Does the New Testament contain sexism?
October 10, 2014 at 2:18 pm
(This post was last modified: October 10, 2014 at 3:13 pm by Mudhammam.)
There are a number of verses in the New Testament that seem to subjugate women in both their role and status in the Church and in private life. Some of these include the following:
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“It is well for a man not to touch a woman. But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-2
“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God…. any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head …For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair …For a man ought not to cover his head; since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.)” 1 Corinthians 11:2-10
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The text in bold seems to imply ontological inferiority whereas many Christians would argue that women are distinct from men in their roles but not in their equality (though, when a role is continually portrayed as one of lesser authority or prominence, I wonder to what extent insisting on "equal but different" is really of any consequence). A few more:
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“Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.” Ephesians 5:21-24
“…the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
“Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” 1 Timothy 2:11-15
“Wives, be subject to your husband, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.” Colossians 3:18-22
“….and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited…. Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect…” Titus 2:4-9
“No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste…” Revelation 14:3-4
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There are, however, also a number of verses that seem to elevate women to a position of equality with men that was unprecedented in the surrounding cultures in which Christianity took shape. Furthermore, women are mentioned in various capacities that would seem to imply prominence in the early Church (Romans 12:1-11), again, contrary to the norms of the surrounding Roman and Jewish cultures:
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"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
"Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God." 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
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There are more verses that seem to prefer gender equality as well as those which promote women's inferiority; for a more thorough list, see http://www.religioustolerance.org/nfe_bibl.htm
As a secularist, my view is that Christianity indeed deserves credit for giving women a more respected position in the Church than what was typically accepted in their culture. However, some of the above passages are also not tolerable in lieu of modern sensibilities and secular ethics which is able to progress and has done so a great deal since ancient times. In other words, the New Testament, while it contains some of this progression, is not the end-all-be-all of moral instruction that we would expect it to be if it was the infallible word of God. In such case, as we should with any outdated mode of ethics, keep the good, throw out the bad.
------------------------------------------
“It is well for a man not to touch a woman. But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-2
“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God…. any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head …For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair …For a man ought not to cover his head; since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.)” 1 Corinthians 11:2-10
------------------------------------------
The text in bold seems to imply ontological inferiority whereas many Christians would argue that women are distinct from men in their roles but not in their equality (though, when a role is continually portrayed as one of lesser authority or prominence, I wonder to what extent insisting on "equal but different" is really of any consequence). A few more:
------------------------------------------
“Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.” Ephesians 5:21-24
“…the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
“Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” 1 Timothy 2:11-15
“Wives, be subject to your husband, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.” Colossians 3:18-22
“….and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited…. Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect…” Titus 2:4-9
“No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste…” Revelation 14:3-4
------------------------------------------
There are, however, also a number of verses that seem to elevate women to a position of equality with men that was unprecedented in the surrounding cultures in which Christianity took shape. Furthermore, women are mentioned in various capacities that would seem to imply prominence in the early Church (Romans 12:1-11), again, contrary to the norms of the surrounding Roman and Jewish cultures:
------------------------------------------
"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
"Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God." 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
------------------------------------------
There are more verses that seem to prefer gender equality as well as those which promote women's inferiority; for a more thorough list, see http://www.religioustolerance.org/nfe_bibl.htm
As a secularist, my view is that Christianity indeed deserves credit for giving women a more respected position in the Church than what was typically accepted in their culture. However, some of the above passages are also not tolerable in lieu of modern sensibilities and secular ethics which is able to progress and has done so a great deal since ancient times. In other words, the New Testament, while it contains some of this progression, is not the end-all-be-all of moral instruction that we would expect it to be if it was the infallible word of God. In such case, as we should with any outdated mode of ethics, keep the good, throw out the bad.
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
