Reta’s Reflections is a series of Bible studies taught by Reta Halteman Finger.
Current Series —
Gendered Letters: The Pastoral Epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus
View the Pastoral Epistles series index.
Studies in Revelation
View the Studies in Revelation series index.
Studies in Philemon
View the Studies in Philemon series index.
Studies in Hermeneutics
View the Studies in Hermeneutics series index.
Studies in the Story of Jonah
View the Studies in the Story of Jonah series index.
Studies in John’s Gospel
Click here for the diagram of the conceptual and literary path John’s Gospel takes.
View the Studies in John’s Gospel series index.
First Corinthians
View the companion map of locations relevant to Paul’s travels and letters.
View the 1 Corinthians series index.
Whether she is teaching in a college or seminary classroom, or speaking to her readers through the pages of a book, or addressing attendees at an EEWC-Christian Feminism Today conference, Reta generously shares her gifts as a biblical scholar and communicator. Through this blog, an even wider audience can benefit from her insights. She is especially skilled in relating the Bible to today’s issues and in getting others involved in discussing the material she presents. Her questions at the end of each post can be used for individual reflection or group discussion.
In saying that these Bible studies are written from a Christian feminist perspective, Reta wants readers to know that although she fully supports gender equality, it does not mean she will focus mainly on texts about women (although these will not be avoided as they come up in various passages). Rather, she will emphasize how to read different genres of biblical literature in their historical contexts and then wrestle with how they might relate to Christians today. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture referenced is from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV).
Reta Halteman Finger is a long-time member of EEWC-CFT and is a past Southeast representative on the EEWC-CFT Council. She holds a Ph.D. in theology and religion from Northwestern University, masters of theological studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Northern Baptist University, and a master of education from Boston University.
Reta retired in 2009 from teaching Bible (mostly New Testament) at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and since her retirement from Messiah College has been devoting her time to writing and speaking projects, as well as some part-time teaching at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
For fifteen years, Reta edited the Christian feminist magazine, Daughters of Sarah (no longer published), and is a frequent writer and reviewer for Christian Feminism Today. Using the search box on the homepage of our EEWC-Christian Feminism Today website, you’ll be led to many of her online articles.
Reta specializes in life in the early church and is the author of Roman House Churches for Today: A Practical Guide for Small Groups, and Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts. She is also co-editor with Kari Sandhaas of a book of selected articles from Daughters of Sarah magazine, The Wisdom of Daughters: Two Decades of the Voice of Christian Feminism.
