Throughout my time at seminary, I interacted with an array of students.
Some of them were young men, fresh and enthusiastic, naively certain that they could solve the problems facing the church with good theology. Others were older ministry leaders whose lack of academic prowess in no way undermined their pastoral sagacity.
I also interacted with some brilliant women. One of them would soon become my wife. About a year after Tamara and I were married, we graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University with matching Master of Divinity degrees. Tamara graduated with high honors.
Of her experience at seminary, Tamara said, “I will always consider it a true privilege to have attended seminary. The opportunity has allowed me to gain a richer understanding of the gospel, and I’ve seen its benefits cover every aspect of my life.”
“I graduated with a greater understanding that I know far less than I thought and I need Jesus even more,” she added. Attending seminary not only increased Tamara’s academic knowledge but also contributed to her spiritual formation.
But not everyone believes that Tamara should have been afforded this experience, the benefits of which continue to be multiplied in the lives of people around her.
“Women going to seminary are women eating the fruit,” one self-identified Christian nationalist recently posted on X, alluding to the downfall of Eve in Genesis. “The Bible specifically says, if you want to learn something about theology go ask your husband.”
The biblical reference is 1 Corinthians 14, a passage of Scripture that many biblical scholars argue about how to interpret.
The post came in response to the remarks of an anonymous X user, who urged Christian men to “go with your gut,” which says that “there is no reason” for women to attend seminary.
“Yes. Seminaries recruiting women is just a tuition-driven mission drift from their actual supposed purpose, which is to train men for the ministry,” someone commented.
Similar sentiments have proliferated in other posts containing varying levels of misogyny.
