My wife is a new Christian (Baptized in 2003) and did not grow up in a Christian home. She is all for being a "biblical woman" but has no apparatus from which to learn (other than from my limited experience) since neither her mother (who is actively against her Christian life) and my mother who is a strong egalitarian PC(USA) soon-to-be minister.

Any recommendations?

I have bought these books:

Feminine Appeal - Carolyn Mahaney

The True Woman: The Beauty and Strength of a Godly Woman - Susan Hunt

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church
Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

"Nothing is sweet to me without the enjoyment of Christ in it." -- Thomas Brooks

I highly recommend John Angell James's book "Female Piety."
It's the best I've read on the subject.

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Dr. Don Kistler

Much agreed with Dr. Kistler.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

I would also recommend Elizabeth Prentiss' books, especially if your wife is just being introduced to older books. Specifically, Stepping Heavenward, Aunt Jane's Hero, and her life and letters. These books give a good introductory picture in story/biographical form of a what it is to be a godly woman, and are very easy and enjoyable reads. Elizabeth Prentiss was the daughter of Edward Payson and the author of "More Love to Thee" and other hymns.

Incidentally her sister Louisa wrote an amazingly good and very easily understandable/readable introduction to Calvinism in The Pastor's Daughter, largely a record of her father's conversations with her when she was a little girl.

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Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

After two days, he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.

This site has a ton of resources: The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

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Chris Poe
Mandeville, LA

"There are the foolish fanatics always to be found in such a movement and always discrediting it--the lunatic fringe in all reform movements." Theodore Roosevelt

This page has a lot of free online books, including Biblical Womanhood in the Home: CBMW » Online Books

Among current writers, I'd think anything by Nancy Leigh DeMoss would be helpful. Lies Women Believe might be a good place to start.

Jay Adams Christian Living in the Home is good as well. Our pastor recommended Elisabeth Elliot's Let Me Be a Woman during our pre-marital counseling.

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Chris Poe
Mandeville, LA

"There are the foolish fanatics always to be found in such a movement and always discrediting it--the lunatic fringe in all reform movements." Theodore Roosevelt

Thanks for all your help.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church
Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

"Nothing is sweet to me without the enjoyment of Christ in it." -- Thomas Brooks

Benjamin, I ought to clarify that the Life and Letters is about 400 (500?) pages of closely packed print: it's an 'easy read' because delightfully written and easy to pick up and put down with just reading a letter here and there; but it might be a bit daunting for someone who hasn't read and loved anything else by her yet.

Also, I was thinking of what some of my friends might recommend: I think Laura (who sometimes haunts this board) would recommend a biography of Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Edwards has been a role model for her (and if you knew Laura, that would be a strong recommendation of Sarah Edwards :-), but I am unsure if the one she liked was by Edna Gerstner or Elizabeth Dodd. I tend to think Gerstner... I will send her this thread link and ask her.

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Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

After two days, he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.

I can't speak to the quality of any of these books, but this might be helpful:
Women :: Christian Life :: Monergism Books :: Reformed Books and Resources for Christians

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Brian Vandenburg
Attend Intown Presbyterian Church (PCA)
"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God."-Westminster Confession of Faith
http://wittenberg1517.wordpress.com/

I've read the Gerstner and the Dodd biographies. Both have their idiosyncrasies—Gerster relays the family's history in an imaginative, almost novel-like setting, while Dodd sometimes offers slightly obnoxious psychological commentary—but I would recommend the latter if you had to choose, because she relies heavily on primary sources and manages to reveal quite enough of Sarah's character to stir up desires in the reader (when applicable ) to be more like that woman.

I thought Feminine Appeal was really good, by the way.

P.S. That's Sarah Edwards in my avatar.

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Laura
attending Old Peachtree PCA, GA

"...Christ comes to meet the despairing with new aid, who not only regenerates us by his Spirit that we may obey God, but makes also that our endeavor, such as it is, should obtain the praise of perfect righteousness." - Calvin

I loved The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. Stepping Heavenward was also excellent. When I first became a Christian I read a book named, Me Obey Him, I don't remember who the author was, but it dealt with submission and was good from what I remember. Another great book was Reforming Marraige by Doug Wilson. I don't agree with a lot of what Wilson says, but my husband and I both learned a lot from that book. Vision Forum usually has a lot of great books, try them!

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Mindy
Member of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church
Martinsburg, WV
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4

Dr. Kistler and Josh beat me to it, but I must also recommend Female Piety by John Angell James. When I became a Christian 6 years ago (at the age of 21) I knew that my behavior and worldview needed a complete overhaul - but I had no idea where to begin! He displays the practical outworkings of proper theology in the life of a Christian daughter, sister, wife, mother, etc. Not only does he explain what they ought to do and why, but he thoroughly guides them in how to do it, answering objections and obstacles that are even more prevalent in our day than they were in his own.

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Erin Bartel
Blessed Wife of Jeffrey
Trinity Reformed Church, RPCNA
Wichita, KS

Thanks again.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church
Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

"Nothing is sweet to me without the enjoyment of Christ in it." -- Thomas Brooks

Excellent read. I read it to my sons because I read it for myself and enjoyed it so much. So even 4 men in the family read a book written for and about women.

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Frank
member/Reformed Baptist Church, NJ
1689 BCF
Technician in NewYork
Titus 2:13
...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus...