A Deeper Look at Men and Women in Christ: Andrew Bartlett on True Complementarity

“The shape of this new book is different. I have become more and more an enthusiast for the Bible’s teaching on the mutuality and complementarity of men and women. ”

Andrew Bartlett KC

In his new book, True Complementarity, Andrew Bartlett returns to one of the most contested debates in the Church: what does the Bible teach about men and women, and how should they serve together? Here, Andrew reflects on how his approach has developed since his 2019 book, Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts, and explains why he believes a closer examination of Scripture challenges some of the assumptions that have shaped this debate.

From Listening to a Deeper Examination

When I wrote Men and Women in Christ in 2019, I was dipping my toes into the much wider debate about men, women and the Bible. I focused chiefly on two able, Bible-affirming advocates, Wayne Grudem and Philip Payne, listening to arguments from both sides and seeking to adjudicate between them as neutrally as I could.

My approach in True Complementarity is different. Over time, I have become increasingly convinced of the Bible’s teaching on the mutuality and complementarity of men and women. I want to invite readers to consider what Scripture really says about the way of Christ for men and women, and to set out a positive vision of men and women, fully human and different in sex, walking together as full partners. This means working humbly and joyfully alongside one another, building healthy communities and growing together in Christlikeness.

A Wider Survey of Scripture and Church History

True Complementarity takes a deeper look at the biblical texts and considers a much wider range of perspectives than my previous book. I have engaged with contemporary scholars from both egalitarian and complementarian positions, as well as historical sources and Catholic and Orthodox perspectives. Throughout the book, I examine how the relevant passages have been interpreted throughout church history and explore the reasons behind those interpretations.

I have also sought to be rigorous in my examination of Scripture, addressing many aspects of the debate in greater detail. The book includes two chapters on the Gospels and eight on 1 Timothy. In discussing Ephesians 5, I acknowledge the asymmetry of Paul’s head-and-body metaphor and his comparison between Christ and the church, and explain what these mean in context.

Challenging Assumptions and Returning to the Text

A central concern of the book is distinguishing between God’s commands and human traditions. I examine the claim that complementarianism represents the traditional view of the Church throughout its 2,000-year history, and address the allegation that egalitarianism inevitably leads to the acceptance of same-sex unions.

I also examine complementarian interpretations of Scripture in detail, setting out why I believe they have serious weaknesses and why the conclusions drawn from them are unfaithful to the biblical text.

My aim is to demonstrate that, on crucial points, complementarian teaching adds restrictions to God’s word that Scripture itself does not impose. I set out a mutualist position that takes seriously both the equality of men and women and their sexual difference, without using that difference to restrict women’s participation in the life and ministry of the Church.

A Book for Reading and Discussion

Although True Complementarity is designed to be read from beginning to end, it can also serve as a reference work for readers wanting to explore particular questions in the debate. Discussion questions make it suitable for group study, encouraging readers to examine the biblical passages and consider their implications together.

Ultimately, I want to encourage women to take their place as fully equal partners with men, using all their gifts in the service of Christ and his Church. My hope is that a careful reading of Scripture will help us move beyond inherited assumptions towards a healthier, more faithful vision of men and women working together in true complementarity.

“Ultimately, I want to encourage women to take their place as fully equal partners with men, using all their gifts in the service of Christ and his Church.”

Andrew Bartlett KC

In True Complementarity, Andrew Bartlett offers a thorough and thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing conversation about men and women in the Church. Drawing on Scripture and the history of its interpretation, he challenges readers to reconsider familiar assumptions and explore what genuine mutuality between men and women looks like in practice. The book provides a substantial resource for anyone seeking to engage more deeply with the biblical texts and consider how men and women can serve together as equal partners in the life and mission of the Church.

True Complementarity: The Way of Christ for Men and Women is out now 

In this magisterial new book, Bartlett takes the discussion wider and deeper, engaging with more voices, both historical and contemporary. Seeking to be rigorously biblical, he argues that on crucial points 'complementarian' teachings add to God's word.