Women in Theology: Why the Church Needs Female Theologians

Since the first century, women have been active in the theology and mission of the Church. Luke–Acts reveals how Jesus and the apostles cared for women and enlisted them in kingdom service, and John contains the astonishing tale of how Jesus carried on a full theological conversation with a scandalous Samaritan woman, which would have been unthinkable at the time for two reasons: because she was a woman and a Samaritan. 

As the Church grew throughout the world, women flocked to Christianity because of the ways it gave them more dignity than the male-centric Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures. In fact, the office of deacon was established to provide care for the large number of Christian widows, which led to more conversions (Acts 6:1–7).

In the 2,000 years since Jesus’ incarnation, women’s work and voices have been essential to the Church’s growth. That hasn’t changed—we in the body of Christ need female theologians as much now as we did when Priscilla instructed Apollos (Acts 18:24–28).

This year, during Women’s History Month, we want to highlight some of the women who have played vital roles in Christian history as well as encourage the women who are currently serving or who sense a call to serve God’s people.

Skip around on this page:

• Watch a roundtable interview on women in theology
• Find Old Testament resources by female theologians
• Find New Testament resources by female theologians

Roundtable: Women in Theology: Why the Church Needs Female Theologians

Watch the roundtable in the embedded section below or on YouTube to hear a conversation on women in theology with Sharon Hodde Miller, Trillia Newbell, and Wendy Widder.

About the Speakers

Sharon Hodde Miller leads Bright City Church in Durham, NC with her husband, Ike. She has a PhD on women and calling, and she is the author of two books: Free of Me and Nice. She is also a mom to three young kids, aged 3, 6, and 8. Find her works in Logos here.

Trillia Newbell is the author of several books, including A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is for Us, Fear and Faith, and the children’s books Creative God, Colorful Us, and God’s Very Good Idea. When she isn’t writing, she’s encouraging and supporting other writers as an Acquisitions Editor at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on Instagram at @trillianewbell. Find her works in Logos here.

Wendy Widder is an author and educator who loves teaching the Bible to people who just want to learn more. She has a PhD in Near Eastern studies, an MA in Hebrew and Semitic Studies, and an MDiv with an emphasis in educational ministries. She has spent much of her career in the classroom, beginning with fifth graders and then making her way into adult education in college, seminary, the church, and online environments. Wendy wrote the entry on Daniel in two Zondervan commentary series (The Story of God; Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament), and she has contributed several resources on Daniel to Lexham Press. Her greatest passions are writing biblically and theologically solid materials for laypeople, as well as teaching the Bible in an engaging way. She blogs occasionally at wendywidder.com. Find her works in Logos here.

Bible resources by women in theology

The list below is only a sample of the woman-penned Bible resources available in Logos. We will continue adding to it, so check back occasionally!

Old Testament commentaries and courses

• Lexham Research Commentary: Genesis by Wendy Widder
• The End of the Beginning: Joshua and Judges by Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos
• Ruth and Esther (Story of God Bible Commentary | SGBC) by Marion Taylor
• Finding God in the Margins: The Book of Ruth by Carolyn Custis James
• Knowing the Bible: Ezra and Nehemiah by Kathleen Buswell Nielson
• NIV Application Commentary: Esther by Karen Jobes
• The Psalms as Christian Lament: A Historical Commentary by Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore
• The Psalms as Christian Wisdom: A Historical Commentary by Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore
• Proverbs for You by Kathleen Buswell Nielson (coming soon)
• Westminster Bible Companion: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs by Ellen F. Davis
• Lexham Research Commentary: Daniel by Wendy Widder
• Daniel (Story of God Bible Commentary | SGBC) by Wendy Widder
• OT366 Book Study: Daniel and Its Literary and Historical Contexts by Wendy Widder
• Amos, Jonah & Micah: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary by Joanna M. Hoyt
• Lexham Research Commentary: Jonah by Wendy Widder

New Testament commentaries and courses

• BI271 Interpreting New Testament Narrative: Studies and Methods by Jeannine K. Brown
• BI190 The Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament by Jeannine K. Brown
• Matthew (Teach the Text Commentary Series) by Jeannine K. Brown
• Matthew (The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary) by Jeannine K. Brown
• John through Old Testament Eyes by Karen Jobes
• NT343 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians by Lynn Cohick
• Ephesians (New Covenant Commentary) by Lynn Cohick
• The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT) by Lynn Cohick
• By His Wounds You Are Healed (Ephesians) by Wendy Alsup
• Philippians (Story of God Bible Commentary | SGBC) by Lynn Cohick
• Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles by Karen Jobes
• 1 Peter (BECNT) by Karen Jobes
• Belief: A Theological Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter and Jude by Catherine Gunsalus González
• 1, 2, 3 John (ZECNT) by Karen Jobes
• James (ZECNT) by Craig Blomberg and Mariam J. Kamell
• Westminster Bible Companion: Revelation by Justo L. Gonzalez and Catherine Gunsalus González

Related articles

• 5 Black Theologians from Church History You Should Know
• How Evangelical Theologians Are Tackling the Doctrine of the Trinity
• Why We Should Read Theologians with Whom We Disagree