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 tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?" "Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them 'made them' from the beginning 'male and female, read more. and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'? Thus they are no longer two, but 'one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." "Why then," said they, "did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?" "Moses," He replied, "in consideration of the hardness of your nature permitted you to put away your wives, but it has not been so from the beginning. And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."
Jesus therefore, while teaching in the Temple, cried aloud, and said, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. And yet I have not come of my own accord; but there is One who has sent me, an Authority indeed, of whom you have no knowledge.
In Him the distinctions between Jew and Gentile, slave and free man, male and female, disappear; you are all one in Christ Jesus.
For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, read more. in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing 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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"O woman," replied Jesus, "great is your faith: be it done to you as you desire." And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.
There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life, and then being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer.
"Leave the matter in my hands," He replied; "the time for me to act has not yet come."
On the morrow we left Ptolemais and went on to Caesarea, where we came to the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses;
I would have you know, however, that of every man, Christ is the Head, that of a woman her husband is the Head, and that God is Christ's Head.
Man does not take his origin from woman, but woman takes hers from man. For man was not created for woman's sake, but woman for man's.
Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says; and if they wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.
For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time,
Hastings
WOMAN
1. In OT ('ishsh
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"You have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'
"It was also said, 'If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"
And there was a woman in the town who was a notorious sinner. Having learnt that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house she brought a flask of perfume,
and certain women whom He had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases--Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons had come,
"Leave the matter in my hands," He replied; "the time for me to act has not yet come."
Just then His disciples came, and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. Yet not one of them asked Him, "What is your wish?" or "Why are you talking with her?"
So Jesus, seeing His mother, and seeing the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, "Behold, your son!"
All of these with one mind continued earnest in prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met in one place;
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;
This then is the reason why God gave them up to vile passions. For not only did the women among them exchange the natural use of their bodies for one which is contrary to nature, but the men also, in just the same way--neglecting that for which nature intends women--burned with passion towards one another, men practising shameful vice with men, and receiving in their own selves the reward which necessarily followed their misconduct.
Herewith I introduce our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the Church at Cenchreae,
I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is.
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, read more. and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away.
Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says;
In Him the distinctions between Jew and Gentile, slave and free man, male and female, disappear; you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Married women, submit to your own husbands as if to the Lord; because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body. read more. And just as the Church submits to Christ, so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her; in order to make her holy, cleansing her with the baptismal water by the word, that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished. So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself. For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church; because we are, as it were, parts of His Body. "For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be as one." That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church. Yet I insist that among you also, each man is to love his own wife as much as he loves himself, and let a married woman see to it that she treats her husband with respect.
I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to be of one mind, as sisters in Christ.
Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.
Honour widows who are really in need.
Among them are included the men who make their way into private houses and carry off weak women as their prisoners--women who, weighed down by the burden of their sins, are led by ever-changing caprice,
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/wnt'>Ro 16:1,3,6; Php 4:2-3; 2Jo 1:10.
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and certain women whom He had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases--Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons had come, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many other women, all of whom contributed to the support of Jesus and His Apostles.
A vast crowd of the people also followed Him, and of women who were beating their breasts and wailing for Him.
The women--those who had come with Jesus from Galilee--followed close behind, and saw the tomb and how His body was placed. Then they returned, and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested in obedience to the Commandment.
Herewith I introduce our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the Church at Cenchreae,
Greetings to Prisca and Aquila my fellow labourers in the work of Christ Jesus--
I would have you know, however, that of every man, Christ is the Head, that of a woman her husband is the Head, and that God is Christ's Head. A man who wears a veil when praying or prophesying dishonors his Head; read more. but a woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her Head, for it is exactly the same as if she had her hair cut short. If a woman will not wear a veil, let her also cut off her hair. But since it is a dishonor to a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her wear a veil. For a man ought not to have a veil on his head, since he is the image and glory of God; while woman is the glory of man. Man does not take his origin from woman, but woman takes hers from man. For man was not created for woman's sake, but woman for man's. That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels. Yet, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man independent of woman. For just as woman originates from man, so also man comes into existence through woman, but everything springs originally from God. Judge of this for your own selves: is it seemly for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled? Does not Nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him, but that if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because her hair was given her for a covering?
Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says; and if they wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.
I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to be of one mind, as sisters in Christ. Yes, and I beg you also, my faithful yoke-fellow, to help these women who have shared my toil in connection with the Good News, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are recorded in the Book of Life.
For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind,