Reference: Woman
American
Is spoken of in Scripture as the beloved and honored companion and helpmeet, not the servant, of man, Ge 2:23-24, created as the necessary completion of man, Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3,8-9; 14:34-35; 1Ti 2:11-14, yet specially qualified for that sphere, and as necessary in it as man in his. Man and woman are indeed essentially one, the natural qualities of each so responding to those of the other as to lay the foundation of the most tender and abiding unity. The Bible thus raised the Jewish woman high above the woman of heathenism; and the Old Testament contains some of the finest portraitures of female character. But still greater is the contrast between the women of heathenism and those of Christianity: the former with mind and soul undeveloped, secluded, degraded, the mere toys and slaves of their husbands; the latter educated, refined, ennobled, cheering and blessing the world. Christianity forbids a man to have more than one wife, or to divorce her for any cause but one, Mt 5:32; 19:3-9; declares that bond and free, male and female, are all one in Christ, Ga 3:28; and that in heaven they are no more given in marriage, but are as the angels of God, Mt 22:33. If woman was first in the Fall, she was honored in the exclusive parentage of the Savior of mankind; and women were the truest friends of Christ while on earth. The primal curse falls with heaviest weight on woman; but the larger proportion of women in our churches may indicate that it was the purpose of God to make his grace to man "yet more abound" to her who was the first in sinning and suffering.
In the East, women have always lived in comparative seclusion, not appearing in public unless closely veiled, not mingling in general society, nor seen the men who visit their husbands and brothers, nor even taking their meals with the men of their own family. Their seclusion was less in the rural districts than in towns, and among the Jews than among most to her nations. They were chiefly engaged in domestic duties, Pr 31; among which were grinding flour, baking bread, making cloth, needle work, etc. The poor gleaned the remnants of the harvest; the daughters of he patriarchs joined in tending their fathers' flocks, Ge 29:9; Ex 2:16; and females of all classes were accustomed to draw water for family use, bearing it in earthen pitchers on their shoulders often for a considerable distance, Ge 24:15-20; Joh 7:28.
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But I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of whoredom, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.
And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? But he replying, said unto them, Have ye not read, that he who created them from the beginning, created them male and female? read more. And he said, for this reason shall a man forsake father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath yoked together, let no man separate. They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give her a bill of divorce, and to put her away? He saith unto them, It was on account of the hardness of your hearts that Moses gave you permission to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not thus. And I tell you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for whoredom, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth the divorced woman, committeth adultery.
And when the multitude heard it, they were amazingly struck with his doctrine.
Then spake Jesus aloud as he was teaching in the temple, and said, Ye both know me, and ye know from whence I am: and I came not of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
There is no more Jew or Gentile, there is no more slave or freeman, there is no more male or female: but ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
For the grace of God which leads to salvation hath appeared unto all men, instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly affections, we should live soberly and righteously, and godly in the present day; read more. expecting the blessed hope, and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Easton
was "taken out of man" (Ge 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. "The head of the woman is the man;" but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, "as unto the weaker vessel" (1Co 11:3,8-9; 1Pe 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex 15:20), Deborah (Jg 4:4-5), Huldah (2Ki 22:14), Noadiah (Ne 6:14), Anna (Lu 2:36-37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist (Ac 21:8-9). Women are forbidden to teach publicly (1Co 14:34-35; 1Ti 2:11-12). Among the Hebrews it devolved upon women to prepare the meals for the household (Ge 18:6; 2Sa 13:8), to attend to the work of spinning (Ex 35:26; Pr 31:19), and making clothes (1Sa 2:19; Pr 31:21), to bring water from the well (Ge 24:15; 1Sa 9:11), and to care for the flocks (Ge 29:6; Ex 2:16).
The word "woman," as used in Mt 15:28; Joh 2:4, implies tenderness and courtesy and not disrespect. Only where revelation is known has woman her due place of honour assigned to her.
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Then Jesus answering said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith! be it unto thee even as thou desirest. And her daughter was cured from that hour.
And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asser: she was far advanced in old age, having lived but seven years with a husband, from her virgin state: though she was now a widow, of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, attending the divine service, with fastings and prayers night and day:
Jesus saith unto her, What is that to me and thee, woman? my hour is not yet come.
And on the morrow we who were Paul's companions departed with him, and went to Caesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist (who was one of the seven deacons), we abode with him. Now this man had four maiden daughters endued with the gift of prophecy.
But I desire you to take notice that the head of every man is Christ; but the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.
For the man is not from the woman, but the woman from the man. Also the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man.
Let your women be silent in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak: but to be in subjection, as also the law saith. But if they will learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
For the grace of God which leads to salvation hath appeared unto all men, instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly affections, we should live soberly and righteously, and godly in the present day;
Hastings
WOMAN
1. In OT ('ishsh
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Ye have heard that it was said to those of old, "Thou shalt not commit adultery:"
It hath been said indeed, That whosoever will put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce:
And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
And, behold, a certain woman in the city, who was a notorious offender, when she knew that Jesus was sitting at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vessel of odoriferous balm,
And certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and sicknesses, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out.
Jesus saith unto her, What is that to me and thee, woman? my hour is not yet come.
And upon this came his disciples, and wondered that he talked with the woman: yet no one said, What art thou seeking? or, Why art thou talking with her?
When Jesus then beheld his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing by, he saith to his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
These all persevered unanimously in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
SO when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with unanimity assembled together.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour our of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour our of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
For this cause God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For even their women did change the natural use into that which was contrary to nature; and likewise the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lewdness one towards another; men with men committing indecency, and receiving in themselves the recompence of their delusion, which was meet.
I NOW commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea:
I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus.
Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not; and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they possessed not; read more. and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Let your women be silent in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak: but to be in subjection, as also the law saith.
There is no more Jew or Gentile, there is no more slave or freeman, there is no more male or female: but ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and is himself the saviour of the body. read more. As then the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your own wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify it, purifying it in the laver of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having blemish, nor wrinkle, nor any such things; but that it may be holy and unblameable. So ought husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this reason shall a man forsake his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be as one flesh. This mystery is great: but I am speaking with regard to Christ, and with regard to the church. Nevertheless let every one of you individually see that each love his own wife even as himself; but the wife that she stand in awe of the husband.
I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntiche to be of one mind in the Lord.
Their wives in like manner must be grave women, not addicted to scandal, sober, faithful in all things.
Honour the widows, that are widows indeed.
For such are they who insinuate themselves into houses, and captivate weak women laden with accumulated sins, and actuated by a variety of passions,
Morish
It is evident from scripture that women were anciently held in much more honour and esteem in Eastern countries than they are now. Solomon, speaking of women, said that such as his soul sought for he did not find one in a thousand. Ec 7:28. This tells of fallen human nature; but the true thought of woman is that she is the glory of the man, his true helpmeet. This is fulfilled in the relationship of the church to Christ.
In the N.T. the true place of the woman in subjection to the man is plainly stated, as indicated in creation; and in the assembly the woman is to be silent, and not to teach. Her bearing and deportment are expressive of what she learns as taught of Christ. 1Co 11:3-15; 14:34-35; 1Ti 2:11. 12. Nevertheless women were greatly honoured in ministering to the Lord, and are accredited as helping on the work of the Lord in the gospel and among the saints. Lu 8:2-3; 23:27,55-56; 6/1/type/haweis'>Ro 16:1,3,6; Php 4:2-3; 2Jo 1:10.
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And certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and sicknesses, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's lieutenant-governor, and Susanna, and many others, who ministred to his support out of their possessions.
And a great multitude of the people and of women followed him, who also beat their breasts and lamented him bitterly.
Then the women also, his attendants, who had followed him out of Galilee, observed the sepulchre, and how his corpse was laid out. And returning, they made preparation of aromatics and unguents; and they rested the sabbath-day, according to the commandment.
I NOW commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Salute Priscilla and Aquila my fellow-labourers in Christ Jesus:
But I desire you to take notice that the head of every man is Christ; but the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, holding [a veil] over his head, dishonoureth his head; read more. but every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled, dishonoureth her head; for it is one and the same thing, as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not veiled, let her hair be clipped: but if it would be scandalous for a woman to appear clipped or shaved, let her be veiled. For a man indeed ought not to veil his head, being the image and the glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not from the woman, but the woman from the man. Also the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man. Therefore ought the woman to retain upon her head [this badge of authority], because of the angels [of the churches]. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord. For as the woman was taken out of the man, so also is the man by the woman: but all things are of God. Judge among yourselves, is it decent for a woman to be praying to God without a covering? Does not even nature itself teach you, that if a man wear long flowing hair it is a dishonour to him? But if a woman let her hair flow, it is an ornament to her; for the hair was given her for a covering,
Let your women be silent in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak: but to be in subjection, as also the law saith. But if they will learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntiche to be of one mind in the Lord. And I beseech thee also, my genuine associate, assist those women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
For the grace of God which leads to salvation hath appeared unto all men,