James Talarico’s Biblical Support of Abortion: Point II
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I held off publishing this until after the midterms.
Not because the argument isn’t important—but because I wanted to eliminate the easy dismissal that criticism of James Talarico’s theology is merely political.
Last week, I told a reader two things:
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I’m not certain he will win.
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I am certain many of my readers don’t live in Texas.
So, this isn’t primarily about elections.
To be clear: his theology is more dangerous than his politics.
America has seen this figure before—the radical wrapped in gentle tone and neighborly concern. The man who borrows the language of faith to build credibility with religious voters.
He won’t be the first politician to do it. He won’t be the last.
I’m old enough to remember “Two Corinthians.”
Talarico may very well have an illustrious political career ahead of him.
But the lie he is telling about the Word of God must be addressed.
Recap: His First Claim
In his Joe Rogan interview, Talarico argued that the Bible supports abortion because:
“God breathed life into Adam, thus life begins when the first breath is taken outside the womb. This is what mainline Judaism believes.”
I addressed that claim already and pointed out several glaring problems.
🚩 Genesis and Judaism are invoked to defend abortion—while those same sources undermine many of his other arguments (including those about sexuality).
🚩 A singular supernatural event—God breathing life into Adam—is treated as a universal template, while other supernatural events in the same passage are ignored.
🚩 The animating breath of adult Adam is never used in Scripture to describe the beginning of life for babies.
🚩 The many passages affirming the personhood and value of the unborn are simply ignored.
🚩 Talarico frequently appeals to “what Jesus says”—except when Jesus speaks about harming children.
🚩 Breath gives life to Adam, yet Scripture repeatedly says life is in the blood.
🚩 He appeals to Jewish belief when convenient—while professing Christianity.
That was Point One.
Point Two
Here is Talarico’s second argument:
Jesus broke first-century norms about women—talking with women, learning from women, and having women lieutenants in his movement.
The longest conversation Jesus has in the Bible is with the Samaritan woman.
This affirmation of women as full and equal people is a huge part of the Jesus movement.
On its face, this point sounds reasonable.
And parts of it are true.
Yes—Jesus Honored Women
Jesus absolutely elevated the dignity of women.
The disciples were astonished that He spoke with the Samaritan woman.
They likely marveled again when Mary sat at His feet as a disciple.
Jesus consistently treated women with compassion, dignity, and spiritual seriousness in ways that cut against many cultural expectations of the day.
I don’t dispute this.
In fact, I would argue the opposite problem:
The significance of what Jesus did for women is often understated.
But that observation is about to be used to support a far more egregious claim.
Did Jesus “Learn From Women”?
That depends on what you mean.
If you mean human development, then yes.
Jesus grew “in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.”
His earthly parents—Mary included—undoubtedly played a role in His upbringing.
But if the claim is that Jesus lacked divine understanding and was corrected or taught theology by someone else, then no.
Scripture does not support that.
As a boy, Jesus astonished the teachers in the temple.
Throughout His ministry He repeatedly explained that His teaching came from the Father who sent Him.
And really think about the implications of what you are saying if “Jesus learned…” is the intent.
Jesus is in union with God the Father and God the Spirit, fully divine and omniscient. He experienced growth and suffering, but He taught truth and His teachings were not incomplete.
He was not learning doctrine or developing theology. He IS doctrine. He IS theology in the flesh.
He was LIVING the GOSPEL not learning it.
The truth of God’s Word was established in eternity past and then it became flesh and dwelt among us. It was never then and is not now, evolving as it observes or engages with the human experience.
Truth is not experiential.
Feminist Creep
Tread carefully here.
Because a true observation is about to be used to support an argument that buckles under its own weight.
Yes—Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is one of the longest extended conversations recorded in the Gospels.
But “face time” is not a biblical metric for human value.
If airtime equals worth, then what about the people Jesus healed without ever meeting?
Did the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter have less kingdom value because Jesus healed her remotely?
What about the centurion’s servant?
What about the thousands Jesus healed with no recorded conversation at all?
Equal Worth, Distinct Roles
Women in the Gospels are honored, protected, taught, and entrusted with witness in ways that should still warm the Church’s heart today.
They are fully equal in dignity and worth—image-bearers and heirs of the promise.
And yet Jesus also honored God’s design for distinct roles.
Women are not among the Twelve.
That does not diminish their worth.
It clarifies that value in the Kingdom is not measured by office or status.
STILL.
Kingdom value is still not measured by office or status and WE WOMEN do not need man to do for us now, what Jesus felt was not necessary or significant then.
The Direction This Argument Is Headed
Notice what is happening.
Talarico points to the culmination of what Jesus did for women and frames it in terms of temporal, earthly recognition:
attention
status
authority
office
All so he can attach the ultimate modern idol to it:
autonomy.
But Jesus Gave Women Something Infinitely Greater
Friends, Jesus gave women far more than social standing.
He gave:
adoption.
salvation.
eternal life.
If you think that Christ came to earth to give me, as a woman—office and equality, let me be the first to tell you…
Inequality is not what damns me to hell.
Sin is.
The Samaritan woman didn’t merely get noticed. Y’all—she got new life.
She was not just recognized. She was redeemed.
The woman at the well didn’t just get “seen,” she got SAVED from SIN.
She was dead in sin.
And Christ made her alive.
Understand this girls and guys. Christ became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become righteousness.
And it was not done to elevate women to have a seat at earthly tables.
It was done that we might be elevated and seated in Heavenly places with God the Father.
