This insightful critique of the way the Bible has been misinterpreted and misused to support oppressive views of women shows that the equal value of every human being is affirmed throughout the biblical narrative. The message of equality can become confused when we read our current culture into the text, or impose aspects of ancient biblical cultures into our current contexts. Jesus' example in Mark 10:43-45 shows how the gospel profoundly transforms hierarchical relationships.

General Session, 44 mins.
Side by Side: Gender from a Christian Perspective
CBE International Symposium, Bangalore, India

DAVID BALL (Ph.D., University of Sheffield) is dean of The Association for Theological Education by Extension (TAFTEE) in Bangalore, India.