Role of the Woman

I fear that the role of the woman in the church of Christ is a subject that is considered a dangerous topic for many preachers and church leaders today. Regardless of the influence of women in the church today, and the pressures that the men may receive from her in the home, God has a plan for the woman, and God's designed role for the woman cannot be changed by the tradition of men.

One key passage of Scriptures that cannot be ingored can be found in the 11th chapter of I Corinthians, which many bible teachers and students tend to ingore, having been taught that this chapter was only written to address a specific situation found in Corinth. The Holy Spirit has seen fit that we read and study all Scriptures.

I Corinthians 11.3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1. Is there any reason found in the context that would lead us to believe that this is not as true today as it was true when written?
2. Is Christ the head of the man?
3. Is Christ head over the woman?
4. Is Father head over all?

In Ephesians 5, the marriage, as approved by God, is given as a figure for the marriage of Christ and the church.

In order for the figure to true, then the wife must be subject to her husband, and the man must be subject to Christ, and of course, in doing so, he must treat his wife with the similar type of love that Christ projects to His bride.

Ephesians 5.21 ¶ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

One passage to prove this should be sufficient, but the same is said in more than one place.

Colossians 3:18 ¶ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

I would submit to you the idea that without some order, there could never be any peace in the church, or in the home. God has established an order of headship for his children.

I wish to submit the following, with comments, regarding the role of men and women in the family of God.

I Timothy 2.1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Please note why it is stated, that we should pray the above prayers.

Our hope and goal is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.

Our goal certainly should be to have a life that is Godly and honest.

I Timothy 2.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

God hears the prayers of the holy, or righteous who prays in faith, and without malevelent intentions.

I Timothy 2. 9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Some would not agree that this applies today.

Women are commanded by the mouth of the Holy Spirit through Paul, the apostle, to be modest in their deportment, and of a quiet and modest spirit.

I Timothy 2.10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

The woman shows her godliness by her submission to Christ, and of course by her obedience to the will of Jesus our Lord.

What is the will of the Lord Jesus for the woman?

I Timothy 2.11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

To whom is the woman to be subject?

If subject to God, is she not subject to Christ, and subject to the words of the Holy Spirit (which revealed all things to the Apostles of the will of Christ)?

If the woman learns in silence, she is subject to Christ; but who is teaching, while she is learning?

I Timothy 2.12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

The woman plainly has no authority over the man.

I Timothy 2.13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Next, we turn to I Peter, who teaches the woman again of her role.

1 Peter 3:1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

In the above context, Pete speaks to the wife, and we see here a similar teaching as Paul's in I Timothy 2.

The wife is commanded to be meek.

She is commanded to have a quiet spirit.

Some women have the attitude that they are only commanded to be in subjection to their husband, ONLY AS LONG AS THE HUSBAND IS OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL TO CHRIST.

I Peter 3.1-2, above points out that the husband, who is not keeping the word of God, may be converted by the Godly behaviour of his wife.

I Peter 3.5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

DEFINITION OF THE WORD 'LORD', AS USED IN THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE:

[Greek for 'lord': Strongs No. 2962. kurios from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Mr. (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.

In most places in the Scriptures, the title is capitalized, and refers to Jesus; but not always. See Matthew 6.24, Matthew 10.24-25; Mt. 13.27; Mt. 18.25-34; Mt. 20.8; Mt. 21.30, 40; Mt. 24.45-46, 48, 50; Mt. 25.18,21,23,26,44. These are not all the examples, but will show that the word can be used as defined above.

Note the following Scriptures as a good example of the usage of the Greek word 'kurios':

Acts 16:16-- And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

Acts 16:19-- And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

The point made by the Scriptures is that the wife is to be under the authority of her husband.

Her submission 'in the Lord' is commanded, and shows her spirit of godliness.

She is not to show such respect when the husband demands that she do something that would be contrary to the teachings of Scriptures.

I Peter 3 (continued)7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

The husband has a God given responsibility to his wife, as we saw in Ephesians 5.

Here, he is required to understand her, and to value his wife, not expecting her to fulfill the role or position of authority.

I Peter 3. 8 ¶ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Oh, what a great difference would be made in marriages today if the husband and wife would be of one mind, and always remember that she is and he is a Christian first and foremost.

I have the same responsibility toward my wife as I do toward any Christian in our fellowship.

I and she is taught her to be compassionate, to be tender, and to be friends, and to not be mean to the other just because she/he may be mean.

We should thank God for our mates.

CHRISTIAN VIRGIN

I am trying to think of any other examples and may be out of order in my thoughts.

The virgin in the Lord:

1 Corinthians 7:34 There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.

Should the virgin [who is holy in body and spirit, and cares for what Christ wishes], submit to the authority of the man, as set forth in the Scriptures?

There should not be an adverserial relationship between the women and the men in the congregation.

1 Corinthians 12:12 ¶ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

NEITHER MALE, NOR FEMALE

Many misuse the following Scriptural passage.

Galatians 3. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 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. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Each baptized believer is considered simply as a Christian; but does this mean that the person's race is changed?

A Christian does not cease being a Jew in the flesh when he obeys the gospel, nor does a Gentile stop being a Gentile.

When baptized, the male does not become neutral, but is still a man, and the same for the woman.

The point is that there is a God given role for each of us.

The elder cannot be a woman, but must be a man, the husband of one wife.

The older woman is to teach the younger women how to be good keepers at home.

Titus 2.3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

There are many more thoughts that could be given in regard to this topic, but these Scriptures that we all have agreed to comply with and allow to guide our behaviour should be sufficient to stir up your minds in meditation upon whether you are faithful in this area, or rebellious.