The Alabaster Jar

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer explore the closing chapters of 2 Corinthians, focusing on Paul's conflict with the so‑called “super apostles.” Lynn explains how these opponents twist half-truths, claim credit for Paul's work, and promote a status-driven, power-grabbing model of leadership that clashes with the way of the cross. Paul responds by redefining apostolic authority as service, suffering, and weakness that makes room for God’s power, rather than dominance or self-promotion. They also highlight Paul’s famous teaching that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness, inviting listeners to see closed doors, limitations, and hardships as places where God is actively at work.Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership  LetHerLead.com  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, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer continue their series on 2 Corinthians, focusing on chapters 6–9. Lynn explains how Paul defends his apostleship not through impressive achievements but through hardship, endurance, truthful speech, and sincere love, reframing what godly leadership looks like. They also explore Paul’s teaching on believers as the corporate temple of God, warning against mixing idolatry with the worship of Christ and emphasizing a communal rather than purely individual perspective.The conversation then turns to Paul’s appeal for a collection for the poor believers in Judea, showing how generosity expresses God’s grace, builds global Christian community, and embodies the “habits of community” rather than individualism. Finally, they contrast Paul’s vision of generosity with prosperity-gospel distortions, highlighting that the true “return” on giving is increased thanksgiving to God and deeper unity in the body of Christ. Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  The Center for Women in Leadership  LetHerLead.com  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, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer kick off a new series on 2 Corinthians by setting it in the messy, very human story of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church. Lynn recaps 1 Corinthians, highlighting the factions, celebrity culture, and status-seeking that plagued Corinth and still feel strikingly modern today. They trace Paul’s painful visit, his severe “tearful” letter, and his anxious wait for news from Titus, showing how deeply relational and emotionally raw this letter really is. Along the way, they explore how Paul’s suffering, integrity, and refusal to abandon the message of the cross and resurrection reshape our expectations of Christian leadership and comfort in a broken world.  Resources Mentioned:   S6 E40 | Dr. Scot McKnight and Adrienne Gibson | How Trauma-Informed Ministry Heals the Body of Christ (Alabaster Jar Podcast)  Philippians Podcast Series (Alabaster Jar Podcast)The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity  The Center for Women in Leadership  LetHerLead.com  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 special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and co-host Dr. Josephine Stringer explore the life and work of Dorothy Sayers, a 20th‑century detective novelist, playwright, translator of Dante, and public theologian. They discuss Sayers’ celebrated Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries—especially Gaudy Night—and how her Oxford background, church upbringing, and participation in the “golden age” of detective fiction shaped her writing. Then they turn to Sayers’ theological work, including The Man Born to Be King, Creed or Chaos, and The Mind of the Maker, highlighting her conviction that the drama of redemption is the greatest story ever told. Lynn and Josephine also unpack Sayers’ provocative essays “Are Women Human?” and “Human Not Quite Human,” tracing her vision of work, creativity, and full human dignity for women and men, set against both her own complicated personal story and ongoing debates in the church today.   Resources Mentioned:   Are Women Human? Penetrating, Sensible, and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society by Dorothy L. SayersLord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. SayersThe Nine Tailors (The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries Book 11) by Dorothy L. SayersHuman-Not-Quite-Human by Dorothy L. SayersThe Mind of the Maker by Dorothy L. SayersGaudy Night: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane by Dorothy L. Sayers The Man Born to Be King by Dorothy L. Sayers The Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityDr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead   Episode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 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 and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick talks with Dr. Michelle Knight, Old Testament scholar and Senior Reviewer for the New Living Translation (NLT), about their recent work with the NLT translation committee. They describe the collaborative, worshipful environment of the committee, where men and women scholars work together as respected peers in translating Scripture. Lynn and Michelle explain how they refine the NLT to stay both faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek and accessible to modern readers, discussing examples like “scoundrel,” “Levite,” “guest room,” and Hannah’s deep emotional language in 1 Samuel. They also highlight the historical precedent of women contributing to biblical translation, such as Jerome’s collaborators Paula and Marcella, and reflect on how their committee embodies a vision of gender mutuality in service to the church.  Resources Mentioned:   Let Her Learn ClassesThe Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityDr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead  Episode Sponsor:  The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 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 and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.