The Promise of the Father

Book excerpt: "Phoebe Palmer's Promise of the Father (1859) is a massive defense of women's right to preach. She attributes the long-standing prohibitions against women taking an active role in the leadership of the church to two things: bad exegesis and a distorted and un-Christian view most men had of the opposite sex. She concludes that women, acting in their legitimate sphere, were more likely than men to exhibit true piety. Based on the promise of Joel 2:28, restated by Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:17-18, Phoebe takes God at his Word. In the 'latter days' the Holy Spirit will be given to women as well as to men, and both will be expected to pray, prophesy, and preach. No one can study the holiness movement in the middle of the last century without dealing with this important book, so long out of print " --Kenneth E. Rowe, Drew University, Madison, NJ Phoebe Palmer (1807-74) was an evangelist and writer who promoted the doctrine of Christian perfection. She is considered one of the founders of the Holiness movement in the United States and the Higher Life movement in the United Kingdom.