Before You Were Born, I Anointed You

Uncovering Scripture’s “Hidden” Female Prophets

Anna Beresford

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781666737486
  9781666796971
• eBook ISBN:
  9781666796988
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Prophetic ministry in the Bible has long been perceived as the exclusive domain of individuals who were powerful, authoritative, argumentative, and, almost always, male. This impression cannot be sustained. In a logical and engaging way, Anna Beresford convincingly shows us that female characters throughout the biblical story are not merely peripheral actors but are often the ones who proclaim God's prophetic word with disturbing clarity. Beginning with the few women acknowledged as prophets in the Hebrew scriptural tradition, Beresford proceeds to uncover a surprising host of "hidden" female prophets. Among this cast we meet the widow whose last penny is consumed by organized religion; the gate crasher who teaches a pious Pharisee stern lessons in hospitality; a woman who has the last word in a theological debate. A woman used to trap Jesus proclaims truth to power, and a feisty foreign lady cleverly proves that God's love is for all of us, regardless of gender or ethnicity. This book is a compelling reminder that God speaks to all people--women and men--and calls on us to share the message "whether it is convenient or not" (2 Tim 4:2 NET).

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Prophets
• Chapter 2: 'Parables
• Chapter 3: Named Female Prophets
• Chapter 4: Unnamed Female Prophets
• Chapter 5: What Do You See?
• Chapter 6: The Forgiven Woman
• Chapter 7: Whose Wife Will She Be?
• Chapter 8: The Woman Caught in Adultery
• Chapter 9: The Canaanite Woman
• Chapter 10: Conclusion—Why Is This Important?
• Bibliography