Lost Women of the Bible: The Women We Thought We Knew [Paperback]

Carolyn Custis James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2008

You know the women of the Bible, but you don't know them like this... It's easy for Christian women---young and old---to get lost between the opportunities and demands of the present and the biblical teachings of the past. They live in a confusing world, caught in the crossfire between church and culture. Although home and family still remain central, more women than ever, by choice or by necessity, are blending home, career, and ministry. They need strong biblical role models to help them meet these challenges. Building on solid scholarship and a determination to wrestle honestly with perplexing questions, author Carolyn Custis James sheds new light on ancient stories that brings the women of the Bible into the twenty-first century. This fresh look at the women in the Bible unearths surprising new insights and a powerful message that will leave readers feeling challenged, encouraged, and deeply valued. Rediscover and be inspired by: * Eve * Sarah * Hagar * Tamar * Hannah * Esther * Mary * and others

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lost Women of the Bible easily (easily!) makes my "most-provocative" book list for this year. -- Gordon MacDonald, Editor at Large for Leadership Journal, and Chairman of World Relief

Carolyn James's title cunningly combines three thoughts: here are stories of women who spiritually were lost till the grace of God found them; here are Bible people from whom we can learn much, but of whom we have largely lost sight; and here is displayed divine wisdom, with which many of us have lost touch. At all three levels the book delivers handsomely, and I hope it will be widely read. -- J. I. Packer, Board of Governors and Professor of Theology, Regent College

From the Publisher

The women of the Bible have a strong, relevant message for women today that has been lost underneath layers of traditional interpretations and the expectation that God does his most important work through men. Crucial dimensions of their lives have been muted, forgotten, or passed over. Their strong voices are silent at a time when women are searching for answers that will hold up under the pressures and challenges confronting them today. This book brings the women of the Bible into the twenty-first century by recovering their powerful message for contemporary women.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310285259
• ISBN-13: 978-0310285250
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carolyn Custis James (M.A. in Biblical Studies) is an evangelical thinker who loves God enough to break the rules--rules of cultural convention which attempt to domesticate the gospel message of the Bible.

Carolyn is president of WhitbyForum, a ministry dedicated to addressing the deeper needs which confront both women and men as they endeavor to extend God's kingdom together in a messy and complicated world. She is the founder and president of the Synergy Women's Network--an exciting new ministry for women in ministry leadership. www.synergytoday.org

Her books have been described as "provocative", "honest", and "deeply moving". A new one is coming out soon!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointed chapter after chapter, July 21, 2010

By 

Susie B - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Women of the Bible: The Women We Thought We Knew (Paperback)

My small group of professional women studied this book at the recommendation of a friend. In each chapter we found some nuggets of wisdon and encouragement, but on the whole, all nine of us were disappointed in the depth and quality of the content. We used the book mostly as a jumping off point for our discussions which we supplemented with other resources about each of the women James presents. This was most difficult with Mrs. Noah since there is no information about her. It was a real stretch for James to write a whole chapter about her. She seemed to resort too often to giving her opinion of how Mrs. Noah would act and feel rather than basing the chapter on objective evidence. This was true in most of the other chapters as well.

One of the main concepts of the book which we enjoyed was that of Christian women as "ezers", strong helpers, who share equal responsibility for spreading the gospel in a Blessed Alliance with men. James talks about the value of the ministries of women within the church but stops short of mentioning that a woman can lead a congregation as a minister.

I believe this book will be most useful to those who are new to the stories of women in the Bible or feel undervalued as women. However, with so many wonderful books available for small group Bible study, I would not recommend this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing, October 13, 2011

By 

BecomingDawn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lost Women of the Bible: The Women We Thought We Knew (Paperback)

This book challenged the way that I view the women of scripture, women in the church and myself. I have studied this in a group and we learned form on antoher and as a result of studying these women who are lost in their own stories, we began to understand how God worked in their lives and how he works in our own lives. This book also challenges you to see your place in the body of Christ and our responsibility to the plight of many in the world. Loved it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, June 11, 2010

By 

pinester (TX, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lost Women of the Bible: The Women We Thought We Knew (Paperback)

It is one of the best Christian books I have ever read. It is definitely a must read. It has wisdom and insights that have stayed with me. I liked it so much that I sent it to a number of my friends. I will be reading more books by Carolyn Curtis James!