Featuring: Dr. Lynn Cohick
In this master-level breakout session, Dr. Lynn Cohick offers a comprehensive, courageous deep dive into some of the most misunderstood and contested passages in Paul’s letters—especially 1 Timothy 2. With historical scholarship, Greek exegesis, and pastoral clarity, Dr. Cohick walks participants through how we’ve misread Paul due to centuries of inherited cultural and philosophical bias, particularly from Aristotle and Aquinas.
She unpacks how early Greek philosophy viewed women as inferior—irrational, passive, and incomplete—and how those assumptions crept into Christian tradition, shaping interpretation more than Scripture itself. She then reframes the so-called “hard texts” by reestablishing cultural context: the patriarchal, hierarchical world of the ancient Roman Empire, the pervasive influence of Artemis worship in Ephesus, and the rising tide of proto-Gnostic heresy.
Cohick explains how many of Paul’s words in 1 Timothy are situational—not universal bans—but aimed at correcting false teaching and helping new believers unlearn pagan religious norms. She challenges modern complementarian interpretations by highlighting textual ambiguities, rare Greek words, and theological inconsistencies, arguing instead that Paul’s intent was always the edification and inclusion of women in gospel ministry.
Up Next in Breakout Sessions
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The Role of Story in Healing
Featuring: Dr. Eva Bleeker
In this deeply moving and academically rich breakout session, chaplain and narrative theory scholar Dr. Eva Bleeker teaches how storytelling—especially when received with compassion—becomes a sacred, healing act. Building on her ongoing work in narrative identity theor...
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Stewarding The Voice God Gave You: Si...
Featuring: Constance Rhodes
With creative visuals, honest storytelling, and a disarming sense of humor, Constance Rhodes leads a breakout session that dives headfirst into one of the most paralyzing barriers in Christian life and leadership: shame. But instead of approaching shame from a purely ...
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Back Porch Theology Live - 2024
Featuring: Lisa Harper & Allison Allen
In this moving and often hilarious live recording of Back Porch Theology, Lisa Harper and Allison Allen bring authenticity, wisdom, and warmth to the stage at Kerygma 2024. With stories that range from lost shoes onstage to sacred moments of soul-bearing vu...
