Are women less than men according to the Bible?

Question

Eve is the one who ate the apple. Men are said to be the head of the household. Women are not supposed to hold positions of authority in the church. I've heard of more references that allude to this vision.

I admit that I am no Bible scholar, so maybe my interpretation is wrong, however these beliefs were taught to me in Sunday school as a child and teenager nonetheless.

I have a friend whose husband sat her down one day with a Bible in hand and flipped to certain scriptures (which ones I do not know) and then told her that based on those scriptures, she needed to start being more subserviant to him.

She said, "OK, I'll try." That's just crazy to me!

Will someone please provide Biblical proof that what I was taught as a child is wrong? Or if you feel it is correct, please elaborate on your views.

Answer 1

God's Word teaches that we are all -- male, female, Jew and Gentile -- equal before Him. However, male and female roles do exist and they are quite different.

Your friend's husband is quite mislead and is not acting in accordance with what the Bible really says. You might want to read my answer to a similar question, here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiZLpwXjOD4x5zrOOtQLq3Psy6IX?qid=20060629045554AAePnHn

Although many people believe men were given the "headship" role because they are superior to women, they misunderstand what God intended. Remember, "through one man sin entered the world." Adam (not Eve) sinned by disregarding God's directive to him. As a result, God set up families so that the man will always have to answer to Him. Although he was standing beside her, Adam failed to warn Eve not to bite the apple. Therefore, God requires Adam (and all married men after him) to be accountable for any further disruptions to Eve's (and all wives) spiritual well-being after that. This is the reason for a man's dominance, in a nut-shell. It has NOTHING to do with a man being better than a woman and EVERYTHING to do with God's requirement than men take responsibility, which Adam failed to do.

On the other hand, Eve was fooled by Satan. She certainly wasn't blameless, but God decreed that her ability to sucomb to being fooled meant she must submit to her husband, so he can protect her. Again, this is not because she was unequal to Adam in God's eyes. It's so she would learn an important lesson.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace. This will stop anything from coming in the way of your prayers. ( The Jerusalem Bible )

Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

(Read 1 Corinthians 1-13 about what love is.)

If the man wants the woman to obey him, then he has to give her a reason to want to obey. If he is just being dominating and isn't following the word of God in the sense of love then he is emotionally abusing her.
Other than that, yes, wives are suppose to be submissive to their husbands because that is what love is and it's also a matter of being humble. As a husband is the head and protector of his family, the wife is a guidance. She is what I would call the neck that turns the head in the proper direction which opens other options for the husband so that he can see things from a bigger point of view. God made the woman to be the mans helper and guidance. It requires a man to "Love" his wife and listen to her as well. And if he loves her, he will listen too.

Answer 3

First it should be clarified that women are NOT less than men. Through creation, men and women are equal. Different, but equal. In Genesis 2, God creates Eve out of Adam to be a helper suitable for him. This is not to indicate one is better than the other, but to show that they have different roles, just like having different job descriptions in a family.

That said, as for the part about Biblical proof, read Ephesians 5:21-30. It's pretty clear there. A problem happens when men establish head of household but do not love their wives. That leads to abusive relationships and destructive marriages. Abusing the head of household authority is sinful, as Ephesians 5:28 is pretty clear that hsubands should love their wives as their own body. I really like the analogy of husbands and wives with Christ and his church in these verses.

As for holding biblical roles in the church, read Titus 1:6. While this is somewhat of an open-handed issue, Paul does seem to indicate that church elders should be men with families. I know that our church has deacons that are women, but not elders.

Answer 4

It can definitely be interpreted that way. I believe, however, that those passages of the Bible define the roles for Men and Women but don't suggest that one is less than the other. Raising children and taking care of the household is no less important or difficult than making a living for the family.

Answer 5

Men are NOT to rule over their wives they are to Submit to God . Getting God's perspective ..Submission means to get under and lift up. We are to Submit to one another.. This ISN"T a dictatorship.. THIS IS an EVIL that Man has taken out of context to rule over his Wife.

What this does mean is that the Man is responsible for his wife and his family. He is the Head means if he isn't Living or Doing the Word of God he will be held accountable.

In Ephesians 5 :25 It is very very clear what the Husband is to do:
Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself ( DIED to self )for Her that HE (Husband) might sanctity and cleanse Her to Himself as a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should be holy and without blemish

Look at 1Corithians 7:1-5 Remember it is also written that if the man as ought with his wife His Prayers won't even be heard. this is how the Husband is to be in subjection to God for Good. NOt from a place of have to's but want to's because He loves the Lord God with All his heart soul and mind and He Loves His wife as he loves himself. She is to be cherished. She is not his garbage can nor his punching bag. God made male and female equal in all things and gave different authorities. The Man is to Protect the woman that is why He is held accountable for What he does and doesn't do. He is to be a Jesus to His wife and from that She respects him. HE IS TO LOVE HIS WIFE AND LAY HIS LIFE DOWN....

Answer 6

According to christian beliefs husbands are supposed to be the head of the household. Additionally, THEIR punishment for eating the apple is that they must work and live by the "sweat of their brow" so to speak. So woman are supposed to be obedient to their husbands but don't have to hold down a job. Of course the way women work today totally contradicts that.

Answer 7

Because the Bible was translated out of the original Aramaic,Hebrew, Greek, and another language I can't recall, by King James...FYI a man!...Men were made to feel superior. I don't care what people think when it comes to the treatment of women...They are much better...They are the ones who nurture, give birth, raise families,ect...If one were to get a Bible that has the Actual Translations...alot of people would change their views on women and as well as life in general. It says in Genisis,"Let US create man in OUR image" OK...what does that say...that God is subserviant to others...That "man" is the original....I think not. They created us in their image...so that means that there is a Feminine and Masculine counterpart of God. Do you think that she is subserviant? No, because they carry the same responsibility, they work as one, not as Master and servant. And thats what I believe. So, just to boost egos of man...KJ, translated it to suit his needs, not the needs of everyone, and think about this...Noone in the Middle Ages was to be literate except those of the Church ( yet again-man is running the scene) so they couldn't ask questions, so they just believed what they heard. Men have been running the scene for far to long...how many wars are there that women are in charge....Think about that.

Answer 8

The bible does give authority of the wife to the husband.

NO WHERE in the bible does it give MEN authority over women.

Not sure why this is so taken out of context, but it still is to this day in very doctrinal churches.

By the way, the husband that did this to his wife, was doing the very thing that the bible tells him not to do. Just looking at the role of the wife and not taking into account the husbands very difficult role is one sided and for the most part will not work.

The husband is submit himself to GOD and Gods way, and the wife is then in turn to submit herself to her husband.
By the way that it is written , means that she must do this willingly to a man who has already submitted himself to GOD.

No husband is to force his wife into submissions.

The bible also states that the husbands body no longer belongs to him, but to his wife, and the wifes body no longer belongs to her, but to her husband.

As with most things, husbands and men tend to want the wife side of things done, but they love to forget their own role in the circle of life

Answer 9

Adam was made from dirt. Eve was made from bone (a much more complex material). Some would argue this makes us structurally superior. Jesus treated women the same as men as far as spiritual matters are concerned. We are different physically and emotionally, but not inferior.

Answer 10

I wouldn't say Less than Men. God just gave women a different role than men. in biblical times women were to stay home, raise the children and teach them the word of God and prepare everything. but there is nothing saying that is the way it has to be. I'd say pursue your happiness...