What happens when we ignore how story works in Scripture? In this episode of “The Chick Report,” Dr. Sandra Glahn welcomes Dr. Kelley Mathews to explore how readers, teachers, and translators sometimes write women out of the biblical story. Together Drs. Glahn and Mathews discuss plot, character, setting, and narrative voice, and they show why careful reading helps us hear the text more clearly. Discover: How story shapes the way we read Scripture and why that matters for interpretation What Mary, Abigail, Tamar, and Judah reveal when we follow the narrative closely How some English translations can hide women in plain sight and what Bible teachers can do about it Join us as we explore the theme “A Woman’s Place is in the Story”—because when we overlook, minimize, or misread women in Scripture, we miss crucial dimensions of the biblical story. Subscribe for more episodes featuring scholarship with a touch of slang. Connect with Sandra: https://sandraglahn.com | Instagram: @SandraGlahnAuthor Disclaimer: The views, information, and/or opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent those of the host, affiliated organizations, or sponsors. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: how story works and how women get written out of Scripture 0:47 - Meet Dr. Kelley Mathews: background, scholarship, and studying Mary 3:38 - Why story matters: history, fiction, and what makes a narrative work 9:21 - Favorite settings and characters: Anne of Green Gables, Elizabeth Bennet, and narrative imagination 17:39 - Favorite Bible story and why Mary stands out as a disciple 23:25 - Abigail and David: plot, character, setting, and narrative voice in 1 Samuel 25 30:23 - Reading Scripture as story: Judah, Tamar, and following the Messiah’s line 31:20 - How Bible translation can erase women in plain sight 36:32 - What pastors and ministry leaders can do differently 41:10 - Final thoughts: reading each Gospel as a literary whole
