Reformation Women

Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity's Rebirth

By: Rebecca VanDoodewaard

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

Length: 3 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Women are an essential element in church history. Just as Deborah, Esther, and the New Testament Marys helped shape Bible history, so the women of the Reformed church have helped to make its history great.

In Reformation Women, Rebecca Vandoodewaard introduces listeners to 12 16th-century women who are not as well known today as contemporaries like Katie Luther and Lady Jane Grey. Providing an example to Christians today of strong service to Christ and his church, these influential, godly women were devoted to Reformation truth, in many cases provided support for their husbands, practiced hospitality, and stewarded their intellectual abilities. Their strength and bravery will inspire you, and your understanding of church history will become richer as you learn how God used them to further the Reformation through their work and influence.

©2017 eChristian (P)2017 eChristian

Brilliant!

From the introduction, you know you’re about to listen to a textbook. But what a textbook! VanDoodewaard covers 12 women from the reformation. They span across many nationalities: English, French, Dutch, Swiss, and more. Some were peasant women elevated to nobility, some simple and uneducated. Many of the women discussed were born princesses, royalty or nobility of some rank in their own right. Some were so well-educated that their writings overshadowed those of their husbands and were accused of insubordination. All of these women experienced extreme loss. Most lost children, and yet more lost their husbands, even multiple husbands being widowed several times over. Of those women who were born or married into powerful families, subterfuge, espionage, and politics was the name of the game; the women of Reformed history played their part shrewdly, saving perhaps hundreds of lives and toppling kingdoms in the process. Yet others lived persecuted, on the run from town to town until finally reaching a place of safety only to spend the rest of her days dying from disease and exhaustion, little remembered since most of her works were destroyed. Of them all, I think Marguerite de Navarre is my favorite. She’s fascinating. You should totally look her up.

At the end, VanDoodewaard extrapolates 7 similarities between these women and how and why we ought to emulate them. I particularly appreciated the author’s discussion of the impact of healthy complimentarian marriages. Those marriages that were healthy where mutual care, male authority, and female submission were healthy not only created hospitable homes and thriving ministries; you can see the positive affects after the deaths of the men— which was frequent. The women were neither coddled during marriage leading to self defeat and pity after the death of their husband; nor did the woman fly free from a subdued life, oppression. There was genuine grief, but they flourished as much before as after. Most women went on to support themselves, their children, and others financially, attaining influence over others by writing, rising to positions of leadership and even defiance to be a threat in and of themselves.

She emphasized the failings of some of the women acknowledging their imperfections; but she pressed into their unique gifts. Each had skills different from the others, and none of them died until it was the right time. I found this point interesting as she gave examples, pointing the reader to examine their own lives. How are we spending our time?

Beautiful story of God working in the lives of women

What a beautiful book! I almost wish I had read the conclusion first and then again at the end. The author summarizes so beautifully the wonderful work of the Lord in the lives of these women. Women in a variety of roles that served faithfully despite so many life hardships and that pointed all to the amazing work of Christ in their lives. This will not be the last read for me. I am going to listen to this book again, but with my daughters. A book that reminds women that our identity is not in ourselves and our roles, but in Christ.

Wonderful testimony to the power ordinary faithfulness

The simplicity and clarity of the author allows the stories of Christ like women to shine forth with radiant splendor. Thankful to hear these testimonies of faithfulness. Very encouraging.

The application and lessons learned for believers today is an apt conclusion. Well done!

Great stories!

Wonderful testimonies of inspiring women of the reformation. Great easy reading for any young and old.

Excellent read

powerful stories of women, who serve well, sacrifice with much love and most of love for their Saviour! love this book, it was so encouraging!

Powerful

This book was encouraging and empowering. God bless the women of the reformation and the women today who work to advance the gospel even in their own families.

Good but biased

Insightful, if not sycophantic. It dripped with Protestant superiority that made even this Protestant roll his eyes. Still, these are women who should be studied and appreciated. Their stories should be told, as this book attempted to do. All the same, A more leveled approach in the telling would have been appreciated.