NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Feminists and egalitarian proponents often interpret Scripture through a gender lens, but editors of a new commentary offer a conservative woman-to-woman approach to Scripture interpretation. The Women's Evangelical Commentary New Testament from LifeWay Christian Resources' B&H Publishing Group offers verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible for women, by women.

With the help of more than 15 contributors, editors Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley systematically explain the purpose of the New Testament texts. The commentary is designed for women to use when teaching a class, directing a small-group Bible study or studying Scripture.

"Although the commentators are all women and write from that perspective, the Word of God is not to be interpreted through the 'gender lens,'" write Patterson and Kelley. "God's Word is for women and men, but this particular resource, without apology, is prepared primarily for women to use."

Conservative and scholarly, this resource uses the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation to accurately exegete Scripture and steers clear of predisposed bias toward 21st century social agendas, say the editors.

"Some Christian women have been influenced by gender issues today. Women often forsake the biblical role of women in the home and church and follow personal desires," Kelley said. "There also is a trend toward speculation or guessing what might be implied in the Scripture. Careful interpretation of the text will ensure accuracy in understanding the truth of God's Word as applied in our lives."

KELLEY

Kelley serves as professor of women's ministry and director of the women's ministry and student wives programs at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where her husband, Chuck Kelley, is president.

The commentary has been prepared with the passion that every woman should and can study God's Word for herself, said Patterson, who is professor of theology in women's studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where her husband, Paige Patterson, is president.

"Whether she is doing so only for personal edification or also preparing to teach the Bible to other women; whether she is looking for understanding of one particular passage or working her way through the text of Scripture in a systematic way, this commentary has at its heart the exposition of the New Testament."

The introduction of the commentary features a section dedicated to teaching women how to study the Bible, with examples given of how to glean insights from Scripture and tools for diagramming verses of Scripture.

PATTERSON

Mary Kassian, distinguished professor of women's studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., contributed an article on hermeneutics to help readers understand the concepts of Scripture interpretation.

"The need for a sound hermeneutic is particularly important for the 21st century Christian woman," Kassian writes in the commentary's introduction. "The philosophy of feminism permeates the media and mainstream societal institutions. The current milieu is such that the Bible's teaching on gender radically counters popular thought. Thus, there is a tremendous pressure on theologians to update and revise historic interpretations of what the Bible has to say about the role relationship between men and women."

"Interpreters must be careful to examine the immediate context of surrounding verses as well as the [overall] purpose and plan of the book," she explains.

Kassian was one of the 15 contributors with formal theological training, which was a prerequisite to be a contributor.

It was essential that contributors of the commentary held a high view of Scripture as being inerrant, Kelley and Patterson said, adding that finding the women contributors was challenging, yet rewarding.

The Women's Evangelical Commentary Old Testament will be released in 2007.