The Reformed Olive Press

From Athens to Antioch: How Platonism Shaped the Church Fathers’ View of Women The supposed “Christian” hierarchy of men over women did not arise from the teachings of Jesus, who welcomed women as disciples and elevated their status socially and spiritually. Rather, it can be traced to a long philosophical inheritance — a Platonic worldview that saw women as lesser forms of humanity, defective reflections of the ideal male form. The Church Fathers, steeped in Greek education, absorbed and baptized this hierarchy into theology, cloaking philosophical misogyny in biblical language. The Platonic Seed: Woman as a Degeneration of the Male Plato’s Timaeus (90e–91a) lays the groundwork for a cosmic hierarchy of being. Souls that fail in virtue are reincarnated into lesser forms — first as women, and then as animals: “And those who are cowards, or who have lived unrighteously, may, according to the likelihood, be transformed into women in the second generation.” — Timaeus 90e–91a In this frame...

E xaltation/ Resurrection Imagery as Vindication — Not Literal Corporeal Revival In Hebrew thought before later apocalyptic literalism, “to rise,” “to stand,” or “to be lifted up” often meant to be vindicated, to prevail in judgment, or to be restored to honor after humiliation or false accusation. Resurrection, in this framework, is the moment when God overturns unjust verdicts — not when He reanimates decayed bodies. Let’s explore each passage with that perspective  Psalms — The Language of Standing and Exaltation Psalm 18:35 “You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; you exalt me above my enemies.” Here, the psalmist’s “rising” is judicial: God’s hand (symbol of power and justice) exalts him over his adversaries — a courtroom victory, not bodily resurrection. The enemies are “brought low”; the psalmist “stands upright.” It’s legal vindication in divine judgment. Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed... Some trust in chariots… but we ...

Reigning with Christ in Context: Not Unique to Christianity When Christians read that believers will “reign with Christ,” it often feels like a uniquely Christian hope. Yet the concept of humanity sharing in divine rule has deep roots in the wider Ancient Near Eastern and Jewish traditions. The New Testament builds on, rather than invents, this imagery. Biblical Language of Reigning The New Testament writers use the motif of reigning frequently: 2 Timothy 2:12 – “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” Romans 5:17 – “…those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Revelation 5:10 – “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 22:5 – “…they will reign forever and ever.” The roots of this vision lie in Genesis 1:26–28, where humans are made in God’s image to “have dominion” over creation. What the New Testament does is extend that ancient vocation into...

Progressive Revelation or Cultural Interaction? A Look at the Bible Development  Christians often hear the phrase progressive revelation—the idea that God gradually revealed more truth throughout the Bible until the fullness of Christ. While this explanation is neat, a better lens is cultural interaction: God was engaging different peoples at different times, working within their worldview, language, and expectations. What looks like “progressive revelation” is really a record of how Israel’s understanding shifted through cultural influence, exile, foreign ideas, and eventually, the radical re-centering in Christ. Let’s consider ten areas where this plays out. 1. No Demon Possession in the Old Testament The Old Testament never speaks of people being “possessed by demons.” Illness, madness, or misfortune were usually blamed on God, disobedience, or sometimes evil spirits—but never framed like the New Testament’s stories. The demonology of Jesus’ day reflects Persian and Hellenistic ...