Amy Peeler - Women and the Gender of God

This is a daring book. Amy Peeler tackles a controversial issue: the gender of God and its implications for women. For some, to raise these questions at all is objectionable. For others, Peelers high view of Scripture will suggest that she herself is captive to patriarchy. However, readers who take the time to engage her argument will find that neither critique has merit. Peeler patiently shows why these questions are worth asking and how the Bible offers a robust response that both affirms women and glorifies God, without making God male. Peelers grasp of the secondary literature is impressive. Her arguments are sophisticated and theologically astute. She is attentive to nuance in Scripture, and her faithful reading yields an illuminating vision of a good God who invites women to be full participants in Gods work in the world. Im so grateful for her work. I expect it will be an essential resource for years to come.

Carmen Joy Imes

Biola University

The story of God is the story of Jesus Christ, and the story of Christ is also the story of Mary of Nazareth. No story of the Christian God can be told without the story of Mary. Incarnation through a woman reveals who God is. Pause with that thought as you consider most Protestant theologies, most Protestant sermons, most Protestant approaches to Christian formation, and most Protestant Sunday school curricula. All the way down, Mary has disappeared from the only story we know in the Bible. Protestant theology needs to be schooled in theotokos theology. Amy Peelers Women and the Gender of God has done this for us, dismantling the patriarchy by exclaiming precisely what Mary prophesied, From now all generations will call me blessed!

Scot McKnight

Northern Seminary

Peelers book is a tremendous contribution to the discussion. Bridging so many disciplinary gaps, she provides a holistic picture of how women can relate to God and how all of us can think better about gender. I am hopeful that her generous reflections will have a significant effect on our theology and practice.

Madison Pierce

Western Theological Seminary

Peeler refutes a view that shouldnt even need discussing because it is so absurdthat God is male. Readers might pick up this book because of the harmful effects of masculine Christianity on the Christian faith. But what made this book a page-turner for me is the profound exposition of the story of Jesus, the perfect image of God, man from woman, a testimony to the beauty of Gods dual human creationboth men and women finding honor and dignity in Word made flesh. Peeler navigates a volatile topic with patience, meticulous research, wisdom, and grace.

Nijay K. Gupta

Northern Seminary

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

4035 Park East Court SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

www.eerdmans.com

2022 Amy Peeler

All rights reserved

Published 2022

Printed in the United States of America

28 27 26 25 24 23 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ISBN 978-0-8028-7909-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

Although the idea for this project began while I was working on my dissertation, the work began in earnest in 2018 when I was granted a sabbatical at the Logos Institute at the University of St. Andrews. I am incredibly grateful to the John Templeton Foundation and Wheaton College for their financial support. This work was supported by the Templeton Religion Trust [TRT0095/58801] and the University of St. Andrews (School of Divinity). Alan (and Margaret) Torrances warm invitation, advocacy, insight, and friendship made that period of time one of the best of our lives. Thank you to the many friends and colleagues in St. Andrews, including those at St. Marys, All Saints, St. Andrews Nursery School, Canongate, and FFSA who made my work and our lives so rich.

I am also grateful to the many colleagues who have read or responded to drafts of this book. Carey Newman gave invaluable advice in the early stages of the project. Michael Rae, Michelle Panchuk, Timothy and Faith Pawl, and all those involved in Logos, especially the 2018 conference, were formative in the chapters on Mary. Aubrey Buster, Julie Newberry, Brittany Wilson, Christa McKirland, Hannah Craven, Marc Cortez, Emily McGowin, Beth Felker Jones, George Kalantzis, Amanda Drury, David Lauber, Madeline Hazel Urban, Nate Thom, Kristen Page, Keith Johnson, fellow members of the Augustine Fellowship through the Center for Pastor Theologians, attendees at the 2021 meeting of the Chicago Theological Initiative, and, chiefly, Matthew Milliner carefully read and commented on particular chapters. The two anonymous readers greatly improved the argument with their insightful suggestions. Several research assistants have faithfully aided me in this project: Matthew Monkemeier, Ben Mandley, Joshua Mauer, Andy Iversen, Bethany Grainger, Virginia Johnston, Bryan Condra, Addison Ream, and with particular insights as we compared our work, Megan Stidham. Trevor Thompson has been a supportive and insightful editor, giving shape to the present volume and necessary encouragement in the final stages. Jenny Hoffman, Justin Howell, Kristine Nelson, Sarah Gombis, and the rest of the editorial and marketing team brought my ideas to life with clarity and beauty. Questions and insights from all my students, particularly those I get to mentor and those in the Mary course and First Year Seminar and the Gender in the New Testament class, have clarified my understanding of the problems and potentials of this work. It is a gift to live out my calling as an educator at Wheaton.

It is also a gift to live out my calling as a priest in such a vibrant faith community, St. Marks Episcopal Church in Geneva, IL. All of the congregation, but especially my Cornerstone Group, has been gracious in receiving my excitement about these topics. I am honored to work alongside Marcus and Stacie Johnson and Mark Tusken as we seek to be gospel people. Insights from my spiritual director, Angela Wisdom, have often brought breakthroughs for me, both in content and in my own worries about the project.

Family and friends have also offered such kind support. Thank you particularly to Cody and Allie Beverage, Sarah and Herb Merrill, Les and Benita Peeler, Claude and Linda Peeler, Monica Marquez, Sheila Barthell, Christine and Andrew Marquez-Hudson, Sharron Geer, Randy and Bobbie Sanders, Jim and Myrna Sanders, Jessica and Mark Fields, Savannah and Robby Doland, Dawn Orr, James and Alli Arcadi, Laura Sweat Holmes, Janette Ok, Carla Works, Kara Lyons-Pardue, Brookes Ebetsch and her late husband Drew Sandler, and Blake and Courtney Fields Connelly for being so thoughtful to ask how the work is going.

Ive been especially grateful for exchanges with Cherry and Lorenzo Marquez, my aunt and uncle who showed me from an early age the beauties of Catholicism and a commitment to the flourishing of all people.

Much like Mary, I, too, have had an Elizabeth to whom I can turn. Elizabeth Hubbard, our regular walks together restore my soul. Your belief in and prayer for me and this project has, more than once, given me the strength to persevere. Along with these walks, coaches and friends at FTX CrossFit keep me healthy, happy, and sane.

I am so grateful for my mother, Pam Beverage, and her constant pride in me. Her quiet acts of service to me and my family have made our complicated lives not only feasible but also good. Wouldnt Dad just bust his buttons to see me publish another book?