The purpose of The Second Eve, Understanding Biblical Equality is to answer the question, “Can I believe the Bible and still believe women and men are equal?" It recounts the author's journey from a limiting belief in traditional gender roles to the liberating belief in God-ordained equality. It helps explain biblical equality and summarize current scholarship.

Most books on biblical equality are written for an academic or scholarly audience. The Second Eve speaks to average Christians who want a clear, concise and readable presentation of facts and ideas.

The Problem of Inequality 

Women today enjoy many hard-won freedoms because a handful of female citizens once rallied for our civil rights. Unfortunately, within the bounds of traditional Christianity, a woman’s full participation in the faith can still be denied because of her gender 

Many Christian women today want to believe the Bible, but they are tired of being left out. They want to be included in the decisions that affect their local church and their denomination. They want a voice, and the power to effect change as it is needed. They desire the right to full participation in their religion, unhindered by exclusion policies against women. The task before the church is great. The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are few (Matt 9:37). To many, it doesn’t make sense to limit the field of workers and leaders by excluding those who happen to be female. 

Why did I write The Second Eve, Understanding Biblical Equality? 

About ten years ago, I began to seriously question the traditional evangelical view of the role of women in the church. I began with two questions. First, I wanted to know God’s heart toward women. Second, I asked, “Can I love God and honor the scriptures and still believe that men and women are equal before God, equal to serve?” 

I did not write The Second Eve, Who Is She and Where Does She Live? in order to spare the reader the prayer and reflection required to know God’s heart toward women in the church. I believe it can, however, save the average reader hours of searching and reading in order to acquire a basic understanding of the biblical equality of men and women. 

I have read widely both current and historic biblical scholars who have put forth their arguments thoroughly, if sometimes obscurely. I have waded through some rather formidable academic language and exhaustive research in order to glean the things I wanted to know. In The Second Eve, I will make a straightforward and careful presentation of the things I have learned in an easy to read format.