The Gospel According to Eve: A History of Women's Interpretation

by Amanda W. Benckhuysen

What does it mean to be male and female? Do women and men have different intellectual, spiritual, moral, or emotional capacities? Are women especially suited for serving and men for leading? Are women and men equal?

While these may seem like relatively recent questions, they have been a topic of conversation throughout Christian history. At the center of this conversation is the biblical character Eve, the archetypal woman of Genesis 1-3. Not simply one woman among many, Eve comes to represent all women, defining the very essence of what it is to be female. As Eve was a woman, so all women were Eve, the conditions of her creation and her involvement in the Fall often serving as a justification for limitations placed on women and for their subordination to men.

Over the centuries, women themselves have read and interpreted the story of Eve, scrutinizing the details of the text to discern God's word for them. Often their investigations led them to insights and interpretations that differed from dominant views, shaped as they were by men. The Gospel According to Eve traces the history of women's interpretation of Genesis 1-3, readings of Scripture that affirmed women's full humanity and equal worth. Biblical scholar Amanda Benckhuysen allows the voices of women from the past to speak of Eve's story and its implications for marriage, motherhood, preaching, ministry, education, work, voting, and more.

Genres: Theology, History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Religion, Womens, Faith

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

Amanda W. Benckhuysen (PhD, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto) is Johanna K. And Martin J. Wyngaarden Senior professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary and a researcher in biblical interpretation and reception history.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: A history of women who have written on Genesis 1-3 since the fourth century, treating their worth, education, their roles as wives and mothers, whether they may teach and preach, and as advocates of social reforms.

One more book on women and issues of biblical interpretation? Yes, but the reason you want to add this book to your library is that Amanda Benckhuysen has done something I've not previously seen. She has dug through history and found over sixty women spanning the time from the fourth to the twentieth century who have written on Genesis 1 to 3, either in works focused on interpretation of these passages, or works that reference the passages. [The work also includes one paragraph biographies of the women mentioned in this work in the back matter.]

Why is this important? When it has come to the interpretation of Genesis 1 to 3 with regard to women, most of the work through history has been done by men. For many, the focus has been on the deception of Eve, and the authority or dominance of men over women. While some of these women have taken similar approaches to Genesis, Benckhuysen shows that long before the contemporary discussion, women have been looking at Genesis 1 to 3 and many have reached very different conclusions that anticipate contemporary findings. 

A few that stood out to me:

1. Many women interpreters focus on Genesis 1 that presents men and women equally as made in the image of God. The only stated dominion is over the other creatures.

2. In the Genesis 2 account, interpreters noted the creation of woman from Adam's side, an image of partnership. God forms her separate from Adam so that she has a relationship with God before being brought to Adam, who recognizes her as a helper (ezer), the same language used of God's help of his people. Nothing in the text indicates any inferiority of Eve to Adam, who celebrates Eve as like him in flesh and bone.

3. While many interpreters read Eve as the one leading Adam astray in the fall, these interpreters suggest other motives to Eve, including Adam's benefit in growth in knowledge. Instead of putting all the blame on Eve, they note Adam's culpability, particularly if Adam was present, as the text suggests. What these interpreters emphasize is that each bears responsibility equally in this tragic episode.

4. In Genesis 3:14-19, these interpreters noted that only the serpent was cursed. Many observe that the statements about men and women are descriptive of the consequences of the fall, not prescriptive of role relationships as God meant them to be.

Benckhuysen organizes the book around the way women interpreters who had insights like those above applied these to concerns of women of their day. She begins with tracing the interpretations of the early fathers of the church and subsequent interpreters. She then considers how women used the material on Eve to advocate for the worth and dignity of women when they were treated as chattel, how they advocated for greater educational opportunities for women, befitting their equal status with men and how they wrestled with Eve's story as they considered the role of being a wife and mother.

Benckhuysen considers women as teachers and preachers of the gospel. One of the things that mark interpreters here, and elsewhere, is their canonical approach to scripture, interpreting scripture by scripture, noting not simply prohibitions, but the many examples of women in both Old and New Testament of women preaching and leading God's people, all with the apparent approbation of God. We are introduced to Margaret Fell, a seventeenth century interpreter, along with other seventeenth century millenarian writers: Antoinette Bourignon, M. Marsin, and Rebecca Jackson. She considers the contribution of Deborah Peirce and Harriet Livermore, who speak of the gospel being entrusted to women, and Catherine Booth and Francis Willard, whose careful exegetical work defended the role of women in preaching. This is an example of the pattern followed in each chapter. 

Concluding chapters focus on the representation of women in children's Bibles and literature and the contribution of women to this literature, and the use of Genesis 1 to 3 in advocacy for social reforms in working conditions and opportunities, suffrage, and advocacy against the exploitation and abuse of women. The last two chapters consider the history of patriarchy in the church and the value of listening to these interpreters from other times. These women both questioned the foundations for patriarchy that male interpreters established in Genesis, and offered cogent alternatives. They used this to advocate for the flourishing of women in the home, the church, and the wider society, and against the ways they saw their sisters being abused in these different spheres. 

Someone might argue against this gendered reading of Eve. But isn't that what men have been doing for two millenia, often to the great harm of women and to the church? Benckhuysen doesn't argue that women's reading is superior to men. The truth is, her women vary in their interpretations and disagree, just as do men. Rather, what was striking to me was to listen to their collective voices through history as a man and to realize that they see things we have missed, and that their voices are needed if we are truly to hear the whole counsel of God in this very important area of how men and women live together upholding each other's dignity, worth, and gifts as image bearers of God and to experience the redemptive work of Christ in relationships marred by the Fall, but intended for better.

[Carmen Imes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benckhuysen offers an illuminating survey of female interpreters of Genesis 1-3 from across history. Reading this book helped me to discover dozens of new biblical interpreters whose stimulating insights help to restore women's dignity as humans made in the image of God. I expect I will turn to this book again as I work on these chapters of the Bible. Thanks, Amanda, for your work!

[Kate Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Is male headship part of God’s design for male/female relations? Or is it a function of the fall?” This book presents the translations that many women have brought forth in the past few centuries of the creation of Adam & Eve, along with the Fall, to argue that the patriarchy is not biblical, but a result of the fall. They point out several times that Eve (and therefore women) are not lesser, weaker, dumber or less capable than Adam (and therefore men). This book came alone at the right time and I took great comfort in reading it and learning new things about the gospel and ultimately God. Very healing and compelling. Adding it to my forever favorites shelf 📚❤️

[Michaela Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, particularly its extensive bibliography. It made me think critically about passages of scripture that have otherwise become second nature, and was simultaneously frustrating and healing.

My only significant critique would be in what appears to be a hastily added section of diverse voices at the very end. I would have preferred to see more diversity in culture and race incorporated throughout, rather than stuck onto the end of the book like an afterthought.

Aside from this, it’s an excellent dive into women’s interpretations of the character of Eve throughout history and I would certainly recommend it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books looks at women's interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve from pretty early in church history to now. How have women read the Eve story? How have women understood what the relationship between man and woman was supposed to be? The author doesn't look at women who agreed with the traditional understandings but who argued with it. It is a fascinating book with a lot of interesting insights.

[Alicia Sillers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that gets better as it goes on! Could have been improved by incorporating more diverse voices rather than including them only at the very end, as well as by including more non-literal interpretations. I was also a bit disappointed by the exclusive use of male pronouns for God despite highlighting the idea of God an non-gendered. However, it was a great collection of ideas throughout history, and I learned a lot!

[Kathryn Currier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this look at historical feminine interpretations of the Bible specifically interpretations about the first few chapters of Genesis.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three chapters of Genesis play an important role in the Jewish and Christian stories. Whether we look to them for historical accounts of creation is not really the point for many of us. What is important are the theological implications. When it comes to the portrayal of the primal couple -- Adam and Eve -- there is much at play. Issues of salvation are of great concern. How did sin enter the world and who is responsible. Not only that but since it is the first human couple, questions of authority also emerge. Since the man, according to Genesis 2, was created first does that mean men have first place in the relationship? Related to that question, since the woman was taken from man, is that also a sign of his supremacy? Then there is the fall and its aftermath. How did this event affect the relationship of man and woman? As we we ponder these questions, does it matter if the interpreter of these passages is male or female?

Amanda Benckhuysen, a professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, has taken up these questions, looking at the texts historically through the eyes of women interpreters. As she notes upfront, until recently most female interpreters were not theologians or biblical scholars. They didn't necessarily write scholarly treatises, but in various ways they have addressed these passages and their interpretations, while not uniform are illuminating. As a male historical theologian I found the book fascinating, and a worthy read for all.

Benckhuysen explores the interpretive writings of over sixty women (all of whom are introduced in a biographical section at the end of the book, for quick reference). Many of the women were responding to the dominant traditions, which were written and espoused by men (and generally to the benefit of men). Some of the women embraced traditional interpretations but reworked them in unique ways. Other women challenged traditional interpretations. To give context, Benckhuysen introduces us to the traditional interpretations as laid out by early church fathers and doctors of the church. Some were allies for women, but many were not.

The focus of the book is on women interpreters who emerged from the fifteenth century to the present. She covers a few women from the period prior, including Hildegard of Bingen, but for the most part these women affirmed the traditional interpretation, that suggested that women were the weaker vessel, and in many cases responsible for the fall (due to Eve's less inferior constitution).

In the chapters that follow the introduction, Benckhuysen takes us on a thematic journey. It is relatively chronological, but at each stage, the women represent a specific theme. Thus, in chapter two she explores women who wrote from the fifteenth to seventeenth century defending the worth and dignity of women. In one case, Isotta Nogarola suggested that Eve was less culpable than Adam because she was the weaker sex. While she may have argued this premise it was done in a way that suggested a logical inconsistency present in blaming Eve for causing the fall if she was not as strong in her mental capacity as Adam. Why did he allow himself to get drawn in if he was the stronger partner? Then there were seventeenth-century Italian writers Moderata Fontes and Arcangela Tarabotti, who addressed the meaning of the words rib and helper, demonstrating that these words suggested equality, not subordination.

Then in chapter three, she focuses on women who argued for educating women. These writers ranging from Lucrezia Tornabouni in the fifteenth century onward argued that if Eve fell victim to the serpent it was due to a lack of education. eThe argument here was that the education of women would lead to moral improvement. That is, if Eve lacked education, that might explain her actions. The education of women would overcome the charge that women were not intellectually capable of making appropriate moral decisions. Benckhuysen notes that while these writers insisted that education would lead to moral improvement in society, they weren't arguing for education toward greater participation in the public sphere. That remained the domain of men.

Building on the previous chapter, Benckhuysen looks at writers who defended the dignity of women based on their reading of the Eve story, but with a view to equipping women to be wives and mothers. The focus of these writers was the role of women in being a moral compass to husbands, and the teachers of religion and morality to children. Some of these women, such as Mary Astell, did argue against the subjugation of women and argued for their equality in marriage.

As we move to chapter five we encounter women who engage the story of Eve in relation to the call of women to preach and teach. Seventeenth century Quaker writer Margaret Fell wrote of "Women's Speaking Justified." This was one of the earliest defenses of women's preaching. In her view preaching was the task of all Christians who had been indwelt by the Spirit. That included women. A number of defenses emerged in the years following, some of which corresponded to movements of social reform. Thus, the ministry of Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army, who wrote in defense of her call to preach. Another key figure was Frances Willard, who sought to defend the right of women to preach, but also for women's suffrage.

In chapter six we move back into the more traditional realm of the formation of children. During the nineteenth and twentieth century, a number of women devoted their attention to the creation of materials for children -- to be used by women. Though they may have espoused more traditional roles they reinterpreted Genesis' picture of Eve, offering defenses of her moral and intellectual equality. The works produced in the 19th century became the foundation for materials that came afterward, including movements for women's rights.

Chapter seven explores the works of women such as Sarah Grinke, Sojourner Truth, and Lucretia Mott among others who became key leaders in advocating for social reform including the abolition of slavery. They argued this on the basis of human rights for women. Benckhuysen notes that "faced with the reality of their own disempowerment, disenfranchisement, and continued subjugation, many female abolitions turned their attention to advocating for women's rights." (pg. 178). Again, in doing so they engaged with the story of Eve. With that in mind, as we move to chapter 8, we are introduced to the question of gender ideology, and efforts of persons like Elizabeth Cady Stanton to expose the patriarchy present in both the Bible and in society. If Stanton believed that the Bible's patriarchy was problematic for women, Katherine Bushnell and Lee Anna Starr tried to use the Bible to support women's rights and equality. They gave their attention to questions of translation (Bushnell was a missionary to China and thus was introduced to the challenges posed by culture to translation. If Chinese culture posed problems, didn't English-speaking contexts offer the same?).

These three chapters, and their interpretation regarding Eve, have influenced our understandings of women and men and our faith. Hearing women's voices, especially as revealed historically, helps us get a better grasp of the issues. Not all women argued for equality or women's rights. Some embraced traditional readings suggesting women's culpability for the Fall and the subordination of women. They may have affirmed traditions that suggested that pain in childbirth was a logical punishment for her sin. Nevertheless, some of the same women defended the dignity of women and suggested that if nothing else the work of Christ reversed any of the curses she may have incurred.

In the end this is informative, challenging, and worth reading. Hopefully, to the end of seeing things differently than traditionally laid out.

[Sunni | vanreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights various interpretations of the role of women from a Christian perspective that counteracts the patriarchal Christianity as we are familiar with today. It’s quite fascinating to read these interpretations of the role of women in the Bible by women throughout the centuries. I wouldn’t have guessed that women from back then were already calling out patriarchal Christian theology, which goes to show how culture can shape how we interpret faith, and erase the voices of people who stand against those norms. I am quite glad this book exists.

[Connor Curts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for a class. Not the best theology out there, though somewhat helpful for garnering the perspectives of female theologians over the last 600ish years. Not wide enough in scope, to be honest, and very dismissive of what the Catholic tradition has to contribute through Mary.

[Timothy Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was both a refreshing and challenging read. This book chronicles women’s contribution to theology and biblical academics. It highlights the importance of our exegetical read on we’ve, and the impact that has on our perception of women, and their roles in family, society, and the church. I love how the author highlights the diversity of women interpreters who have diligently studied the historical, canonical, literary, and cultural components that impact our reading of Genesis 1-3. This book really challenges me to see how my reading of scripture is really impacted by my social location, and by the voices around me. Without a stronger diversity of women voices teaching me and influencing me, it will be impossible to have a strong and true hermeneutic of women dignity in scripture.

Two things i wish this book did better is emphasize the exegetical process some interpreters took to make their conclusion. This was done stronger in some parts of the book but not all. Second, i wish Amanda more consistently emphasized the voices of women of color. Though many were mentioned in the book, not enough space was given in the book to break down their work the way it was given for American and European women.

Overall this book is an Important inclusion to have in any leader’s library, especially men.

[candela · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read for an ex-catholic. in recent years i have started opening myself up again to the idea of, not organized religion per se, but of an amorophous something to believe in, and to not underestimate the impact that the church as an institution has not only on the people around me (which is kind of everyone; my family is fully catholic, me being the only proclaimed atheist-actually-maybe-a-bit-agnostic and i went to catholic school for 12 years) but also on the people of my country and latin america as a whole. even though i, personally, do mostly separate the teachings and actions of jesus from the many christian institutions, it's helpful to me to go back and read criticism of the way issues of systemic discrimination have infiltrated and poisoned the main christian ideals, written by people that actually believe and engage in the faith instead of only looking from the outside like myself. it's certainly given me things to reconsider about the material i learned in catechism classes ages ago. the writing itself felt a little repetitive at times, which dulled the reading experience a bit, but other than that, plenty accessible and a fine introduction to the subject.

[Grace Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any mass survey of interpretations of a particular scripture, I don’t agree with all of the conclusions that these women came to. What I do agree with is that the church needs to listen to the voices of women interpreters, teachers, and leaders. There are beautiful and rich scriptural interpretations in this book that the church at large is ignorant too at best and hostile towards at worst.
When we disqualify over half of the members of the body of Christ from having a capacity to interpret scripture, we miss out. That’s not even to touch on the face that the American church has widely disregarded and scriptural interpretation that was not decided upon by white, upper class, men. This must change if we desire to see scripture as it was interned. Homogenous interpretations of scripture will never reflect the intentions of a God who is reflected in men and women of all nations.
This book gave me a greater appreciation for women interpreters, even when I disagree with them, as well as a hunger to see the modern church accept women’s interpretation as viable. I would suggest this book to anyone.

[Rachel Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this timely work, Amanda Benckhuysen surveys alternative readings of Genesis 1-3, the very chapters which have influenced the shape of patriarchy throughout time. Rather than re-interpreting the chapters herself, she points readers to the alternate interpretations of women from a variety of time periods. She highlights the powerful interpretations which emerged when the Bible was placed in the hands of women, giving them the chance to read, study, and understand God’s word for themselves. In doing so, Benckhuysen compels readers to see (a) how Genesis can be interpreted in such a way that upholds the dignity, value, and humanity of women; (b) that such an interpretation – one that challenges the patriarchal status quo – is not new, but has been the labor of many women throughout history; and (c) that present-day Christians must re-consider what Scripture really says about gender, and specifically, women.

This is a wonderful introduction to how women have sought to interpret Scripture throughout history, and more specifically, how they played a part in re-casting the vision of men and women as equal and valuable children of God.

[Kathleen Krynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read an excellent overview of women's interpretations of Eve throughout history. I have a new appreciation for the unique perspective women have historically brought to Scripture and the obstacles women had to overcome in order to do this work. The author painted a vivid picture of the worlds these women lived in and demonstrated how each of them responded to their circumstances in their readings of Eve.

This book had just a few shortcomings. One, I would have liked to see a bit more synthesis and comparison between the different women's writings. The book mainly went through the women one by one, and a bit more comparative analysis would have been nice. Additionally, I agree with other reviewrrs that diverse voices could have been better interspersed throughout the book, rather than tacked on at the end. Last, I noticed several copy errors and instances of awkward phrasing, which makes me think the copyediting could have been a little better. Nonetheless, these issues are minor enough for me to only take off one star. A great read overall.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was worried, will this be a feminist discourse on the oppression of women through the ages? While not an untrue concept, books that strive to prove that fact seem to be white noise amongst the increasingly vocal feminist groups and doctrines of our time. BUT, this book, not only did I learn biblical truths I was unaware of, but it deepened my love for a good God who created me and my sisters everywhere with love, tenderness, and with the promise of a good future not only redeemed by Christ but given at the time of creation. What an honor to resurrect and read essays, poems, and literary excerpts from women who’ve clung to the Lord while examining the ways in which women were created so specifically for a time as this. I loved this incredibly detailed and well researched book and will recommend it to anyone I meet.

[Bethany Dailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start by saying that this is a difficult read in some ways. Theological, historical, and not at all sensationalized. But that is also what makes this book great. I would suggest going into this having read the whole Bible at some point. It is very detailed and technical in nature and requires previous knowledge of scriptures. I grew up in the Evangelical American Church and was homeschooled for religious reasons. Now, as an adult, I am living a whole different life. Never once, as a child or adult, did I have exposure to women interpreters of the Bible and what their perspectives were. This book delves deep into how women throughout history interpreted the story of Eve. The author gives background on these women interpreters and shows how their perspectives shine a different light onto the story of Eve and Women's place in Christian Spirituality.

[Nick Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book, tracing the history of interpretation of the biblical texts on Eve by women scholars, writers and campaigners through the ages. I was struck by the wealth of this strand of interpreters about whom I'd mostly heard little or nothing. I was less surprised by some from the fourth and nineteenth centuries than by those from the fourteenth and fifteenth.

Apart from bringing to attention the work of these women, I did come away with new perspectives to think through, and the study is wide-ranging.

This is perhaps its limitation - the book reads like a series of papers on different areas, united by the subject of women interpreting Eve but not fully by the structure of the writing.

Well worth reading.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grab your yellow highlighter and head to the nearest empty study carrel: you’re going back to school! This exhaustive tome presents as a well-researched and well-written master’s thesis about women’s interpretations of the Biblical Eve story, but I found it quite repetitive when read from front to back on the cottage dock as if it was a novel. There are only so many ways to interpret Eve’s story, and the differences in points of the dozens of view here are pretty finely nuanced. Better, maybe, to think of this as an academic reference book and choose to read individual chapters (covering specific time periods) instead, highlighter in hand. And yes, “intersectionality” makes an appearance!

Definitely worth reading for feminists and Biblical scholars both.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of retrieval. It brings to the foreground not just educated women's interpretation of Eve in Genesis, but how their reading of Eve in the Bible has angled their take on issues like women's worth, women's preaching and teaching, their role as wives and mothers, and their role in education and social reform.

Some of interpretations rendered by women may not be convincing, but it does demonstrate that we approach a text with some bias and vested interest. Benckhuysen concludes "we need both men's and women's perspectives to help us gain a deeper understanding of the truth." (232)

I would add, we need a diversity of perspectives, even global perspectives, Christian and otherwise, to help us read the text with wisdom and charity. This book helps in that wider project.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow. Also wow! So so so inspired by the number of women who defied odds over the past few hundred years to educate themselves and record their interpretations of the story of Adam & Eve and implications which follow. They use those interpretations to make a case for female equality, education, and for a better position/regard in society. Some applied those interpretations to abolish slavery. They were just the most amazing, impressive, insightful and courageous people and it makes me want to step up my feminist game. And also to remember and be actively grateful to the many MANY women who worked through the centuries to pave the way for all the privileges women now enjoy, as well as the equity we have the opportunity to continue to advocate for.

[Stewart Lindstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took a surprisingly long time to read - I take comprehensive notes when I read nonfiction - and yet I don't regret it at all. Benckhuysen has laid out a comprehensive yet accessible history of women's interpretation. It makes a great pairing with the Peppiatt book I read earlier on in the year. Never preachy, Benckhuysen simply lays out the history of how women's roles have been interpreted, with special emphasis on the Genesis narrative. Brilliant stuff here. This will be a work I reference and loan to friends for years, I'm sure.

[Whitney Dziurawiec · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the intent of the author - to show the different interpretations of Eve by women throughout history. Each chapter related to the lens through which Eve was interpreted: Women's worth, education, roles, preaching, etc. I'll admit the first few chapters felt a bit boring they were basically women using scripture to make (then-controversial) claims of women's worth and right to education. But my interest was piqued more and more as each chapter went on. It was an interesting primer on the variety of historical interpretations of Eve (and other biblical texts) by women.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely thought-provoking. Many questions raised that I would’ve never thought to ask. Now pretty clear to me how interpretation and translation of the Bible can alter meaning. Also clear how cultural context can imbibe the text with meaning even when it’s not actually in the text. This book had me referencing the Bible back and forth to follow the arguments of women who have clearly spent more time in it than I have. Made me want to go out and buy a Hebrew Interlinear Bible.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely helpful and timely book that exposes the reader to 65 women Biblical interpreters since the 4th century. These interpretations are sorted around relevant topics (marriage, women in ministry, education for women, etc.) that are sure to spark helpful conversations as the contemporary Church comes to terms with issues of gender .

[Jenny Kindelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so unique compared to other books about women within Christianity. By documenting centuries of women writers and thinkers engaging with the person of Eve, the author has highlighted a variety of perspectives and insights into the biblical text. I found the overview fascinating and inspiring. The breadth of research is incredible. I highly encourage this book to others!

[Nichole Sostre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I slowly trucked through I enjoyed the hard work of combing through history to see how women interpreted Eve and how we can’t simply continue to roll our eyes once a month in pain and blame her- that is normalized and yes sin did enter the world through disobedience but I loved the distinction that through her- would be born salvation the enemy would be crushed!

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent survey of women's interpretation and a great summary challenging chapter at the end to tie it all together. I'm amazed at how God led different women and different times to the same or similar conclusions. Lots of work remains for all of us to overcome the curse together!

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women’s studies book— goes into the history of educational opportunities, the patriarchy, feminism, civil rights movement, etc. and how the story of Adam and Eve shaped it all. Overall thought was interesting

[Alexiana Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really beautifully done as a history of the interpretations of Eve, and the implications for how we read affecting how we live.