Pastoral Letter to Theo

Written in the form of counsel offered by an experienced minister and scholar to a young man whose ministry is just emerging, Paul Elbert's Pastoral Letter to Theo cautions against the sort of simplistic proof-texting that some evangelical Christians use to exclude both the public ministry of women and the prophetic manifestations of the Spirit today. Elbert's Letter is a helpful and practical warning.

Glen W. Menzies

Chair, Dept. of Bible and Theology

North Central University



In this "letter" to a friend in ministry, Paul Elbert...is passionate in his pastoral concern to portray God's design to use all His children--men and women alike--in the service of His kingdom. Drawing upon the hermeneutical approaches forged in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movements, Elbert instructs his protege not only in the proper understanding of texts frequently used to prohibit women from exercising their ministry gifts, but also in proper interpretive technique. Letter to Theo will serve nicely as a primer for those interested in both of these issues.

Jeffrey S. Lamp

Associate Professor of New Testament

Oral Roberts University



Students of the New Testament will find it profitable to read Letter to Theo's contextual interpretations from First Corinthians, Ephesians, Luke-Acts, First Timothy, and Romans. Here is a persuasive argument based on evidence that supports the heavenly calling of women into missionary and pastoral ministry in complete agreement with the work of the Holy Spirit. The cultural and secular norms of past centuries should not intrude on this very reasonable reading of the distinctive Christian writings originating within the first-century Greco-Roman world.



Michael Fuller

Director, Graduate Program in Biblical and Theological Studies

Lee University