Thread by @pst_iren

IS GOD MISOGYNIST?
DOES THE BIBLE HATE WOMEN?
IS GOD AGAINST WOMEN IN MINISTRY?

#Thread

Well first, I already preached a sermon on this topic. So if you're interested, check out ccing.org/sermon/can-a-w…. Or you can just check your favourite podcast platform.

Let's get the thread started!

The first thing to note is that 2 Timothy 2:15 says that there is a right way to divide ‘the word of truth’ and it must be done diligently.

One way to be diligent in understanding Biblical truth is to understand the rules of biblical interpretation.

For instance, there is the rule of cultural context. That is, that there may be cultural contexts to some instructions.

A ready example is the instruction to ‘Greet each other with a holy kiss’. It shows up in Romans 16:16, 2Cor 13:12, 1Cor 16:20, 1Peter 5:14, 1 Thess 5:26

It's an instruction in the Bible so why aren’t we doing it?

We’re not, because it had a cultural context to it. What the writers of those Bible books simply meant was ‘be cordial with each other’.

The second thing to note/ask is: what do you choose to believe?

The word of God or culture?

Truth is that a believer has not started growing spiritually until s/he learns to value the counsel of the word of God above culture - no matter how compelling that cultural norm is.

And culture can be powerful! It was, even in Jesus' day. There were writings by Rabbis (on topics like 'The Sabbath' and 'Cleansing') that stretched & added to the Law of Moses and became so popular that they held more sway over the word of God.

(see Mark 3:1-6 Matthew 15:1-19)

Interestingly, there were these same kinds of writings about women which did not conform with the Law of God.

For instance, one of the writings said "Let the words of the law be burned rather than committed to a woman..."

Incredible!

But in the face of that culture, what was Jesus’ disposition towards women learning the law/the word of God?

👇👇👇👇

In Luke 10, the account is made of Jesus visiting the house of Mary and Martha. Martha is caught up in kitchen work for the Rabbi - as culture has told her to.

Mary, however, is sitting at his feet listening to him speak.

Given the cultural context of that time, I think it’s highly intentional that this event made it into the Bible. Jesus’ disposition towards Mary was not to disapprove of her desire to learn the word of God.

Instead, he addressed Martha...

He told her that although she cared about many things, only ONE thing was needful. And Mary had chosen that good thing.

You must understand that this was an affront to the prevailing culture against women and religion in those days. But this is God’s attitude to His word.

It is that one thing that is needful - even for women.

I would pause here to say:

Dear Woman of God, don’t let anyone tell you that the Word of God is not for you. It’s for you, so give attention to it. You have more to offer than food.

Woman of God, you can learn the word of God & get souls saved. That is a priority. Never let anyone sideline you or make you think small about your spiritual devotion. Cooking & cleaning are good chores but you’ll be better off with your note and a pen, learning the word of Jesus

Another culturally accepted Rabbinic writing comes to mind.

It said: He who talks with a woman in public brings evil upon himself, One is not so much as to greet a woman.”

But remember Jesus in John 4:7-27 talking confidently and openly to a GENTILE woman about salvation.

The woman was shocked that she was being spoken to by a male Jew. Even Jesus’ disciples were shocked. In fact, John 4:27 explicitly says: and [the disciples] marvelled that he talked with the woman

But guess what?

The woman, after her encounter with Jesus, runs with excitement telling everyone about Jesus. Literally preaching.

Jesus is not recorded to have stopped her from preaching about him because she was a woman. And she was not just a woman, she was a Gentile with a scandalous past.

We also see that the first set of people to bear witness of the resurrection of Jesus were women. (see Matt 28). Even though their words would not have held any weight in a court in those days, Jesus still chose them to first receive news of his resurrection.

At this point, you can already see that if Jesus was in our day, he would be called a feminist. "Defender of the women" "Women’s rights activist". He taught women the law, talked to them in public, rebuked extra-biblical explanations on divorce, and so on.

Now perhaps, the raging thought in your mind is, ‘Yes pastor. Jesus was nice to women. But what about Paul?’

So let’s move on to the more 'difficult' texts in the New Testament about women in the church.

1.1 Timothy 3:1 (which I consider a little ridiculous to have made this list) says ‘...if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.’ I’ve heard people complain about this scripture. ‘What does the Bible mean by ‘MAN’. Does it mean that only a man can desire...

...to be a bishop'? Well, the next verse also says the bishop must be the husband of only one wife.

If we’ll take it that way, then it would mean that by this, the writer of this letter disqualified himself from being regarded as a church leader because he never got married!

No. 2 & 3 are the scriptures below.

1 Corinthians 14: 34-35
1 Timothy 2:11-15

First of all, since Paul is the writer of these texts, we need to take a look at his ministry before we arrive at any conclusions.

Romans 16:1 shows Paul (re)commending Phebe; a servant of the church. The same Greek word used for servant here, is used for Deacon.

Hence, we can safely say that Phebe was a deaconess. And it was neither scandal nor secret. Phebe was a deacon.

He goes on to say in verse 4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus”. The word helper is the same word used to describe Timothy who was a pastor and later became an apostle. It means ‘Co-Labourer’. Note how Paul mentions the woman first here; Priscilla.

Acts 18:24-26 tells the story of Aquila and Priscilla (not Aquila alone), explaining/teaching Apollos, a great man of God (at that time), the scripture - expounding it to him more perfectly.

If you’re still not convinced, Philippians 4:3 shows that Paul had women who preached the Gospel with him. He referred to them as ‘co-labourers in the Gospel’

You should already be convinced about the disposition of God and the apostles to women preachers. It was not a taboo.

What Paul, however, meant in the scriptures we quoted above is better understood in the cultural context of his day. You have to note that in those days, the men and women sat differently in the synagogue.

Also note that majority of the women were not educated. And so when preaching was going on, the women would attempt to ask their husbands for clarification. It was rowdy and chaotic and so these instructions of Paul were simply for structure and order.

This is why he says in 1 Corinthians 14:35 “And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home”

And when he says “for it is a shame for women to speak in the church”, cultural context also has to be considered. 👇

In those days, a virtuous woman was known to be quiet. In fact, a historian said it was prostitutes that were known to be loud in those days. And so the Apostle Paul refers to this context, when he makes the statement above.

Remember that it was a rowdy scene in the church meetings with the women trying to ask their husbands (who were most likely not seated beside them), for clarifications. So, Apostle Paul says ‘ask them at home’.

The context in 1Timothy 2 was also the same as they were a Grecian church as well. When Apostle Paul says “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”, he uses the same greek word (‘Gune’) that means both woman and wife.

And from the context, he cannot possibly be talking about all women. He was still referring to the context of Christain wives submitting to their husbands.

In 1Corinthians 7, Paul is contrasting between a woman that is single and a woman that is married. 👇

He says that the woman who is married must care for the things of her husband whilst a single woman has more opportunity for ministry. His words are clear so we know that a woman can definitely do ministry.

I’ll wrap up by saying this:

Galatians 3:27-28 says:

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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 Jesus.

Male, female, old, young, rich, poor?

We're all one in Christ.

So does God hate women? Is He misogynist? Is He against women in ministry?

Of course not!