The Most Important Women of the Bible: Remarkable Stories of God’s Love and Redemption

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

The Most Important Women of the Bible: Remarkable Stories of God’s Love and Redemption

Author:

Aaron and Elaina Sharp

Publisher:

Bethany House Publishers

Publication Date:

October 17, 2017

Format:

Paperback

Length:

210 pages

OVERVIEW

“To twenty-first-century Christians, the women of the Bible can easily become two-dimensional characters in the black-and-white print of an old book,” Aaron Sharp notes in this book’s introduction. This presents a problem, since the Bible affirms the idea that all humanity (both genders included) is valuable to God, and that both men and women have helped bring about God’s plans. Aaron and Elaina Sharp look at 31 different women in the Bible, from Eve to Bathsheba to the female church leaders mentioned in Paul’s letters. In each chapter, they summarize what the Bible tells readers about the women’s lives and what moral lessons can be derived from their stories.

The Sharps, who both hold Master of Theology degrees, do an excellent job of pointing back to Scripture for what we can know about these women. They consistently correct misperceptions that readers may have heard in Sunday school or from traditions that contradict the Bible. For example, they point out that the Bible gives no basis for the idea Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, nor does it establish whether Bathsheba was victim or seductress in her affair with King David. As a result, they derive moral lessons which are more accurate than many other works on the topic.

A great resource on an often overlooked Bible topic.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

4 stars

Suggested Audience

Readers (particularly female readers) interested in Bible stories they may have overlooked which show how important women are in the Bible.

Christian Impact

This book will open reader’s eyes to a side of the Bible they may have missed, inspiring them to live better lives with a renewed focus on God.