True Complementarity

Andrew Bartlett's debut theological work, 'Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts' landed like a bomb in the evangelical debate on gender 'roles'. Reviews from both sides of an entrenched disagreement ranged from defensively ignoring his main points, to strongly affirming the value in his careful, measured and even-handed approach.

Bartlett was invited to speak on the topic of this book in the USA at the Evangelical Theological Society (in a packed debate with Tom Schreiner), at Christians for Biblical Equality's International conferences, and in other countries. In this magisterial new book, Bartlett takes the discussion both wider and deeper, engaging with more voices, both historical and contemporary. He argues that on some crucial points 'complementarian' teachings add to God's word. He sets out a mutualist position which seeks to be rigorously biblical and is neither fully egalitarian nor fully complementarian. Doing much more than updating his first book, True Complementarity includes examination of:

* The teaching of Jesus on Women and Apostles

* Historical interpretations of the key passages

* Whether egalitarianism is a 'slippery slope'

* Issues of authorship and hermeneutics pertinent to the debate.

He provides a new and thorough engagement with 1 Timothy 2:9-15.

True Complementarity invites the reader to consider what the Bible really says about men and women in Christ. It builds greater confidence in distinguishing between commands of God and traditions of men. It is sure to reset the discussion.