What Jesus Says About Women

A lot has been written about women in the church, particularly women in the conservative and evangelical churches. There are some fantastic and insightful books recently released on that topic. One I recommend is The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Dr. Beth Allison Barr. Indeed, my forthcoming book, Equal Protection Under God, is on that topic.

Thanks, Paul

The complexities of the issue originate with a few of Paul’s letters. He has letters that say women shouldn’t lead, women shouldn’t teach men, women should remain quiet, and that a preacher can only be the “husband” (read: “male”) of one wife. Of course, he also wrote about women and men being equal in Christ, he went to a home church lead by a woman, he praised the women in the growing church who had taken leadership, and sent a man to be taught by a woman. Regardless of all of the history, theology, and banter about these Pauline texts, the bottom line to me is, Paul isn’t Jesus.

To be sure, Paul is instructive and provides great insight, but He’s simply not Jesus. When he writes in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit…” – he used “I” meaning him, Paul. It was not a directive from God or any other church leaders. It was him.

He Who Comes From The Earth

I was studying John 4 the other day and read John 3 to get the context of what was happening in Jesus’ life leading up to His encounter with the woman at the well. There was an exchange with John the Baptist in John 3 that I had never really noticed or paid any attention. However, this time, 3:31 leaped off the page and hit me right between the eyes. John the Baptist, in an exchange with someone over Jesus’ baptizing more people that him, said this, “He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way.” (ESV, emphasis mine)

Paul or God?

We who come from the earth, speak in the earthly way. That is, what we say is shaped by our experiences, culture, society, societal norms, biases, personal motives, and what we’ve been taught by others who come from the earth. Paul was a human, he came from the earth. Paul – being from the earth – speaks in an earthly way. This is an important concept to know and understand when using Pauls’ words as a weapon against women. He was from the earth and writing within the context of his society, circumstances surrounding him, and much more. And, he didn’t write a directive from God, he wrote as “I”. There wasn’t a “God says” or “Jesus said” before those instructions, it was “I”.

He Who Comes From Above

John the Baptist went on to say about Jesus, “He who comes from heaven is above all. . . For he whom God has sent utters the words of God. . .” (3:31, 34, ESV) John brings it back to Jesus, as we all should when determining doctrine, theology, and the roles of women in the church. It’s not about what theologians, church leaders, doctrine, or even what Paul says – it’s about what Jesus says. 

Read The Bible

There are 4 Books of the Bible that are instructive as to what Jesus thinks of women. How Jesus interacted with women is written about in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His compassion, honor, and value of women is on full display in such stories as the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the women who followed Him, the women who stood by as He died on the cross, and the first person He told of His resurrection. These are just a few examples. 

There isn’t a single time that Jesus discounts women. He doesn’t say women can’t lead or preach. In fact, He praises Mary for sitting as His feet to listen to Him teach rather than busying herself with cooking and serving. He also praises His mother, Mary, for listening to and obeying God.

How Do You See Jesus Treat Women?

As Christians, our example is Jesus. We have to continue to look to Him. Take time to read the Gospels and study what Jesus says and does. What do you see when you read about Jesus interacting with women? 

photo courtesy of KathySmithImages