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Old Testament
The picture here is very mixed.
1.Old Testament society was patriarchal (based on man).
According to one creation narrative Adam was created first and only when
no one else cold be found as a helper, woman was devised.
In the Old Testament stories, God communicates predominantly with the
men and they make the decisions about where they should live and what
they should do.
Exodus 20: 17 Woman was listed among a man’s possessions in the
commandment about not coveting.
Deuteronomy 24 A man had the right to divorce his wife, but the woman
had no right of divorce.
2. There is also a tradition that men and women were created equal. In
the Genesis 1 creation narrative men and women are created at the same
time. Gen 1:27-28.
There are a few very impressive women listed in the Old Testament.
Judges 4 Deborah was a Judge in Israel and commanded that the tribes should
go to war.
Ruth – In the book devoted to her, the story is told about her loyalty
and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.
Esther – Again the book is named after her. She, as a Jewish princess
in the royal palace of Persia, persuaded the king not to carry out repressive
measures against Jews.
Huldah - prophetess 2 Kings 22 advised king Josiah about the meaning of
the law book found in the Temple at Jerusalem.
New Testament
Here again the picture is mixed.
1. St Paul and early Christianity was male based
1 Timothy 2:9-12 In this passage Paul declares how women ought to dress
and do their hair. They should not wear expensive clothes. Etc. They should
learn in silence. They were not permitted to preach, teach or have authority
over men.
Paul was unmarried and had been a strict member of the Pharisees.
No women were listed among the twelve disciples and even the later list
of Apostles has no women listed.
2. Women played an integral part in the ministry of Jesus.
Luke 8:1-3 Luke lists some of the women who went about with Jesus. Some
of these may have provided money for the group to exist.
All four Gospels confirm that it was the women who were the first to discover
the resurrection. Luke 24
Luke 10:38-42 Jesus seems to have been a regular visitor to the house
of Mary and Martha.
John 4 There is a long discussion recorded in John’s Gospel of a
meeting between Jesus and a woman of Samaria.
Modern Society
In general society has moved towards equality between men and women.
UK 1970 Equal pay for men and women
1975 Sex Discrimination Act made it illegal for an employer to discriminate
against a man or a woman on the grounds of sex.
Modern society for a variety of reasons has accepted this legislation
begrudgingly.
Modern Christianity
Some churches do not allow women to act as ministers
Eg Orthodox Churches only accept male priests. Roman Catholic Church also
only ordains men on the grounds that Jesus’ disciples were all men.
Both church groups allow women to become nun and Roman Catholics now allow
women to be “Eucharistic Ministers.” They assist at Mass.
Church of England allowed women to become Deacons and Priests in 1994.
At the moment he issue of women who can become Bishops is being debated.
Methodist, URC, Salvation Army allow both men and women to minister.
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