In our modern times, many people wonder what the Bible says regarding women. Some people take offense at God’s instructions for women to be submissive. However, learning to submit is often misunderstood. Let’s see what the Bible says about women and what women should do in God’s kingdom.
Honored women
There are many honored women in the Bible. For example, Deborah was a female Judge in Israel (Judges 4 and 5). There were women prophetesses like Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9).
Besides these women, there were many other great women in the Bible. You can read about Ruth and Naomi, and Queen Esther. Read also about Mary Magdalene and her sister Martha (Luke 7:36-48, Luke 8:1-3, Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-46, John 20:1-18), Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:33-35, John 19:25-27), Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3, Acts 18:24-26, Romans 16:3-5), and Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43).
Women and business
In ancient Israel, daughters were given an inheritance if there was no son (Numbers 27:1-11).
And the Bible encourages women to own property and do business.
“She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.” (Proverbs 31:16)
“She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.” (Proverbs 31:24-25)
Equal before the Lord
According to the Bible, everyone is equal before the Lord. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Q: Why does the Bible tell women to submit to their husbands?
In the beginning, Eve gave way into temptation and ate what was forbidden by God. She then led Adam into eating forbidden fruit also.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)
Since she did not lead well by example, her punishment from God was for her to learn to be submissive.
To the woman He said,
‘I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.'” (Genesis 3:16)
However, as a woman, is it so bad to have more opportunity to learn humility and submissiveness?
The Bible tells us to learn to submit to God in everything. As women, we get a head start, because in our learning to submit to others, we also learn to submit to God.
“Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands…” (1 Peter 3:3-5)
Submissiveness is not a bad thing. In our society, assertiveness is a good thing and submissiveness is a bad thing. However, in God’s kingdom, the greatest is the one who is humble and serves others.
Jesus says, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).
As women, we have more opportunity to learn submissiveness than men, because of our circumstances. Take this as opportunity to learn to serve God and others instead of taking offense. See this as a blessing in disguise.
Jesus says: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
Q. Why did apostle Paul say women should not teach men?
In apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, it is written: “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Timothy 2:12-14).
There are two reasons given here. One is the order of creation, in which the first born (or first created) exercises greater authority. This is seen in many cultures today. The elder receives more honor than the younger.
The other reason is the one mentioned earlier. Because of Eve’s sin and her misleading Adam into eating what was forbidden, she is disciplined by the Lord to learn to submit. And not only Eve but all women after her should learn submissiveness.
There is a third reason also. This is in regards to Christ and the church. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).
The church is the bride of Christ. As Christ is head of the church, so the husband is head of the wife. Similarly, it is more proper for a man to teach in the church than a woman. And women should submit to male leadership. In general, this is God’s intent.
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.” (1 Corinthians 14:34)
This might seem harsh. But in the Corinthian church, there was a lot of disorder. That’s why it was necessary to say: “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” (1 Corinthians 14:29-33).
In the early churches, there was not just one pastor who spoke but many teachers and prophets. Each one was directed to speak in turn (not all together so that there was no confusion). The women in the general audience also used to speak up and ask questions. This caused the churches to become rowdy and disorderly. So the command was given that women in the general audience should be quiet and ask their husbands at home if they have questions.
In many of our modern churches, not only are the women quiet but the men also. Everyone has become silent with only one speaker (the pastor) speaking! This was not the original intent for the churches. But in the old days, the churches were led by the Holy Spirit who gave word to each person so that at least several speakers would speak in one church session.
Let us pray to God to raise up men who would listen carefully to God and relay His messages and teachings to the congregations.
God uses whoever is available
When we look at the Bible as a whole and see how God uses women in different situations, we see that God uses whoever is available even if she is a woman.
Deborah and Jael
For example, even though most of the judges of ancient Israel were men, God purposefully used a woman prophetess named Deborah to judge Israel. She was a wise woman and she gave military strategies to Barak the commander. During that time, God also used Jael (a woman) to kill Israel’s enemy.
Deborah said to Barak, “…The honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman” (Judges 4:9).
Jael was a brave woman. She lived on the outskirts of Israel and used that opportunity to deceive the enemy and kill him. See Judges 4.
As can be seen regarding Jael and Deborah, they were available to God at an opportune time so God used them, even to save and lead men.
Anna the Prophetess
We can also see throughout the Bible that there were women prophetesses. A prophet relays God’s message and warns about the future. In a way, this is a type of teaching too, because a prophet teaches as he or she prophesies.
So another example is Anna the prophetess during Jesus’ time. Anna was available in the temple of God. She saw Jesus as a baby and spoke of Him to other people. “She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:37-38).
What Anna did was also a kind of teaching. And she spoke to everyone (men and women) who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Priscilla and the church in her house
Priscilla and her husband Aquila were believers in the Lord. They went on a missionary journey with Paul to Syria (Acts 18:18). When a disciple named Apollos began speaking about Jesus, Priscilla and Aquila explained the word to him more accurately: “But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him [Apollos], they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).
Priscilla (also called Prisca in Greek) is often named in the Bible before her husband Aquila. There is no denying that she is a leader. She and her husband hosted a church in their house. Moreover, they risked their lives for the sake of the gospel: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house” (Romans 16:3-5).
As can be seen from these verses, Priscilla also taught people the word of God. She and her husband taught a man named Apollos, who became a great teacher and evangelist in the Lord.
What can we learn from all this?
What can we learn from these things?
First, we know that in general, God keeps to His intent that women should learn to be submissive to male leadership as the church submits to Christ, especially after Eve led Adam into sin and did not set a good example.
Second, learning to be submissive is a blessing in disguise. As women have more opportunity to learn than men, we have more opportunity to practice Christ-likeness and to learn to listen to God. Just as Christ submits to the Father, we have more opportunity to learn to submit to God also. If we humble ourselves, Jesus will exalt us.
Third, when a woman is available and has been given a talent by God, she should fill the gap. As can be seen from the Biblical women above like Deborah, Jael, Anna, and Priscilla, they went where was most needed and helped advance God’s kingdom.
It is important to know that the law (of women being quiet) does not supersede God’s mercy. “And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?’ But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away. And He said to them, ‘Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?’ And they could make no reply to this.” (Luke 14:3-6)
God’s mercy is to save people. That is the most important. If a woman sees a man in a ditch spiritually, but keeps quiet and waits for someone else to help him, then that woman is acting like the lawyers and Pharisees. If God places someone before us and it is in our ability to help him, we should help him.
“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:10)
God’s blessings last forever
Finally, discipline lasts for a short time, but God’s blessings last forever. We always need to remember that God’s blessings last forever. God’s original intent is always that He is not partial to any and that all are equal before Him.
“For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)
“…The same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him…” (Romans 10:12)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Read Proverbs 31 in the Bible.