Jesus’ actions show that God holds women higher than society does. The society that Jesus came into, the same one the Bible was written in, looked down on women, considering them worth nothing. The Bible, as well as Jesus, shows astounding love and respect for women within a cultural context. It is very important to read the Bible or any other historical document with the context that it was written in mind. Women must figure out if the God they serve sees them as treasures and equals with men. By looking at God’s care for women in Ancient Jewish times as well as Jesus’ actions in the New Testament, one can begin to understand God’s heart of love for women.
Ancient Jewish culture was very different from present-day America. Thus, we must learn about Ancient Jewish culture in order to understand the context in which the Bible was written. Jewish women had very few rights. The only education women were allowed to get was on how to run a household and raise children. This meant that a woman’s career and life were decided for her. Even her father chose when, why and to whom she married. After that, her husband got to make all the decision in the home. Women were seldom allowed to divorce their husbands; only the man could initiate a divorce. Women were mostly confined to their homes, and if a man was seen talking to a woman in public, he would often be shamed. Jewish men were thought to be superior to women even to the point that they would pray this prayer: “Praise be to God. He has not created me a Gentile. Praise be to God. He has not created me a woman. Praise be to God. He has not created me an ignorant man.” Women, gentiles and ignorance were on the same non-desirable level. Women have been treated as inferior to men since the fall. Even so, God provided for the women living in the context of Ancient Jewish culture.
This context is very important to remember while reading the Old Testament. Just like Sarah Bessey says in her book Jesus Feminist, “I believe it’s misguided, and probably profane, to look at a diverse collection of books written over thousands of years -- history, poetry, law, Gospel accounts, proverbs, correspondence, and other writings -- as absolute literal instructions without context, as we understand them, in all cases” The Bible if taken at face value can look like a blatant display of sexism, but things become clear if the cultural context is considered. The first verse is Genesis 2:18, “The Jehovah God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helpmeet for him.” The key word here is “helpmeet”, which is commonly interpreted that God created Eve only to give Adam a helper worthy of him, someone who was “appropriate for” or “worthy of him” but that is not correct. The word “helpmeet” is translated from the Hebrew words ezer-kenegdo; There are only two contexts where that the word ezer-kenegdo is used the first is when referring to desperately needed military help. The battle would be lost if this military help did not come. Help is needed desperately. The second context that the word is used in is to describe the Holy Spirit. The word is used to show how the Holy Spirit is our helper, he saves and directs us and without him we would lose the battle. Woman have been given the same name as God! Eve was sent to help Adam because, without her, he wouldn’t make it!
Deuteronomy 25:5 “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.” Now, at first glance this often looks like forced marriage, but in biblical culture this was actually very helpful for widows. In Biblical society, it was very shameful to become a widow and life was hard. Widows couldn’t earn a living and it was very difficult to remarry. They would be impoverished if their parents would not allow them to move back home, and even if they did it was very shameful. Their kids would be taken from them, and they would have no place in society. Therefore, God set up this kind of marriage, called levirate marriage, to help protect the widow, give her purpose and provide for her. Levirate marriage gave her status and financial security. God had to set up laws like these to help provide and protect women in a culture where women were not viewed highly.
The next verse is Deuteronomy 22:28-29, “If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.” At first glance, it seems like this verse is forcing a woman marry a man who violated her, but while that is true, the reason why must be considered. First off, marriage was a big deal and serious financial commitment; A husband must provided for his wife and kids for as long as he’s alive and if he can’t, this is the one time, she is allowed to divorce him. By making the rapist marry his victim, it is making sure he does not get off the hook and go around raping a bunch of woman. This punishes him by making him do what he should have done first and provide for her forever because he is not allowed to divorce her. Ultimately though, a woman’s father has authority over her and has to give permission for her to marry. If the victim’s father doesn’t think the marriage is a good fit, he can forbid them to get married. The biggest problem, though, was virginity was highly prized. It was very difficult for a woman who was not virgin, especially a woman who’s been raped, to find a husband. Thus, if she did not marry her rapist, the woman would probably live desolate and single the rest of her life. God set up this law to provide, for the victim, if she so chooses, and punish the rapist. This would have hindered rapists. It isn’t ideal but it does make things a little bit easier for the victim and a lot harder for the rapist. Looking at the Canaanite culture, though, this is quite outstanding; The Canaanite religions often were centered around sex, prostitution and rape, so it was shocking to them that Israel actually had consequences for rape and sex outside of marriage. It is so important while reading through the Bible and any other religious text that the culture and context is taken into consideration as one reads. Women were walked over and oppressed until one Man came and gave men an example of how to treat women.
Who is this man who broke down this injustice? His name is Jesus. His view of women was totally different from anyone who had walked the earth so far. Looking at Jesus’ actions toward women is the best place to figure out God’s view of women, because Jesus is God in the flesh; Jesus’ actions are a direct reflection of God’s view of women. God knew from the fall that he needed to return to earth. He could have chosen any way to return, from lights and angels to just appearing; But he chose to come through a woman as a baby. This way he choose to honor Mary and all women, by giving a woman the task of bringing the Savior into the world! God, in the flesh, came to earth and the first person to know he was coming was a woman. And this delighted God! Throughout Jesus ministry, there are so many women who treasured him and he treasured. He surrounded himself with all sort of marginalised people, sinner, tax collectors, prostitutes, adulteress’, and women! And this delighted God! In John 4 not only was he speaking to a woman in public, but she was a samaritan, a divorcee, an adulteress; she was essentially worse than a gentile; And Jesus talks to her like she’s a human being. Then in Luke 7, a prostitute comes while Jesus is eating and uses expensive perfume and her own tears to clean his feet. She was touching him but instead of being angry and mortified like the Pharisee sitting across from him, he treats her with kindness and love, exalting her above Simon and the Pharisee!
Simon, along with 11 other men, are part of Jesus’ disciples. The disciples are mention quite frequently, but Jesus also had a group of female “disciples” as well. Luke 8:3 says that “these women were helping to support them (Jesus and the disciples) out of their own means” the Greek word used here is διηκονουν which translated means “to serve, wait on, minister to as deacon” so these women were Jesus’ deacons. The women followed Jesus wherever he went, tended to what he needed and played a very important role in his ministry. Jesus treasured them. He invited them to take part of his ministry and join the men in activities, treating them as equals, which was revolutionary at the time. They stayed next to him when the Twelve deserted him. They supported him while he was crucified even while none of the disciples were to be seen witnessing this horrific act done to their Savior. Jesus also chose some of these women to witness probably the most astounding things in Jesus’ ministry. The Marys’ were the first to hear that Jesus had risen from the angel, and they were first to meet the resurrected Christ. In fact, in all the gospels, women are the first to see Jesus after he is risen. Jesus sent women out as the first preachers of the Resurrection-that’s how much he respected and loved them. Jesus chose women who had a low status, instead of the beloved disciples, to experience one of the greatest events in the New Testament.
Ephesians 5:22-24 is one of those verses that the context is needed in order to really understand what is this verse is saying. It says, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” This verse looks terrible but really it honors women. First, people misinterpret and use this verse to make all women obey all men. But if one looks at it, that is not what the verse says at all. It says for wives to submit to their husbands, not any man that happens to know her. And before that Ephesians 5:21 makes it clear that everyone, not just women, are supposed to submit. In this passage, it tells woman to submit to their husbands like the church submits to Christ. Women, like the Church, are called to trust that Christ/husbands want what is best for them and sometimes knows better than they do about what is good for them. Women are supposed to comply with men as the church is to comply with Christ. This is supposed to be a mutual submission and putting the other first. Husbands should be looking for every way possible to serve their wives; While wives should look for every way possible to serve their husbands. Men are supposed be like Christ to their wives by giving up everything they have, everything they want, everything that would directly benefit them and die to themselves and their selfishness in every way possible. Sarah Bessey says, “Christ’s relationship with us as the Church is characterized by his crazy love and sacrificial giving, not power grabbing.” The bar for men has been set a lot higher than for women. Sadly, this verse is often misinterpreted and used to abuse and oppress women, which is not at all what this verse is saying. This verse exalts woman and hold men to a higher standard.
1 Timothy 2:11-14 “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” Context, context, context, it is the key to understand all of these passages! First off, it’s important to know that Jewish worship was solemn and schedule-based. During the time that Paul was writing to Timothy, some women in the church in Ephesus were behaving, speaking, dressing and teaching inappropriately which was making it hard for everyone to learn; Therefore Paul was addressing these issues in this passage. Sarah Bessey reminds us, “He wasn’t assigning superiority to Adam he was just pointing out that Adam; was there first and so had something to teach Eve. She needed to learn she wasn’t inferior, she was ignorant lacking in knowledge. Paul was reminding women that this isn’t an issue of inferiority-to learn with a quiet spirit in humility-as they had much to learn.
Paul wasn’t saying that the women shouldn’t be in the synagogue, but that they shouldn’t be interrupting. The next problem is that the word authority is mistranslated; The Greek word used in this passage is “authentein” and it’s the only time the word is used in the New Testament. The normal, most common word used for “authority” is “exousia” meaning “a carrying out of one’s official duties.” Authentein, at that time period, didn’t mean legitimate or routine authority but had more sexual, violent and dominating tones. Paul wasn’t saying that women don’t have legitimate, godly authority over men; But that they shouldn’t use that power inappropriately. Women, just like men, can lead and have authority over the other sex. Women, just like men, shouldn’t abuse that authority. Women, just like men, are equals.
God treasures women and men equally. He sees how unique and talented each person is and what gifts each brings to His family. He changed the culture towards women by sending Jesus to show men how to treat women, in a loving, kind, respectful way. We see God’s loving care of the women in the Ancient Jewish culture. God provided a way to care and provide for women even in non-perfect ways. Jesus surrounded himself with marginalized people and he was delighted. The Bible shows great respect for women within it’s culture context and Jesus shows women his great adoration during his ministry.
