Having survived more than 20 years in domestic violence marriage to a “man of the cloth”, I have come to question the traditional teachings of “biblical womanhood” in many churches today.

For many of us, we were taught to be second, “the helper”, submissive, passive, and forgiving. However, Scripture is full of strong, powerful women and when we begin to look at the evolution of our modern Bible and the changing dynamics of the English language, much of the original Hebrew words that describe women have become lost in translation.

Much of the religious literature that shapes women’s identities are written and presented by men who have had access to education and training the majority of women simple have not had access to. Greek and Hebrew etymology, original texts from early church fathers, and centuries of church tradition have made it difficult for women to define and use their own voices as God intended them to.

Biblical womanhood isn’t about hating men or thinking one sex is superior to another. Genesis 1:27 clearly states the BOTH men and women were created in the imago deo. We are different, but equal - BOTH contributing to the whole image of God in us. My journey is to share not only my own thoughts as I discover the truth about God’s Word and what a woman is, but also to present the voices of women who came before me who have largely been silenced by the annuls of history.