Toxic Masculinity, Razor Blades, and Why Bonnie is Translating the Bible - w/ Bonnie Lewis

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 January 2019

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How reimagining Scripture through a new translation and untangling toxic masculinity can help Christians rediscover Jesus and better live out the mission of the gospel today. Author and theologian Bonnie Lewis joins Mike to share the heart behind her groundbreaking Bible translation project “Tim Shell.” They dig into the challenges she’s faced as a woman translating Scripture, how Tim Shell offers new pathways for healing spiritual trauma, and why understanding both the cultural and spiritual context of Scripture matters deeply. The episode also turns to a powerful, honest conversation around toxic masculinity—including how men can course-correct toxic behavior, what biblical masculinity looks like through the life of Jesus, and how the church can be part of the solution rather than the problem.

Key Takeaways:
• How Bonnie Lewis’s personal grief and deconstruction journey led to the “Tim Shell” Bible translation project
• Why accessibility and spiritual authenticity matter more than literalism in Scripture engagement
• The backlash and support Bonnie has received for being a female translator and how privilege, gender, and theological gatekeeping impact who “gets” to interpret the Bible
• Breaking down the nuance of translation: word-for-word, thought-for-thought, and spiritually faithful reinterpretation
• What toxic masculinity really looks like—and how it's reinforced both culturally and in the church
• Why Jesus offers the best model of manhood that includes strength, emotional vulnerability, justice, and dignity for all
• How the Gillette ad and conservative backlash spark deeper questions about masculinity, identity, and cultural power
• The role of empathy and listening in dismantling harmful gender stereotypes

Guest Highlight:
Bonnie Lewis – Writer, theologian, and Bible translator behind the “Tim Shell” project, a translation that weaves cultural and spiritual commentary into 20 key Bible stories. Bonnie shares her journey of reconstructing faith after personal tragedy, and why reclaiming deep, faithful engagement with Scripture is more vital than ever.

Resources Mentioned:
• The Tim Shell Bible Project – bit.ly/timshellproject
• Genesis 22 – First passage translated in the Tim Shell Bible
• Mumford & Sons – “Timshel” (Song that inspired the translation title)
• Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan – Cultural figures often linked with modern masculinity
• The Bible Project – bibleproject.com
• 1 Corinthians 6:9 – Misinterpretation discussed regarding “effeminate” in masculinity debates

Join us in challenging assumptions, amplifying new theological voices, and rediscovering the beauty of Scripture and Jesus's model of masculinity. Subscribe to Voxology, leave a review, and join the conversation on social media—we'd love to hear how these ideas resonate with you.

As always, we encourage and invite deeper discussion as we pursue these topics together. Email your thoughts or questions to [email protected].

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford | IG & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	I think anytime we're having trouble understanding whether or not you end up agreeing, you could still listen and spend time outside of your own self and still disagree.
0:16.0	But I think at any time if you're willing and trying to be empathetic, your best bet is to listen.
0:22.7	Hands down.
0:27.3	Everybody, Mike here with by very, very, very special guest, Bonnie Lewis.
0:36.4	Bonnie, hello.
0:41.2	Welcome back to the show. How are you? I'm good. It's so good to be back.
0:50.4	Bonnie, for those of you who are new to the podcast, Bonnie is a dear friend of mine who I initially met. I always tell the story because it's just so awesome. And in fact, I had a guy from
0:54.8	Rock Harbor, Bonnie, who was offended, who came up to me after our first podcast together. He was
1:00.1	like, oh, I thought I had a good one. And I was like, no. I'm sorry, I said that. I worked,
1:05.6	I worked at a church called Rock Harbor back in the day. And I was a teaching pastor and we were trying to raise up by their teachers.
1:12.9	So we did this teaching class and opened it up for people in the community to send in their own teaching tapes and get critiqued and whatever.
1:23.6	And literally the best, and I'm sorry, I tell the story
1:27.6	every time Bonnie,
1:28.2	but by far,
1:29.6	the best one was
1:30.1	from a 19 year old
1:31.4	young lady named
1:33.1	Bonnie Lewis.
1:34.4	And that has,
1:35.2	she's been a research
1:36.3	assistant for me.
1:38.1	I've been a research assistant
	...

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