In the previous article two principles emerged which are to form the basis of the remainder of the study. Firstly, men and women have an equal status in God’s sight, an equal opportunity to work together around the Word and to seek salvation. Secondly, there is a hierarchy of authority and responsibility delegated from the Lord which results in man being head of the woman. Clearly there is a potential for conflict between these two, but in seeing how the principles are expressed in Scripture we shall discover how they are reconciled in God’s sight.
The Law of Moses confirms both principles (the hierarchy being established with almost laboured intensity), but it is particularly helpful because it gives such a wealth of practical detail.
Equality of spiritual status before God is found in the Law in those passages which specifically mention man and woman together, in contrast to those passages where only the male is mentioned. As with Adam and Eve, there is a joint privilege and responsibility to receive the revealed Word: “When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 31:11,12).
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Author: Michael Lewis
Keywords: Oppression of women, Women priests, Women pastors, Women bishops, Women evangelists, Women in the church, Serving women, Women, Feminism, Anti feminism, misogynist, misogyny, Women to remain silent, Silent in the churches, Women should not teach, Women are not to teach men, Women to be in subjection, Sexist, Paul sexist, Sexism, Women of prominence, Chauvinism, Male chauvinism, Chauvinist, Male chauvinist, Deborah and Barak, Debra and Barak, Ezer Kenegdo, Helpmeet, Help mate, Helpmate, Role of women in the church, Role of woman in the church, Woman's role, Feminist, Equality of women, Equality of woman, Equality of the sexes, Female bishop, Deaconess, Phoebe, Phoebe deaconess, Female deacon, Female deaconess, Headcovering, Head covering, Covered head, Covering the head, Women's hair, Nazarite vow, Nazarite, Huldah, Miriam, Prophetess, Usurp, Usurp authority, Usurping authority
Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:20, Genesis 3:16, Judges 4, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:7, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, 1 Cor. 14:34-35, Gal. 3:28, Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 1 Timothy 3:2-3, 2 Timothy 2:2, Titus 1:5, Titus 1:8-9, Titus 2:3-4, 1 Peter 3:1-6
Source: “Man and Woman,” The Testimony, Vol. 59, No. 707, November 1989, pp. 386-92; No. 708, December 1989, pp. 424-30.
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