In the Bible...men and women are clearly not equal. Why do you think that is?

Question

I am not talking about men and women being different...but surely one has to admit after reading the Bible that women are held to a much lower standard than men. I am curious if you even now think that is a good and just belief.

I think Earl D might have wrote some of the passages in the Bible I was questioning with this...anyone agree?

Either that or he just needs a hug

Answer 1

I think it's men that lower women and not the Bible or God. We are different, physically and emotionally, and I thank God for that. Men are the ones that tended to exploit those differences to their advantage, because they have the physical strength on their side. Except when they are sick, then men are just babies.

God Bless.

Answer 2

Women are held to the same high standard as men in regards to sin and righteousness. Their sins still required the sacrifice of animals in the Old Testament, and the sacrifice of the Christ in the New Testament.

If you wish to address the "value" ascribed to women in various cultures found in the Bible, that is another question entirely. Please remember that just because some action, word, or law is mentioned in Scripture, that is not a blanket endorsement from On High. The ungodly mandates against the Jews from King Xerxes are mentioned in the Old Testament, for example, but that is not a blanket endorsement to kill all the Jews everywhere, all the time! It would be ignorant suggest such a thing! So, to, can we see the obvious portrayal of sexism by many Bible characters. Just because these men (and women) acted in such a way, doesn't mean God endorses or approves of such behaviour. In many instances, the Scriptures show the negative results of such an attitude!

Case in point: the first people on the scene of Jesus' ressurection were women: Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleopas, and another woman. These women ran to the MEN (the apostles) and reported Jesus alive, and were not believed. They were, after all, "only women". When Jesus revealed Himself to the Apostles, one of the first things He did was to rebuke these MEN for not believeing the FIRST people to report His ressurection: the three women.

Jesus did a lot to elevate the status of women. Think about it!

Answer 3

I can see why you'd think that, but I disagree with your assessment.

Men and women are different creatures and we are made to work together, not struggle against each other for dominance.

Women are not held to a lower standard than men, we are merely different from men, and God knows that perfectly well, it's how He made us.

Proverbs 31 shows this in its praise of the woman of noble character ... it shows a woman who managed her household well, was intelligent, knew what quality was in her choices, owned more than one business on the side and was blessed by her children and husband. Talk about a supermom lol.

Answer 4

Even though it doesn't fit with the standards of today, women were created as a helpmate. It is not an issue of equality, it is a role that you are supposed to fulfill. Even though as a person you and the President of the US are equal, the President plays a different role that is slightly more powerful than yours. You have a say with your vote that tells the President how to make decisions. The reason this works this way is because it's a trade off. If the woman (wife) is agreeable with the decision that her husband makes and she advises when she feels it is wrong or right, but ultimately leaves it to her husband to make the family decision, then she has done what God has commanded, and she is not held accountable to God. The man, however, is responsible for the family and accountable to God for every unGodly decision the family follows through with. The Bible says that women should submit unto their Godly husbands, but in order to be a Godly husband he must love her as God loved the church and be willing to die for her and her needs as Christ died for the church and its salvation.

Answer 5

I don't think women are held at a lower standard in God's eyes, but men did write most of they Bible. The book of Genesis states that Eve was created from Adam's rib. That would put here side by side with him. If she had been created from his foot, she would be below him, or from his head, she would be above him. Also, the portrayal of women changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Jesus treated women the same way he treated men. While it was a woman who is responsible for the Fall, it was also a woman who bore the Messiah.

Answer 6

I think the reason men and women were not equal was simply the tradition back then. It was sooo long ago and women just simply were not held to high standards in society. I don't think the Bible was being bias or anything, it's just the way it was.

Answer 7

The male-dominated Patriarchal society depicted in the Bible certainly treated men and women differently. God ( I believe) meant for men and women to fill different roles, but as equals.

Answer 8

You are correct, they were not equal in the Bible.

Yet the Holy Spirit instructed the Apostle Paul to write than men and women are equal in Christ. Gal 3:28

Christians have done more to promote the equality of men and women than any other religion.

Pastor Art

Answer 9

i think women were treated subordinate to men in bible times because there was more physical work to be dont, and since a man (im a girl so im not sexist or anything) had alot more physical strength they could be more productive. so since women seemed to do less "important" or "physical" (child birth seems pretty physical to me, lol) they where lower by their amount of contribution to the world. plus, guys r kinda self-ritous sometimes, and women probably just took it instead of standing up and doing something. times have changed.

Answer 10

The bible isn't meant to be sexiest. But the people in the time the Bible was written for were. If you apply the bible to the days we currently live in it wouldn't be about one sex over the other but more about the responsibility of each.