In the full passage of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul focuses parts of the passage on each of these three groups in the church: Verses 3-9: on the converted Jews . Verses 11-12: on everyone in church . Verses 13-15: on the converted non-Jews . Here is my paraphrase of verses 10-12: Verse 10 - Application of the principle for Christian women Therefore, a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Verses 11-12 Theological basis of the principle of unity Nevertheless, neit...
Jun 14, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In your mind, simply put quotation marks around the three verses of 1 Corinthians 11:4-6. Or better still pencil in quotation marks around them on the page of your print Bible. If quotation marks are missing around these verses in the Bible version you are using, is that wrong? Yes, and no. In koiné Greek in which the New Testament was written there were no quotation marks added. You had to add them yourself because this kind of punctuation wasn’t adopted yet. Translators have to decide whether ...
Jun 07, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 Paul reminds his Jewish readers, who are monotheists, of the importance of unity . Three times he points to independent elements that together make up one unit . The image he uses is that of the parts of the body that, united, make up one whole body: Believers-and-Christ are united in one spiritual body A wife-and-husband are united in one flesh Son-and-Father are united in the Godhead. He states his main idea in the first line of verse 3, and then adds two subordinate para...
May 31, 2021•18 min•Season 4Ep. 2
The focus of this episode is: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Getting this passage right. Here’s some good advice. “Don't take verses out of context.” How do you do that? One way is to cut off the beginning of a passage. If you miss the beginning thoughts of a passage you risk missing the meaning of the following message. Sadly, this happens every time people skip over 1 Corinthians 11:2 and start at verse 3. And most people start after verse 2. They leave out this critical verse! In verse 2, Paul begins ...
May 24, 2021•21 min•Season 4Ep. 1
God didn't curse Eve or limit woman in any way in Genesis 3:16. This is what Dr. Joy Fleming discovered in the 11 Hebrew words of this key verse. But your Bible doesn't read that way because of a translation error!! This and much more has been put into The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3 by Bruce C. E. Fleming available on Audible HERE . The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that ...
May 15, 2021•24 min
Welcome to this bonus episode of The Eden Podcast where we think again about the Bible on women and men and we start with a correct understanding of what happened in the Garden of Eden back in the beginning. I’m Bruce C. E. Fleming, founder of the Tru316 Project and a former Academic Dean and Professor of Practical Theology. This bonus episode celebrates our arrival at the end of Season Three on The Eden Podcast. I’ve started getting messages from some letting me know you have listened to all of...
May 10, 2021•4 min
In 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Paul recommended appropriate discipline for disruptive and injurious behavior. His recommendations took into account not only the sin committed, but also the heart motivation of the offender. In 1 Timothy 3:1-12 the women and men leaders who had been disciplined were encouraged to aspire to, and to resume, ministry in the church. In these verses, Paul did not teach any doctrine of “authority-of-a-husband,” or “leadership-by-men” in the church. Instead, he drew a picture of v...
May 04, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Jump with me to the heart of the matter. 1 Timothy 3:1 does not teach that only men are to be overseers in the church. Verse 2 does not teach that only married men can be pastors. And verses 4-5 do not teach that men only are to manage the household. 1 Timothy 3:1 offers encouragement to the overseers undergoing retraining by saying, “Anyone aspiring to oversight desires a good work.” However, many people cover over the meaning of the verse. They lard it over with teaching full of imported meani...
Apr 28, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 7
1 Timothy 2:13-15 How Eve and Paul were alike, by Bruce C. E. Fleming The focus of this episode is: 1 Timothy 2:13-15 How Eve and Paul were alike “What’s this Dad?” I asked picking up the flat and pointed piece of chipped stone. “That’s an arrowhead son,” he replied. “What’s it doing here, Dad?” “Ahh. That’s a great question!” “What’s this doing here?” is what many ask when they come across the verses that are numbered as 1 Timothy 2:13-15. They ask, “Why do we find these words in this place?” O...
Apr 20, 2021•22 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Here's my paraphrase of 1 Timothy 2:8-12 from the Greek: (8) Timothy, I wish for the men to pray and prophesy correctly while leading worship, lifting up holy hands without causing anger and disputing! (9) Likewise, I wish the women who pray and prophesy leading worship to adorn themselves with modest apparel that promotes self-control - not with improper hair plaiting, along with its gold and pearls, and costly clothing - (10) Women preaching godliness are adorned by their good works. (11) Let ...
Apr 12, 2021•19 min•Season 3Ep. 5
1 Timothy 2:8 is not a verse about people in general praying around the world. What should tip us off are the comments at the end of the verse about “anger” and “disputing.” Disruptive Preachers . How often are people angry and how often do disputes break out after prayer meetings where you are? Not often? Never? Is this verse not applicable in your situation? No. It likely is not. It applied to the situation in Ephesus. And would apply in similar situations down through time. In his next senten...
Apr 06, 2021•18 min•Season 3Ep. 4
The first seven verses in 1 Timothy 2 are Paul's discussion of his second sin, that of being an official who persecuted the church. But many commentators and theologians haven't understood how the first seven verses of 1 Timothy 2 fit into the structure of Paul's letter. Some have suggested like this person, that Paul "strung his ideas together in 1 Timothy in a rather haphazard manner." That doesn't sound like Paul to me! Why this trouble? These people have missed the literary context of these ...
Mar 30, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Paul listed MY THREE SINS in 1 Timothy 1:13. First, Paul was a blasphemer. He had spoken evil of Jesus. Second, he was a persecutor. He had persecuted believers in Christ. Third, he was injurious. He had disrupted the church. Three groups in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:18-3:16). Paul often gave a list near the start of his letters. The list pointed to what was coming next in his letter. When I learned of this I began looking for a list in 1 Timothy. I read various commentaries to see what list they had...
Mar 23, 2021•18 min•Season 3Ep. 2
A quick survey of the key points in Genesis 2-3 that are affected positively by a correct understanding of Genesis 3:16. Christy and Kaylin interviewed Bruce C. E. Fleming on their podcast about what Genesis 3:16 really says in the Hebrew text and how this helps our understanding of the other verses that tell us what happened back in the Beginning. Lots covered and lots of fun in this interview! Order a 3-Pak of the paperback, The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3 HERE For the Kindle version order HERE ...
Mar 15, 2021•29 min
Celebrate with the Tru316 Project as we approach "3/16 Day" 2021! The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on wo...
Mar 12, 2021•3 min
The hot topic, the hot verse in all of 1 Timothy is 1st Timothy 2:12. People want to go right there and from that verse only they want to know all about “women in church.” But if they look only to verse 12 they are taking a scriptural teaching out of context! Context and content. What is the context of 1 Timothy 2:12? It is found in a series of ideas that actually begin back in 1:18 and continue down to 3:16. What is the content of verse 12? 1 Timothy 2:12 turns out to be only the second half of...
Mar 09, 2021•19 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Translators’ errors are hurting so many lives. Perhaps the biggest error of all is occurring in Genesis 3:16. People get a sour taste when they read modern translations of Genesis 2-3 that make God appear unfair and even vindictive. What they read leads them to think God cursed the woman in some way even though she had been deceived. They think she had been the Temptress and deserved a curse unlike the rebellious man whose body was not cursed. Would you like a book you can read and study with ot...
Mar 04, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 9
The focus of this episode is: Ephesians 5:32-6:9. Family members submitting one to another Have you ever been in a conversation like this? Maybe you’re talking with a lovable old uncle, or you’re in conversation with a friendly neighbor. You’ve been talking about one thing and then you get off the track and start talking about something else. Finally, comes a moment when one of you says, “Let’s get back to what we were talking about.” And you pick up with that earlier train of thought right wher...
Mar 01, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In Ephesians 5:22-32 the unity of believers in one body with Christ is illustrated in the three sections: (1) verses 22-24, (2) verses 25-27 and (3) 28-32. The introductory verses are 19a and 21. The summary verse is 32. in verse 25b , two main ideas are grouped together in the center of the linchpin. They are: “As Christ loved ” and “as Christ gave of himself.” Believers in Christ are to love and give of ourselves one to another. This is how we walk in the Spirit, submitting reciprocally one-to...
Feb 16, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The New Verb in verse 22. The action and the people involved in the incomplete sentence of verse 22 – “wives … to your husbands” must be filled in with the paired actions of the Spirit-filled believers in Ephesians 5:19a and 21. Thus Paul’s meaning in verse 22 is Wives and husbands be submitting to the teaching and correction you are receiving from one another in Christ -ing verbs can be read as having an exclamation point after each of them so I can read verse 22 this way too: “Wives and husban...
Feb 09, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Here are the four points for Spirit-filled walking in Ephesians 5:19-21. Each point in Greek starts with an -ing verb. The first one, or part A, is “speaking.” In verse 19a we read, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” The second one, or part B, is “singing.” In verse 19b we read, “singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord.” The third one, or part B prime, is “giving thanks.” In verse 20 we read, “giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jes...
Feb 02, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 3
The “speaking” simply stated as such in Ephesians 5:19a involves two practical actions, “teaching and admonishing.” All believers filled with the Spirit are to teach one another the truths found in the psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs. Every believer is to inform or remind every other believer in the Body of Christ. On the other hand, and where necessary, believers are to admonish, or correct, one another. This is the first way believers are to experience the Spirit-filled life. Believers of...
Dec 22, 2020•19 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This Episode is the first in our Beyond Eden series on Ephesians 5:15-6:9. We begin with this overview and we look at common traps that lead to misinterpretation of important passages in Ephesians. Then, in the coming Episodes we’ll go more in depth. GO DEEPER The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis ...
Dec 15, 2020•13 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In the Garden the man listens to the words of the serpent tempter. And the man makes the intent and actions of Satan his own . He too rebels against God. Step by step he moves away from God and toward Satan! Has Satan just thrown God’s words into question in 3:1? Apparently the man does too. Does the man look with respect on the woman’s defense of God’s words reported in 3:2? We don’t read that he joins her in correcting the word of the serpent tempter. Does he respect God’s warning against eati...
Dec 08, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 8
To understand Genesis 3:16 we must recognize that in God’s first words to the woman in Line 1 God didn’t even touch on the subject of childbirth. (1) God spoke to her about shared sorrowful-toil (the Hebrew word is ‘itsebon ) in field work and (2) God spoke to her about conception or pregnancy (the Hebrew word is heron ) and especially of the offspring who would bruise Satan’s head. The way the words are put together in a chiasm in Genesis chapters 2 and 3 carries meaning. And the way verses 15-...
Dec 01, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 7
God did NOT curse the woman in Genesis 3:16 IN ANY WAY! But modern translations make it look like God did. So it is necessary to think again about the word patterns in 3:15-17, and the larger context of Genesis 2-3, to see what God really said. Genesis 2-3, in Hebrew, is a meaningful seven-part pattern that is a chiasm. A chiasm can be pictured as a rainbow or as a bell curve. Line 1 of 3:16 is the center of a linchpin pattern that links verse 15-17. The first linking Hebrew word is ‘itsebon whi...
Nov 24, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 6
God spells out the ultimate doom of the woman's enemy which will come through her. Even though he will persist in his attacks and even though figuratively he will bruise the heel of her offspring, who we know ultimately to be Jesus, her offspring will bruise Satan on the head. In Genesis 3:15, in God’s last words to the serpent, God prophesies that the woman’s “seed” or “offspring” (the Hebrew word is zera‘ ) will defeat the Tempter. Bad news for the Tempter, but good news for the woman and all ...
Nov 17, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Many blame Eve as the Temptress. This medieval idea is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible says the Tempter in the Garden was the serpent. That is why God cursed the serpent Tempter. And that is one of the reasons why, when we look for a curse on the woman in the Hebrew text, we find none. Satan tempted both the woman and the man. The Hebrew text in Genesis 3:1-5 shows him using plural pronouns each time he says “you.” In other words, he wasn’t aiming his words at just the woman. He was saying...
Nov 10, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This first marriage, and the description of marriages to come, was the ideal pattern for all men and women to follow, a pattern with four points: Each member of the union to be, separately, first knows God personally . The man (not the woman) leaves his birth family and together with his wife they establish a new family unit. His primary allegiance is no longer to his parents but to her. When the man leaves his parents to join his wife, his parents and all society is put on notice that here is a...
Nov 03, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Cook's helper or Partner? In Genesis 2, when God creates the woman, she is described in relation to the man. In two Hebrew words packed full of meaning, ‘ezer kenegdo , God describes how the two are designed to go together. They are made for each other, just hours apart. Once together, they are to be a resourceful and satisfied pair, at home together in Eden. Modern language versions of the Bible translate these two Hebrew words in confusing and contradictory ways. But there really is no cause f...
Oct 27, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 2
