Woman’s Role

The feminist spirit permeating the world has caused an understandable reaction from many Christians. Most reactions however, are overreactions, and therefore lead to new errors. As often as not, new errors lead to new reactions like a game of ping pong with no winner—unless perhaps the thoughtful observer who digs into the Scriptures to determine where the real truth lies. The world is no better as a sounding board than it is as a guide, and we have no more business taking an opposite stance on all of its tenants than we do obeying its dictates. The only safe road is to follow God’s word. It is God who tells us “This is the way, walk in it” when we turn to the right or the left. (Isaiah 30:21) The Bible alone points a straight path of truth through the twists and turns of the world’s deceit. It provides clear guidance on the subject of women’s roles that can keep us from going too far into the ditch on either the right side of the road or the left.

In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make man in our image,” and in verse 27, “in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them.” This makes it very clear that men and women are created equally. They both bear the image of God, and yet the fact that male and female are mentioned at all indicates that they are in some respects different from one another. 

In the New Testament, we are told plainly “There is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ.” Male and female stand on the same ground before God as Jews and Gentiles or bond and free. (Galatians 3:28) The priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:4-5) applies as much to women as to men. There is “One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1Timothy 2:5) A woman answers to God Himself just as a man does. Clearly, she does not need another mediator besides the Lord Jesus.

On the other hand, there are verses in the New Testament which indicate a difference in the roles between men and women. However we break down and define those roles, we cannot, if honest with the Scriptures, deny them entirely. Ephesians 5 indicates that the man and woman have different roles in the family. 1 Corinthians 14:34ff and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 indicate that there is a difference in their roles in the church. The difference in the church (apparent in the last verses mentioned) has something to do with speaking and with authority. We may not know why God has chosen to make a distinction in these areas, and we may differ with one another on the manner and circumstances under which they apply or on the extent to which they should be enforced. Nonetheless, we know that whatever may be implied by these verses, it does not affect the woman’s standing before God. Nor does it make her in any way less than a man. 1 Corinthians 11:3 makes it plain that woman is every bit as equal with man as Christ is with God the Father, though in some manner subject to him.*

The examples of women in Scripture give us parameters by which to check the extremes that people may fall into when defining the woman’s role.

1. Saphira teaches us that a woman bears responsibility for her own sin. She does not get to hide behind her husband’s authority or use his preference as an excuse for her actions. 

2. Lydia teaches us that it is in some circumstances allowable for a woman to have secular employment. She also teaches us that women may have prayer meetings and may support the servants of God.

3. Euodias and Syntyche teach us that there is a place for women in the direct work of God.

4. Philip’s daughters teach us that woman’s ministry may be oral. Whatever those verses mean which speak of women being silent, they do not mean that they can never speak at all on spiritual topics.

5. Priscilla teaches us that a woman may in some in some circumstance teach a man and expound on the word of God.

The injunction of I Corinthians 16:13 to behave ourselves with masculine strength “Quit ye like men, be strong” applies as much to women as to men. We have plenty of opportunity within the context of the New Testament to follow the example of Deborah and Jael who stand out above the men of their time. Let us humbly do so in the spirit of honor to Christ and obedience to His every word. 

 

*No explanation of any Greek word or doctrinal stance can get around the fact that this verse is in the present tense, "the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." The copula is not repeated in the original. The same verb in the first clause "the head of every man is Christ" applies to each succeeding phrase.