The Alabaster Jar

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer explore the Book of Esther through the lives of Esther and Vashti, highlighting how both women display courage under an abusive and volatile king. They set the story in its historical context in the Persian palace at Susa, unpacking Vashti’s costly refusal and Esther’s hidden, strategic path to influencing the king. Along the way, they examine themes of power, dignity, and the isolation faced by women in the royal court.

Resources Mentioned: 

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

The Center for Women in Leadership

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Joseph R. Dodson and his daughter Maddie Mae Motl about their book, Conquerors, Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life. They challenge the popular view that the “I” in Romans 7 is Paul describing the normal Christian struggle with sin and instead argue that Paul is using a rhetorical persona, not speaking autobiographically. Drawing on the wider context of Romans 5–8, church history (from Origen and Augustine to Luther and Calvin), and an apocalyptic/cosmological view of sin and death, they present Romans 7 as depicting life under sin and the law rather than Spirit-empowered Christian existence.

Resources Mentioned: 

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life by Dr. Joseph R. Dodson and Mattie Mae Motl

Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context by Dr. Joseph R. Dodson and Dr. David E. Briones

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In Part 2 of their conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Cyndi Parker, an expert in biblical context, continue their discussion about the women in Jesus’ life and the importance of place in understanding Scripture. They focus on the Samaritan woman at the well and Dr. Parker first situates the story in its rich geographical and Old Testament context, explaining the significance of Shechem/Samaria, Jacob’s well, and the deep historical “thickness” of that place in Israel’s narrative.

They also unpack the complex history between Jews and Samaritans, showing how questions about the true place of worship and who is the “real” people of God form the backdrop for John 4. They challenge common shame-based interpretations of the Samaritan woman’s marital history and midday trip to the well, arguing instead for a more historically grounded and theologically rich reading that highlights her insight and response to Jesus. To conclude, they unpack a different perspective on what we see in the interaction between Jesus and the Sisters of Bethany. 

Resources Mentioned: 

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels by Dr. Cyndi Parker  

Context Matters Podcast with Dr. Cyndi Parker

Narrative of Place

Women of the Bible in Art (Museum of the Bible Event with the Center for Women in Leadership)  

The Center for Women in Leadership  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Cyndi Parker, an expert in biblical context, about the women in Jesus’ life and the importance of place in understanding Scripture. They begin with Mary, the mother of Jesus, challenging modern labels like “unwed teenage mother” by situating her in the deeply Jewish, small-village context of Nazareth and highlighting her rich scriptural formation reflected in the Magnificat.

Cyndi and Lynn also explore how Mary’s story shows God inviting seemingly insignificant people from obscure places into pivotal roles in his redemptive work. Their discussion also includes Anna the prophetess in Jerusalem’s temple, emphasizing her age, devotion, public credibility, and her role as one of the first to publicly proclaim Jesus’ significance, alongside Simeon.

Resources Mentioned:

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels by Dr. Cyndi Parker  

Context Matters Podcast with Dr. Cyndi Parker

Narrative of Place

Women of the Bible in Art (Museum of the Bible Event with the Center for Women in Leadership  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this 3rd edition of "Coffee with Cohick" episode of The Alabaster Jar podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Kelley Mathews answer listener-submitted questions that explore various themes centered around women's empowerment, biblical understanding, and the significance of questions in faith. They discuss the importance of asking questions, the cultural context of adoption in the first century, and the implications of naming in the biblical narrative. They also reflect on the story of Elijah, emphasizing God's care and the call to trust in His plans, even when results are not immediately visible.

Resources Mentioned:

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians by Dr. N.T. Wright and Dr. Michael F. Bird

Adoption in Galatians and Romans: Contemporary Metaphor Theories and the Pauline Huiothesia Metaphors by Dr. Erin Heim

A Week in the Life of (Book Series)

Genesis (The Story of God Bible Commentary Book 1) by Dr. Tremper Longman III IVP Bible Dictionaries

Phoebe: A Story by Dr. Paula Gooder

Lydia: A Story by Dr. Paula Gooder

The Jewish War: Revised Edition (Penguin Classics) - Josephus

Women of the Bible in Art (Event at the Museum of the Bible with the Center for Women in Leadership  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Sandra Glahn joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her upcoming book (releasing August 25th, 2026), A Woman's Place Is in the Story: Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative. They explore the question of why women-focused study Bibles are necessary, emphasizing that many significant female figures have been overlooked in traditional biblical narratives.  

Dr. Glahn also shares her insights on how women like Tamar play crucial roles in the biblical story, often embodying themes of righteousness and justice that are essential to understanding the larger narrative of Scripture. Ultimately, they highlight the need for a more inclusive approach to biblical studies that recognizes the contributions and complexities of women in the biblical text. 

Resources Mentioned:  

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  

A Woman's Place Is in the Story: Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative by Dr. Sandra Glahn

2026 Visual Museum Symposium  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Eve Tibbs joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her book, Seeing the Gospel: An Interpretive Guide to Orthodox Icons. They explore the significance of Orthodox icons, their unique visual language, and how they convey biblical stories and theological truths. They also cover the differences between icons and religious art, common misconceptions about icons, the symbolism of colors and figures, and specific icons such as the Nativity and Transfiguration.

Resources Mentioned:  

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Seeing the Gospel: An Interpretive Guide to Orthodox Icons by Dr. Eve Tibbs  

The Priscilla Catacombs

2026 Visual Museum Symposium  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Knight joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to talk about how to read the book of Ruth with careful hermeneutics rather than as a “Hallmark” love story. They explore the harsh realities of famine, displacement, and economic vulnerability in the days of the Judges and how these shape Naomi and Ruth’s choices. Dr. Knight also highlights Ruth’s boldness, loyalty (hesed), and agency, showing her as a model of discipleship and courageous faith, not a passive “damsel in distress.” They also dive into Boaz’s over-the-top care, the moral complexity of the nighttime threshing floor scene, and the way God restores Naomi’s hope and joy through ordinary, faithful people.  

Resources Mentioned:   

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  

2026 Visual Museum Symposium

Women of the Bible in Art (Museum of the Bible)

Center for Women in Leadership

S5 E14 | Dr. Michelle Knight | Defying Expectations: How The Vulnerable Became Victorious In The Old Testament

The Prophet's Anthem: The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges by Dr. Michelle Knight

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer conclude their three-part series on Paul's letter to the Galatians. They delve into what freedom in Christ truly means, emphasizing that faith—rather than strict adherence to the law—welcomes believers into God’s family. They also discuss how outward practices, such as circumcision and dietary laws, are less important than living by the Spirit and expressing faith through love.  

Resources Mentioned:   

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  

2026 Visual Museum Symposium  

Women of the Bible in Art (Museum of the Bible)

Center for Women in Leadership

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer continue their exploration of Paul's letter to the Galatians, focusing on chapters 3 and 4. They delve into Paul's frustration with the Galatians' confusion over faith, Mosaic law, and the meaning of true belonging in God's family.  

Resources Mentioned:   

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  

2026 Visual Museum Symposium  

Women of the Bible in Art (Museum of the Bible)

Center for Women in Leadership

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.