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, save for the cause of whoredom, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever marrieth 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? And he answering said to them, Have ye not read, that he who made them, made them male and female from the beginning? read more. And said, For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorce and put her away? He saith to them, Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except for whoredom, and marry another, committeth adultery, and whoso marrieth her that is put away, committeth adultery.
God is not a God of the dead, but of the living. And the multitude hearing it, were astonished at his doctrine.
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Do ye both know me, and know whence I am? And yet I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
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.
For the saving grace of God hath appeared to all men, Teaching us, that, having renounced ungodliness and all wordly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world, read more. Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, even our 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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And Jesus answering said to her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers, night and day.
Jesus saith to her, Woman, what is it to me and thee?
And the next day, we departed and came to Cesarea; and entring into the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him. And he had four daughters, virgins, who were prophetesses.
But I would have you know, that the head of the woman is the man, and the head of every man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God.
For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the sake of the woman, but the woman for the sake of the man.
Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also saith. And if they desire to learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is indecent for a woman to speak in the assembly.
For the saving grace of God hath appeared to all men, Teaching us, that, having renounced ungodliness and all wordly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world,
Hastings
WOMAN
1. In OT ('ishsh
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Ye have heard, that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing 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 woman in the city, who had been a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at table in the Pharisee's house,
And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven devils,
Jesus saith to her, Woman, what is it to me and thee?
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with a woman. Yet none said, What seekest thou? Or, Why talkest thou with her?
Jesus therefore seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, saith to his mother, Woman, behold thy son.
These all continued unanimously in prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brethren.
And when the day of Pentecost was come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and 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 out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Amen. Therefore God gave them up to vile affections; for even their women changed the natural use to that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust toward each other, men with men working filthiness, and receiving in themselves the just recompence of their error.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
I apprehend therefore, that this is good for the present distress, that it is good for a man to continue as he is.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that even they that have wives, be as if they had none: And they that weep, as if they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; read more. and they that buy, as if they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away: Now I would have you without carefulness.
Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also saith.
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.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the church: read more. (and he is the Saviour of the body) Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify it (having cleansed it by the washing of water) through the word: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, that it may be holy and unblamable. Men ought so to love their wives as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth himself. Now no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also the Lord the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; I mean, concerning Christ and the church. But let every one of you in particular so love his wife as himself: and let the wife reverence her husband.
I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of one mind in the Lord.
In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grand children, let these learn first to shew piety at home,
From these also turn away. For of these are they who creep into houses, and captivate silly women laden with sins, led away by various desires,
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/wesley'>Ro 16:1,3,6; Php 4:2-3; 2Jo 1:10.
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And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven devils, And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.
And there followed him a great company of people and of women, who also bewailed and lamented him.
And the women who had come with him from Galilee, following after, beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And returning they prepared spices and ointments, and rested the sabbath, according to the commandment.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-labourers in Christ Jesus:
But I would have you know, that the head of the woman is the man, and the head of every man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, dishonoureth his head. read more. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head; for it is the same as if she were shaved. Therefore if a woman is not covered, let her also be shaved: but if it be shameful, for a woman to have her hair shaved off, or cut short, let her be covered. A man indeed ought not to have his head covered, being the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the sake of the woman, but the woman for the sake of the man. For this cause also the woman ought to have a veil upon her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord. And as the woman was of the man, so also the man is by the woman; but all things are of God. Judge of yourselves: is it decent for a woman to pray to God uncovered? Doth not nature itself teach you, that for a man to have long hair, is a disgrace to him? Whereas for a woman to have long hair, is a glory to her; for her hair was given her instead of a veil.
Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also saith. And if they desire to learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is indecent for a woman to speak in the assembly.
I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of one mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women who laboured together with me in the gospel, with both Clement and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
For the saving grace of God hath appeared to all men,