippians

    • Sections 1-3 Review Quiz

    • Section 4: Women in 1 Corinthians 11

    • Section 5: Women in 1 Corinthians 14

    • Section 4 and 5 Review Quiz

    • Section 6: Women in 1st Timothy, Paul's language

    • "Authentein" from the 5th Century B.C. to the 2nd Century A.D.

    • Section 7: Women in 1st Timothy, Paul's Context

    • Section 8: Women in 1st Timothy, "Saved Through Childbearing" in Context

    • Sections 6, 7, 8 Review Quiz

    • Section 9: Women in Ephesians and Colossians

    • Section 9 Review Quiz

    • Section 10: Women in Titus and 1st Timothy 5

    • Section 10 Review Quiz

    • Section 11: Women in 1st Peter

    • Section 11 Review Quiz

  • 6

    Lesson 6: Twelve Jewish Men

    • Twelve Jewish Men

    • Lesson 6 Review Quiz