Reader’sChoiceAwardWinnerMostChristianshaveheardafamiliardescriptionoftheSamaritanwomaninJohn4:shewasasinner,anadulteress,evenaprostitute.Throughoutchurchhistory,thewomanatthewellhasbeenseennarrowlyintermsofhergenderandmaritalhistory.Whatarewemissinginthestory?Andwhatdifferencedoesourinterpretationofthispassagemakeforwomenandmeninthechurch?CarynA.ReedercallsustoseetheSamaritanwomaninadifferentlight.BeginningwiththereceptionhistoryofJohn4,shepullsbacklayersofinterpretationentangledwithreaders’assumptionsonwomenandsexuality.Shethenexploresthestory’soriginalcontext,describinglifeforwomenandexpectationsregardingmarriageanddivorceinthefirstcentury.Withthisclarifiedlens,Reeder’sexegesisofthepassageyieldsrefreshinginsightsonwhattheGospelsays--anddoesnotsay--aboutthewomanatthewell.Throughoutthebook,Reederdrawsconnectionsbetweeninterpretationsofthistextandthelifeofthechurch.ThesexualobjectificationoftheSamaritanwomanandminimizationofherpositivecontributionhasongoingconsequencesforhowwomenareseenandtreated--includinginthefailureofmanyChristiancommunitiestorespondwelltoaccusationsofabuse.Intheageof#MeTooand#ChurchToo,TheSamaritanWoman’sStoryoffersaboldchallengetoteachtheBibleinawaythattrulyhonorsthevalueandvoicesofwomen.
