Complementarianism
Mere Complementarianism
Denny Burk, PhD
A growing chorus of so-called “ex-complementarians” are not identifying as egalitarians, but neither are they identifying as complementarians. They believe eldership is only for men. Yet, they do not wish to be identified as complementarians.
What is Complementarianism?
Got Questions
Complementarianism is the teaching that masculinity and femininity are ordained by God and that men and women are created to complement, or complete, each other.
Is Complementarianism in Trouble?
Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning – Part One: Today’s Tension: Broad Versus Narrow Complementarianism
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning – Part Two: Different Intuitions and Pastoral Burdens
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
The differences between the broad and narrow corners of the complementarian camp root in different instincts and different pastoral burdens.
Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning – Part Three: How Do We Move Forward? A Better Understanding of Authority and Equality
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning – Four: How Do We Move Forward? A Better Understanding of Abuse and Gender
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning – Five: How Do We Move Forward? A Re-Commitment to the Sufficiency of Scripture
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
The Increasing Social Cost of Complementarianism
Albert Mohler, PhD
We live in an age where steadfast faithfulness to biblical conviction increasingly exacts a social cost.
Men, Women, and Ecclesiology: A Complementarianism Vision for Ministry
The Conversation Behind the Conversation: How Ecclesiological Assumptions Shape Our Complementarianism
Sam Emadi
On Apple Stores and the DMV: Two Kinds of Churches that Create Complementarian Chaos
Alex Duke
Helpful!
Essential and Indispensable: Women and the Mission of the Church
Jonathan Leeman, PhD
Women’s contribution to the mission of the church is not just “important” or “vital” or “critical.” Women are “essential and indispensable” to the church’s mission and ministry.
What Does the Bible Teach?
Man and Woman in Creation (Genesis 1 and 2)
Alastair Roberts, PhD
The Scriptures address the topic of the sexes on many occasions, but we discover its foundational treatment within the opening chapters of Genesis. Recommended!
Man and Woman in Exile (Genesis 3)
Mitchell L. Chase, PhD
The only man and woman to live inside the conditions of Eden were Adam and Eve, but their fall led to their expulsion from the garden sanctuary. The exile of Adam and Eve meant the exile of manhood and womanhood.
How Psalm 113 Changed My Life
Rosaria Butterfield
Psalm 113 did more than make me reflect on culture. It pressed me to see my lesbianism in the light of Scripture.
Recommended!
Must Women Be Silent in Churches? (1 Corinthians 14:34)
Denny Burk, PhD
This verse has proven to be quite controversial over the years. The reason for that is due in no small part to the clash that this text brings to modern egalitarian sensibilities.
Should Women Teach? Thoughts on Function, Office, and 1 Timothy 2:12
Thomas R. Schreiner, PhD
As a consequence of the #MeToo movement, many conservative evangelicals have revived the question about what speaking and leading roles are open for women in our churches.
Can Women Be Pastors But Not Elders?
Denny Burk, PhD
Yes, there are clear boundaries in Scripture for men and women in ministry, but this does not negate the opportunities for ministry that God gives to us all.
Does the Bible Allow for Women Deacons? Yes, Says Tom Schreiner (with a Response from Alex Strauch)
Thomas R. Schreiner & Alexander Strauch
Interesting Argument. Be a Berean!
Does the Bible Allow for Women Deacons? No, Says Alex Strauch (with a Response from Tom Schreiner)
Alexander Strauch & Thomas R. Schreiner
We agree with Alexander Strauch!
Seven Women’s Ministries in the New Testament
Jonathan Rourke
The New Testament reveals how women served Jesus, the church, and the Great Commission.
Five Key Texts and Pastoral Application
PJ Tibayan
Here are 5 passages dealing with manhood and womanhood that we must teach and apply for pastoral faithfulness.
Complementarianism in Historical and Systematic Perspective
How Are Men and Women Different?
Kevin DeYoung, PhD
What would you say if your little boy asked you, “Daddy, what does it mean to be a man?” or if your little girl asked, “Mommy, what does it mean to be a woman?”
Complementarianism & Theological Triage
Michael Lawrence
For a variety of reasons, and I’m sure there are many, the issue of complementarianism in the church has once again become a flash point within conservative evangelicalism.
Is the Slippery Slope Actually Slippery? Egalitarianism and the Open-and-Affirming Position
Colin Smothers
Is there really a slope between embracing egalitarianism and endorsing homosexuality? Yes, sadly, there is.
The Accidental Reformation: How Luther and Calvin Reformed the Family
Owen Strachan
There is a distinction between a Christian theology of womanhood and a secular vision of womanhood.
Charles Spurgeon, Women’s Ministry, and Female Preachers
Alex DiPrima, PhD & Geoff Chang, PhD
Much of Spurgeon’s controversial ministry in London was tearing down the extra-biblical traditions of churches in his day to get the gospel out.
A Global Look at Complementarianism
Greg Turner
North American culture is strongly egalitarian, and cultural pressure affects our theology whether we want to admit it or not.
Complementarianism in Local Church Life
Developing a Culture of Women Discipling Women
Bev Berrus
How do we make the ministry of discipleship an ordinary reality among women in the local church, with or without staff and programs?
You’re Not a Healthy Church Unless You Care About Titus 2
Sam Emadi
The main reason your church should care about women discipling women is because God cares about it: it’s in the Bible.
The Sweet Rewards of a Quiet Ministry
Erin Wheeler
As a woman, I’ve had to wrestle with God through some of the seasons where ministry opportunities were almost invisible. Days would go by when the only person who would see my labors was God himself. Those were challenging days.
Welcome Women Who Can Teach—Don’t Fear Them
Adrienne Lawrence
Saying or doing anything to encourage women to teach might feel like a minefield. The tendency is to default to the status quo. This might feel “safe” but it can be detrimental to the health of your church.
Calling All Competent Complementarians
Carrie Russell
DA Carson said, “Complementarianism is not an issue of competence, it’s about obeying the Word of God.”
Advocating for the Ministries of Single Women in Your Church
Katie McCoy, PhD
“What you’re doing is a high and holy task.” These were the first words of my PhD supervisor and mentor after I had asked for his help. I was a third-year doctoral student preparing to teach my first seminary class to a group of student wives.
Can Women Be Sent Out as Missionaries?
Andy Johnson
Can women be sent as missionaries? From the earliest days of Protestant missions from North America, the answer has been a solid and unequivocal yes.
Joy for Joyless Pastors’ Wives
Keri Folmar
A young pastor’s wife sat across from me in tears, wondering how she would partner with her husband in ministry with three little ones in tow. She had a head for theology and a heart for women, but two babies had slowed her down in the last few years and now she was pregnant with her third.
Embracing the Joys and Sacrifices of Our Distinct Roles
Erik Raymond
It’s hard to imagine any relationship or context that doesn’t require some degree of sacrifice. Sacrifice for the sake of a larger goal than ourselves is woven into our lives.
What We Can Teach Our Kids about Complementarianism
Teach them the truth. Teach them that through a series of divine commands, God—the Master Artist—created everything seen and unseen.
Does Κεφαλή Mean “Source” Or “Authority Over”?
Does Κεφαλή (“Head”) Mean “Source” Or “Authority Over”? A Survey of 2,336 Examples
Wayne Grudem, PhD
Does Κεφαλή Mean “Source” Or “Authority Over” in Greek Literature? A Rebuttal
Richard S. Cervin. PhD
The Meaning Of Κεφαλή (“Head”): An Evaluation Of New Evidence, Real and Alleged
Wayne Grudem, PhD
A Meta-Study of the Debate over the Meaning of “Head” (Kephalē) in Paul’s Writings
Alan F. Johnson, ThD
Book Reviews
Book Review: On the Meaning of Sex, by J. Budziszewksi
Bobby Jamieson)
In our culture, sex means everything and sex means nothing. Sex means everything: we have made sex an indispensable key to a happy life. We cannot imagine fulfillment without it.
Book Review: (A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ, by Abigail Dodds
Chesed Broggi
Why did the three-pack of leggings purchased for my daughter have to have one pair with “Girl Power” splashed across them?
Book Review: Gender Ideology: What Do Christians Need to Know?, by Sharon James
Carl Trueman)
The sexual revolution has become both the most pressing political issue of our day and one of the most iconoclastic and transformative social phenomena the modern world has seen.
Book Review: His Testimonies, My Heritage, ed. by Kristie Anyabwile
Melissa Kruger
Reading His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God felt like sitting down to a feast with friends, all delighting in the finest main course—God’s word.
Additional Resources
What Does the Bible Say about Women Preachers?
Various Authors
Spurgeon believed that the preaching of the Word in the gathering of the church was restricted to men, along with the office of elders and deacons.
Complementarianism Resources
Various Authors
Presented here are 52 additional resources on Complementarianism. These are html files, PDFs and MP4 video files
