Doesn’t Christianity Denigrate Women? (2)

This chapter is long. (~7500 words = at least 50 min to read aloud)

What’s at stake here? How could misunderstandings about the bible’s view of women affect us in our relationships (i.e. family, church, work, friendships)?

Family - submission/subjugation of wives by husbands, dissuading gifted women from pursuing useful skills

Church - preventing women from teaching/leading, damaging out witness to the world, expecting too much from men

Work - not viewing coworkers as equal, judging women for working instead of staying at home and having children

Friendships - Not allowing women to challenge you

After “Sex in Creation” section:

Kenneth Matthews NAC:

Genesis 1–11:26 (3) The Man’s Companion, the First Woman (2:18–25)

There is no sense derived from the word linguistically or from the context of the garden narrative that the woman is a lesser person because her role differs (see more at 2:23). In the case of the biblical model, the “helper” is an indispensable “partner” (REB) required to achieve the divine commission. “Helper,” as we have seen from its Old Testament usage, means the woman will play an integral part, in this case, in human survival and success. What the man lacks, the woman accomplishes. As Paul said concisely, the man was not made for the woman “but the woman for the man” (cf. 1 Cor 11:9). The woman makes it possible for the man to achieve the blessing that he otherwise could not do “alone.” And, obviously, the woman cannot achieve it apart from the man.

Genesis 1–11:26 (3) The Man’s Companion, the First Woman (2:18–25)

The woman is deemed by the divine mind “a helper suitable for him.” “Suitable” (kěnegdô, lit., “like what is in front of him”) indicates a correspondence between the man and the woman. The focus is on the equality of the two in terms of their essential constitution. Man and woman share in the “human” sameness that cannot be found elsewhere in creation among the beasts. In every way the woman shares in the same features of personhood as does the man. In 1:26–28 this equality of the man and woman as image bearers has priority over their differences in sexual roles, although both were crucial to realizing the intended blessing.

After “Broken Love” section:

The solution provided in the NT for this power struggle between man and women is voluntary and intentional yielding of yourself to your spouse:

1 Corinthians 7:2–5 ESV

2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

After Mary and Martha story:

Keener IVP Bible Background Commentary:

New Testament 10:38–42—The Woman Disciple

People normally sat on chairs or, at banquets, reclined on couches; but disciples sat at the feet of their teachers. Serious disciples were preparing to be teachers—a role not permitted to women. (The one notable exception in the second century was a learned rabbi’s daughter who had married another learned rabbi; but most rabbis rejected her opinions.) Mary’s posture and eagerness to absorb Jesus’ teaching at the expense of a more traditional womanly role (10:40) would have shocked most Jewish men.

Acts 22:3 ESV

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.

After “The End of Marriage”:

The last 5 sections have been focusing on Ephesians 5 and biblical marriage roles.

Explain why Ephesians 5:22-33 doesn’t denigrate wives.

Men have the higher demands

Marriage is a metaphor anyways

It should be easy to “submit” to someone who loves you like Christ.

Jesus provides the ultimate example

After reading the chapter:

What McLaughlin left out:

1 Timothy 2:11–15 ESV

11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

1 Corinthians 14:33–35 ESV

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

I think these are probably more commonly advanced as evidence of the Bible’s supposed denigration of women.

To make matters worse, many Christians, including a lot of really smart scholars, affirm the view known as “Complementarianism”, which would argue that some leadership roles in the church are reserved only for men.

We definitely do not have time to discuss the interpretations of these two passages, but I’ve saved off a lengthy section from a commentary that D.A. Carson recommended that provides a complementarian view of 1 Timothy 2.

That commentary mentions a book called Women in the Church that is over 400 pages and is entirely devoted to 1 Timothy 2:9-15.

If the Bible forbids women from teaching and “exercising authority” over men (or from holding the office of “elder” or “pastor” as some contend), would that be denigrating to women?

Now lets turn to a practical question:

How can we, as men, demonstrate to the watching world that we believe that women are our equals?