Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts

Peppiatt (principal, Westminster Theological Ctr, UK) intends this book to “revisit contentious exegetical issues” by questioning masculine-driven, hierarchicalist readings of scripture. The author uses narrative and literary methodologies to unpack classical interpretations that have traditionally excluded women from the text or worse, permanently sidelined them from what was always intended to be the fullness of new creation. Her clarion call is to confront patriarchal scriptural interpretations and push through for a mutualist vision that liberates models of female leadership, much of which is evident in the text itself. While some of the categories might be new—hierarchicalist, for example—the arguments for reading in context and teasing out less culturally conditioned readings are not. Peppiatt herself notes that she is treading well-worn ground, hoping at best to offer a new perspective in a slightly different way.