Do you ever close a book and wish that there was a second volume to follow with even more examples because you've gotten lost in the pages? This is one such book for me and it's one that I immediately pre-ordered open completing it, although I'll have a little bit of a wait as it releases on August 25, 2026.
Many thanks to Intervarsity Press and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
We Misread the Bible When Women Are Left Out
Ignore them, marginalize them, or dismiss them as brief cameos―these have long been common approaches to Christian teaching on the women of the Bible. The result? We miss their significance in the biblical story and, in turn, misunderstand Scripture itself. Scholar Sandra Glahn challenges this pattern, calling readers to recognize how biblical narrative actually works. When we do, we see that women are not incidental to the story but essential to it.
In A Woman's Place Is in the Story, Glahn models how we can better read stories in their literary context and understand why the original authors included what they did. She reexamines both well-known and neglected passages, such as Tamar and Judah, the Hebrew midwives, Abigail, and the Samaritan woman at the well. Even when they appear briefly, women in Scripture move the plot forward and reveal profound truths about who God is.
In this book, you'll explore
- how leaving women out of the biblical story changes the plot and meaning that was intended,
- how distorting women as they appear in the biblical story affects the way we view women in general, and
- how misunderstanding how women appear in the story affects the way we view God.
Women have always been part of the whole story of God. With A Woman's Place Is in the Story, discover how rightly seeing women in the biblical narrative leads to more faithful interpretation and application for the benefit of all God’s people.
It’s time to tell the whole story.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
I cannot give this book enough of a glowing endorsement. It is precisely the type of book I seek out when desiring to grow in my understanding of the Bible. Not only has it opened my eyes to seeing how literary devices can inform my reading of the biblical text, it has caused me to revisit some of the theological assumptions I've had based on interpretations that may have gaps or even glaring errors. Every chapter in this book touches on a woman who may have been misunderstood throughout church history, bringing that woman to life and clarifying why the narratives about them have been written the way they were. The story about the woman at the well has completely transformed my way of thinking and it's made me realize how easily church teachings have moved away from the wonder of Jesus’ divine revelation to focusing on what may or may not have been the woman's lifestyle choices.
In unlocking cultural nuances, textual traditions, and societal values, Sandra Glahn invites us to evaluate the place of women in God's kingdom. What stands out most in this book is that every detail in the Bible is inspired by God; whether a woman is explicitly named or whether her identity is omitted for good reason (and there are some, contrary to what we may think), there is a purpose behind it and it can be a significant part of what God is communicating to us. In a world—including some Christian churches—where women's voices have been eroded, how refreshing is it that God elevates women, featuring them in the most unexpected places in the Gospel story? Readers who care about rightly dividing the word of truth and how it impacts our views and treatment of women will immensely benefit from A Woman's Place Is in the Story.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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