By Brent Gallagher
There is no question that women have made tremendous strides in the past 100 years as far as achieving certain rights that they have previously been denied. This article’s purpose is not to examine these achievements or to look at both the positive and sometimes negative consequences of such achievements. Instead, this article is focusing on what the Bible teaches about women and how some are attacking the very teachings of the Bible related to women.
Christians believe the Bible comes from God and reveals His very mind (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14). Because of these beliefs we consider the Bible to be an infallible book that reflects an infallible, all-knowing, and all-loving God who desires His creation to follow Him. This view of the Bible’s inspiration (verbal and plenary) has come under attack by various individuals and groups of people. Specifically, there has been a tremendous assault on the integrity of Scripture in the last 30 to 40 years by some who consider the Bible to be a book written solely by men to perpetuate their power and control over women. Those who hold to this view would suggest the Bible reflects a low view of women and that it teaches that women are “second class citizens.” Passages such as Leviticus 15:19-24 (a woman’s uncleanness during menstruation), Deuteronomy 21:10-14 (an Israelite soldier’s right to “take” a wife from among captives), Ephesians 5:22-24 (the wife’s submission to the husband), and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 (the limitation of the role of women in public assemblies) are among those cited to show the Bible reflects an inferior view of women.
There have been different types of attacks on and approaches to the Bible on the topic of women. Some people simply see the Bible’s teaching on women as being outdated and not fit for today’s culture. The Episcopalian bishop John Spong reflects that attitude in the following statement. “There is no doubt about the fact that the Bible is biased against women…. Both the religious and ethical directives of the Bible were formulated out of a patriarchal understanding of life, with the interests of men being primary. Are we willing to return to these destructive definitions of both men and women?”[i]
Another person’s explanation for these supposedly difficult and outdated teachings about women in the Bible offers the following solution for modern-day churches.
The only real option for feminists who refuse to reject the Bible completely is to use the Bible’s own methods for revising outdated laws. The prophets Jeremiah (31:30) and Ezekiel (18:2) both declared the idea that the sins of the fathers would be passed down to future generations (Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 5:9) obsolete. And Jesus reinterpreted the laws of Torah (Matthew 5:21-48) to make them relevant for His community. Thus the Bible itself shows that laws and customs should be continually scrutinized and updated to correspond to different times, places, and customs.[ii]
I believe that when the Bible is approached in the above fashion serious problems follow. Are we to simply pick and choose which commandments we like or dislike based on culture or popular attitudes? At the heart of this discussion is the question: Does the Bible teach an inferior view of woman?
The Old Testament Elevates Women
Even though we meet challenging passages in the Old Testament concerning the treatment of women, we are reminded that the Old Law gave women a greater status than the countries which surrounded ancient Israel. Many of these countries (Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome) viewed women as pieces of property that could be sold or disposed of for the shallowest of reasons.[iii] Contrast those attitudes with the Old Testament view of women and marriage. Admittedly, the wife had fewer rights than the husband under the Old Testament Law. Generally speaking, the women in Israel were still treated far better than other women in the Ancient Near East. The prophet Malachi reminded the men of his day about the sinfulness of divorcing the “wife of your youth.”
Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth (Malachi 2:14,15).
Malachi tells the men of Judah that when they show disrespect for the marriage covenant, they are dealing “treacherously” with their wives. The inspired prophet viewed wives as more than pieces of property to be bought and sold. When we think of some of the great examples of faith in the Old Testament, we think of women. Many of us learned the accounts of faithful women such as Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, and others when we were small children. The Bible writers did not view these women as “second-class citizens” but rather elevated them to a status they deserved.
Jesus Elevates Women
Jesus treated women much different than the rabbis of His day. The traditions of the Jews in the time of Jesus forbade a rabbi to speak publicly with a woman. Throughout the Gospels we find Jesus speaking publicly to women. Many of us are familiar with the accounts of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), the woman begging for the life of her daughter (Matthew 15:21-28), the sinful woman at Simon’s house (Luke 7:36-50), and many more. There is not even a hint in the Gospels that Jesus looked down upon or considered women inferior. In the famous account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen “the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus thought it was important to teach spiritual truths to these two sisters. Jesus was not ashamed to talk to a Samaritan woman and teach her about the Messiah (John 4:7-26). Even Jesus’ own disciples “marvel that He is talking to a woman” (John 4:27). Jesus appears to have a rather large following of women during His ministry. In Luke 8:2,3 we read concerning those who were following Jesus, “…and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.” There is no question that Jesus broke through the traditions of His day to treat women with dignity and respect.
The New Testament Elevates Women
After the beginning of the church in Acts 2, we find women noticeably present in the activities of the church (Acts 9:36; 12:12; 16:14,15; 18:26; 21:8,9). Paul frequently refers to women in his letters. These women were important enough to address by name, and undoubtedly Paul was aware of their value and contributions to the cause of Christ. Not only does the New Testament show that women played a prominent role in the early church, it also teaches that women are to be treated fairly and equally. Husbands are to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Husbands are further commanded to “love their own wives as their own bodies” (Ephesians 5:28). Peter says, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Paul’s famous passage which teaches male and female equality is Galatians 3:28. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
The parts of the New Testament which seem to trouble some are passages which teach the wife’s submission to her husband (Ephesians 5:22), limit a woman’s role as a leader in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-12), and give her a distinct role as a mother within the family (Titus 2:4,5; 1 Timothy 2:15). Submission does not mean inferiority or suggest a second-class status. It is simply God’s plan. The fact that a woman is not authorized to preach or teach publicly to men does not suggest inferiority or a second-class status. It is simply God’s plan. The fact that God has ordained certain roles for men and women within the family does not suggest inferiority or a second-class status for women. It is simply God’s plan.
We need to remember that equality is not the equivalent of sameness. Men and women are equal but we are not the same. The fact that God has created us this way and has given us different roles does not diminish either’s worth or value. In our culture’s rush for egalitarianism in all relationships, we have bypassed some very important Biblical truths. Let us remember that God’s ways are always right (Psalm 18:30; 1 John 5:3).
[i] John Shelby Spong, Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality (New York: HarperCollins — Harper San Francisco, 1990), 117.
[ii]Susan Brayford, “Reading Glasses: Feminist Criticism,” http://www.sbl-site.org/assets/pdfs/TB7_FeministCriticism_SB.pdf
[iii] Bible Mesh Blog, “Marriage and Women in the Pagan World of Bible Times,” http://www.biblemesh.com/blog/2013/04/01/marriage-and-women-in-the-pagan-world-of-bible-times/”
