Dearest Virtuous Saints, sisters and
brothers,
It is better to dwell in the
wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Proverbs
21:19
Throughout the Bible women have varying images and roles from
concubine to mistress, to seductress to harlot, to teacher to wise
woman and heroine. In old testament scenarios woman is
untrustworthy, has a mouth of a harpy and by nature is inferior.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve - 1 Timothy 2:13. It is the
woman who invariably gets the brunt of God's wrath namely because
of her sex. We are according to Paul, inferior and for eternity our
sex must pay for the mistake of Eve, also according to Paul we
redeem ourselves by our natural biological ability to give birth.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression. Not withstanding she shall be saved in childbearing,
if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 1
Timothy 2:14-15
Paul's ministry neglects the admission that without women, the male
of the species wouldn't survive. Regardless of the Genesis
assumption, which asserts the claim that man who was allegedly
created first also gave birth to woman. But no such biological feat
as to male creativity has ever been achieved and nor will it ever
be accomplished. However to make up for this short coming the
Church has always opined that: As regards the individual nature,
woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the
male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the
masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in
the active power Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
However if women are such sorry creatures that are depicted in the
Bible and by men then why did God really make us? And why not make
man the soul heir to reproduction as well as 'authority'.
Women according to the Old Testament, Paul's doctrine, clergy and
theologians (past and present) proclaim that women should be seen
and not heard. Women should be godly and always defer to the male.
Men are supposedly masters of our race and sex and because of Eve's
mistake we are to be ever subservient to man. No wickedness comes
anywhere near the wickedness of a woman.....Sin began with a woman
and thanks to her we all must die- Hebrew Scriptures,
Ecclesiasticus 25:19,24.
Women throughout history have influenced and made changes that have
benefited humanity, consider Boudicca the famous Warrior Queen who
led a revolt against the Roman army, Florence Nightingale, famous
nurse who saved lives with her medical care. Consider too Emily
Pankhurst the first woman Suffragette, had it not been for her and
others like her women would still be chained to the sink and
refused a rightful share in equality. Women such as these have been
invaluable to us as a whole. Without them we wouldn't have icons to
revere, or role models or ambition.
There is more to life than being a submissive wife relegated to a
life of drudgery and raising children.
Mothers of Israel
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and
in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms
51:5
Biblical heroines such as Deborah and Esther are rarely used as
positive role models for both men and women and even rarely used in
sermons. Both heroines saved Israel from impending doom and used
their initiative, and ingenuity to lead their country to
victory.
Deborah a prophet and judge of Israel, was given the sobriquet
"Mother of Israel" she advised her people, planned a military
strategy against the Canaanites and was appointed a general and
then led her army to victory.
Huldah a prophet, was consulted by King Josiah, the reformer.
Huldah had equal status and was highly revered and respected as
Jeremiah who was her contemporary at the time. So it's quite
poignant to note that when Josiah said: Go, consult the LORD for
me, for the people, for all Judah, about the stipulations of this
book that has been found (2 Kings 22:13). The royal delegation took
the scroll not to Jeremiah but to Huldah, who verified the
authenticity of the scroll and, as a prophet, spoke God's warnings
to him. (2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3).
Esther, was a great heroine in a time of oppression, she saved her
people from impending doom.
Judith, is another heroine who put her life in jepoardy for her
people: Judith 13:18, 19, 20
There are lots of accounts in the Old Testament where men sought
women's advice and counsel. Consider for instance: Joab who
approached a wise woman from Tekoa. (2 Samuel 20:16-22)
Daughters of Israel
Let the woman learn in silence with
all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the
man,
but to be in silence. 1 Timothy 2:11-12
More examples of women taking the initiative can be found in the
New Testament. These women are grudgingly admired by Paul, who's
conflicting views on women and their role in the tapestry of life,
feels that a woman's place is not only in the home but should be
confined to child rearing.
Consider Apphia (Philemon 2)
Euodia and Syntyche (Philemon 4:2-3)
Tabitha (Acts 9:36)
Mary (Romans 16:6)
Junia (Romans 16:7)
Prisca (Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19)
Phoebe (Romans 16:1)
Tryphaena, Tryphosa and Persis (Romans 16:12)
Nympha (Colossians 4:15)
Here you can clearly see that New Testament women were found to be
feminists and leaders, teachers, wise women and have equal status
as men etc but this quite clearly contradicts Paul's message which
is still adhered in some secular churches today that women should
not be allowed to teach or take lead.
At this point it is worthy to note that women leaders,
prophetesses, deacons etc have been known to have had their names
changed from feminine to masculine. Consider Junia as an example of
this: Her name was converted into "Junias" (a man's name) in order
to warp St. Paul's original writing by erasing all mention of a
female apostle. Junia was first converted into a man only in the
13th century, when Aegidius of Rome (1245-1316 BCE) referred to
both Andronicus and Junia as "honorable men.
This endeavour to expunge the role of women in the bible clearly
gives us the message that to give a woman recognition clearly
'demeans' the male authority. In other words men fear women and
have conspired to diminish for generations her equal status with
men, not only women's roles in the bible but also our roles as
women in the modern world.
Saints
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave
nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
The Woman's Bible, written by famous 19th Century feminist
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a "Revising Committee", is one of the
first attempts by women to evaluate the Judeo-Christian legacy and
its impact on women through history. Stanton concluded that 'the
Bible in its teachings degrades Women from Genesis to Revelation'.
However she and the other contributors found much to admire in the
Bible, particularly some of the Old Testament women. While many of
her views are still controversial, time and advances in womens'
rights have lessened some of the shock value of this book. Stanton
doesn't go as far as some modern feminist theologians and proclaim
'God is a woman', but there are several contributions which discuss
the gender of the 'Elohim' and the female aspects of the
Kabbalah.
During the second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 70s a popular
slogan was "not the church, not the state, women shall decide their
fate". Matilda Joslyn Gage would have approved. Vehemently
anti-clerical, Women, Church and State was one of the first books
to draw the conclusion that Christianity is a primary impediment to
the progress of women, as well as civilization. Then, as now,
religious doctrine was used as a justification for the
dehumanization of women, depriving them of civil, human, economic
and political rights, even denying them the right to worship
alongside men. Gage reviews extensive evidence of this complex.
From a 21st Century perspective it is both astounding how far we
have progressed, and dismaying how little has changed.
Food for thought
For the LORD hath created a new thing
in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. Jeremiah
31:22
Within the very structure of family life, are the almost invisibly
accepted social customs and life patterns that reflect the one time
strict adherence to the biblical scriptures. Attitude towards
double standard pre marital virginity, double standard marital
fidelity, the sexual autonomy of women, illegitamacy, abortion,
contraception, rape, childbirth, the importance of marriage and
children to women. The responsibilities and role of women in
marriage, women as sex objects, the sexual identification of
passivity and aggressiveness, the roles of women and men in work or
social situations, women who express their ideas, female
leadership, the intellectual activities of women, the economic
activities and needs of women and the automatic assumption of the
male as bread winner and protector have all become so deeply
ingrained that feelings and values concerning these subjects are
often regarded, by both women and men, as natural tendencies or
even human instinct - M Stone, The Paradise Papers
Summary
Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs
31:31
With the slowly but surely changing structure of Christianity,
women are reclaiming roles which gives them equal status. It is
quite clear that feminism, women and women's autonomy are clearly
sometimes in conflict with the edicts of the bible.
Is there a solution?
Perhaps one approach is to not see gender or sexuality but to treat
everyone as individuals. Perhaps that way the real message of the
Bible may make sense and the words of Jesus concerning equality may
have a chance for There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one
in Christ. Galatians 3:38
Appendix
New Testament verses which proclaim women's 'inferiority
Christ
is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife,
and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3
For a man is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of
man.
For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;
neither was man created for woman but woman for man.
For this reason, and because of the angels,
the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head 1
Corinthians 11:7-9
Women should remain silent in the churches.
They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission,
as the Law says, If they want to inquire about something,
they should ask their own husbands at home;
for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church 1
Corinthians 14:34-35
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife...
wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Ephesians
5:22-24