Book Review: The Making of Biblical Womanhood

Author: Beth Allison Barr
Publisher: Brazos Press, 2021
Not recommended

The publisher describes this book as such: “Biblical womanhood--the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers--pervades North American Christianity. From choices about careers to roles in local churches to relationship dynamics, this belief shapes the everyday lives of evangelical women. Yet biblical womanhood isn't biblical, says Baylor University historian Beth Allison Barr. It arose from a series of clearly definable historical moments. This book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the realm of church history--ancient, medieval, and modern--to show that this belief is not divinely ordained but a product of a human civilization that continues to creep into the church.”

Reviews:

From the publisher’s description above we can see this author intends to move from Scripture to experience and feelings to contend for feminism in the church. Below you’ll find thoughtful, Biblically-based understandings of the God-intended roles of men and women in the church as they dispute this book’s unbiblical, emotive reasoning.

Kevin DeYoung: The Making of Biblical Womanhood: A Review
Excerpt - First, does Barr, as a historian, deal fairly and accurately with the proponents of “biblical womanhood”? Second, does Barr, as a historian, deal fairly and accurately with the historical evidence she cites in opposition to “biblical womanhood”? Specific examples of historical half-truths reveal a more comprehensive problem with Barr’s methodology, which reflects a “heads I win, tails you lose” approach to history.

The Transformed Wife/Lori Alexander: The Remaking of Biblical Womanhood
Excerpt - Beth Allison Barr wrote an entire book letting us know that she doesn’t agree with God’s Word. She made up her own bible with her own god. There’s a good reason that God warns about false teachers in almost every book of the New Testament.

Sheologians: Bad Book Review (podcast)
Excerpt - In this episode, we provide commentary on a book that we heartily do not recommend. Barr’s central argument is that complementarianism is patriarchy, and patriarchy is very, very bad for women. Further, Jesus is against patriarchy and we have totally been misreading Paul. So, let’s think together. Do her arguments make sense? Why is this book so unhelpful for women who want to know what the Bible says about gender roles?

Christian Research Institute (article)
A Summary Critique of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth - Barr’s bias is clear. She believes that a woman’s work in spheres outside the home is preferable to her work associated with the home and her identity as a wife and mother. While Barr maligns this view, she never says why it is less preferable to a life in the factory.

Stand Firm in Faith: Episode 49 (podcast)
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, Matt, Anne, and Jady discuss Beth Allison Barr’s new book, The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women. They look at Barr’s understanding of complementarianism, chat about the source of “patriarchy,” and address Barr’s problematic treatment of the Bible.

G3 Ministries (article)
The Making of Biblical Womanhood is one of the most recent attempts to circumvent the clear teaching of the Scriptures concerning the roles of men and women in the home and the church. Despite Barr’s repeated claim that she is a historical scholar capable of correcting theologians who do not know church history, what she did was reveal just the opposite.

Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction
by Kevin DeYoung

From the publisher: Men and women (in marriage especially, but in the rest of life as well) complement one another. And this biblical truth has enduring, cosmic significance. From start to finish, the biblical storyline (and the design of creation itself) depends upon the distinction between male and female. This book is about the divinely designed complementarity of men and women as it applies to life in general and especially ministry in the church.

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