A collection of feminist interpretations of parables about women and women's work. This volume not only fills a gap in the scholarly literature on parables, but brings to life vignettes from ancient Mediterranean women's lives and offer insights into the place of women in the ministry of Jesus, the early church, and Christian theology. It is a rich resource for scholarship, teaching and preaching.Contributors include the editor, Elisabeth Schnssler Fiorenza, Linda Maloney, Kathleen Nash, Pheme Perkins, Barbara Reid, Kathleen Rushton, Holly Hearon, and Adele Reinhartz. Topics include feminist readings of the Parable of the Persistent Widow, the oWise and Foolish Virgins,o the Prodigal Son, the Faithful Steward, and the oBrideo in John 3.

"An indispensable collection both for feminist methodologies and for filling the exegetical lacuna about the lives of women in the ancient Mediterranean world generally and the Jesus movement in particular." -Religious Studies Review, 01/04 * Religious Studies Review *

Mary Ann Beavis is Assistant Professor. Department of Religious Studies, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Canada. Her previous publications include 'Mark's Audience: The Literary and Social Setting of Mark 4:11-12' (1989).