The Woman's Place & Other Thoughts...

What is the Biblical view of a woman's place? This is something that has been percolating in me for several weeks. There are all sorts of doctrinal things on this subject. Many of them claim that women are innately - created - inferior to men.  This is where tonight's thoughts begin...

Hmm... The King James translation of the Bible refers to Eve as Adam's 'help meet' (Genesis 2:18, 20). Various other translations use these terms: helper, helpmate, companion, partner. In the religious circles I grew up in, this was interpreted as meaning that Eve was created for Adam's benefit - maybe even as his property. Yes, there are people teaching this still.

I was reading the comments on Adventures In Mercy and someone (actually 2 someones: Sandy Hovatter & traveller) mentioned that the original Hebrew word used in these verses didn't mean that. Hmm... So, I decided to investigate. Here is what I found.

The Hebrew word used in Genesis 2:18, 20 to describe Eve is 'ezer.' According to Strong's Concordance, this Hebrew word is used in the following verses: a) Isaiah 30:5, Ezekiel 12:14 and Daniel 11:34 to describe groups or nations that Israel, mainly, were leaning on instead of leaning on God; 2) Exodus 18:4, Deuteronomy 33:7, 33:26, 29, Psalm 20:2, 33:20, 70:5, 89:19, 115:9, 10, 11, 121:1, 2, 124:8, 146:5, and Hosea 13:9 to describe God's relationship to Israel. In the Genesis verses, it is translated meet (KJV), while in all the other verses, it is translated help (KJV). 

Hmm... so the word used is not a subservient one - unless we are prepared to take the position that God's role with Israel was subservient! The image I get from this is one who stands with - not behind, not sits under - stands with someone and helps them.

This reminded me of Romans 8:26 where Paul tells us that when we don't know what or how to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. The Greek word used here is 'sunantilambavnomai' (a transliteration). The only other place in the New Testament where this word is used is in Luke 10:40 where Jesus is visiting Mary and Martha and Mary is sitting at His feet listening to Him teach while Martha is cooking. Martha asks Jesus to tell mary to 'help' her in the kitchen. Jesus response will have to wait for another post. ;-) (Although I will comment that he did not say that a women's place was in the kitchen!)

The meaning of this word is 1) to lay hold along with, to strive to attain with others, help in attaining; 2) to take hold with another. Hmm... the image this brings up in my mind is of a friend coming up along side me - shoulder to shoulder - and helping me lift - move - do - something I am unable to do on my own. This creates an interesting image of what Eve's role to Adam was meant to be - and what woman's role to man is supposed to be. Not a piece of property, not a slave, not even a servant - a helper, a partner, someone like him - of his kind.

In those same comments, something else was said that helps with this image... no Scriptural reference, just ponderings. :-) One gender was not enough to fully represent God - it required two.

This stirs up in me the controversy about whether women should be allowed to teach or lead in the church. The verses used to back this up are in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:34. Okay, but what, then, do we do with the verses where women are in roles of leadership in the church, as in Acts and commended by Paul? (Acts 21:8-9, Romans 16:1) Hmm... in Romans 16:1, the King James translates the word servant, but the Amplified translates it deaconess. I looked it up in Strong's and guess what? It is the same word that is variously translated throughout the New Testament, referring to men, as deacon, minister or servant - often referring to Paul or one of the other disciples. So the woman referred to in Romans 16:1 Paul calls a deaconess on par with himself...

What is the point of this? Just that I think the patriarchal teaching in the church may be a bit unscriptural. Women and men are equal before God (Galatians 3:28). I think a lot is summed up in comparing the King James with The Message in 1 Timothy 2:11-15...

King James Version:

"11 Let the woman learn with silence with all subjection. 

  12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, not usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence.

  13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

  14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

  15 But withstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness and sobriety.

The Message:

"11-15 Don't let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first - our pioneer in sin! - with Adam right on her heels. On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this."

Some will say that the Message reflects modern bias in the culture. Hmm... And the King James Version did not? A few points to think about... 

The King James was translated for the purpose of 'fixing' perceived doctrinal problems found in earlier English translations. Hmm... how many of you have heard that the King James is the best word for word translation of the Bible? Amazing what a little historical research can do to one's theology. ;-) 

The language the King James was translated into was the same English that Shakespeare used - the KJV was finished in 1611 - Shakespeare wrote from 1592 - 1613. The English language has shifted a lot in 400 years. The meanings of words shift over time. There are many places where words are used that we no longer use and the meaning has become obscure. 

Worse, there are words that we think we know the meaning of, but over time, the meaning has changed. This happens all the time. It is part of the way languages form. For instance, 100 years ago (and even 50 years ago), the word 'gay' meant 'happy, carefree,' etc. The 1890s were called the 'gay 90s' and it had nothing to do with one's gender preference. Now, it means homosexual. That's quite a shift. (In listening to some kids I know, it seems this word is still shifting in meaning...) Another example is the word 'uptight.' In the 60s, one of its slang meanings was 'excellent.' That meaning has been lost, making Stevie Wonder's 1965 hit 'Uptight, Everything's Alright' sound a little strange now.

I guess what I am saying is that maybe we should use caution in deciding what a translation means or in hanging our theology or doctrine on a single translation. Translating with a bias toward a particular doctrinal idea is probably almost a given. So, at the end of the day, we must rely on the Teacher - the Holy Spirit - to help us sort it all out. 

I strayed pretty far afield here, perhaps, but I think this ties in with how to avoid spiritual abuse. The more we seek a personal living relationship with the Creator of the Universe, the Living Word, the more we will understand what the Bible actually means - and the less vulnerable to being spiritually manipulated and abused we will be.

I'll end this with a quote from one of my favorite authors:

"It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him. We must not use the Bible as a sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken as weapons." C. S. Lewis