She Shall Be Called Woman

What does the Bible mean when it calls woman a helper, wife, mother, daughter, prophetess, disciple-and finally, Bride?

Modern discussions of womanhood often begin with power, autonomy, oppression, or personal identity. She Shall Be Called Woman begins where Scripture begins: with the Creator who made humanity male and female and declared his work good.

Tracing the biblical story from Eden to the New Jerusalem, George Anthony Paul examines the lives and callings of women throughout redemptive history. Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Tamar, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Abigail, Esther, Mary, Priscilla, Lydia, and many others reveal that biblical womanhood is neither passive insignificance nor autonomous self-creation. It is intelligent, courageous, fruitful strength exercised under the authority of God.

This comprehensive biblical theology considers:

• The creation of woman as man's corresponding helper
• Equal dignity and distinct responsibilities of men and women
• Female courage, wisdom, work, property, and household authority
• Marriage, headship, submission, motherhood, singleness, and widowhood
• Women's service in the Church and society
• The difficult teachings of Genesis, Corinthians, Ephesians, Timothy, Titus, and Peter
• Feminism's legitimate accusations and its proposed cure of autonomy
• Violence, coercion, safety, church discipline, civil authority, separation, and divorce
• The movement from the first woman in the garden to the radiant Bride of Christ

The book presents what the author calls sacrificial patriarchy: real household government exercised by a husband and father who remains governed by Scripture, accountable to Christ, and obligated to protect, provide, repent, and sacrifice. It rejects violence, sexual coercion, criminal concealment, cruelty, and every attempt to make a husband his wife's savior or absolute lord.

Written for women and men, married couples, pastors, counselors, church leaders, and serious students of Scripture, She Shall Be Called Woman offers a challenging and hopeful vision of womanhood-created by God, strengthened for fruitful service, protected by righteous order, and gathered into the everlasting glory of Christ's Bride.