One of the over-arching principles throughout the Bible, is the often explicit and unambiguous principle of man’s authority over woman. Beginning from the point of creation, and on through the institution of the Levitical priesthood, and the era of the Judges, Monarchy and Apostles, one is obligated to recognize the hierarchal precedence that man has over the woman. And the rare exceptions where a woman may have held authority for a brief time or offered instruction, does not by any means, justifiably constitute the rule.
But, it goes without saying, that this is not a relationship or hierarchy of oppression, abuse, or even superiority in competence and/or standing with God. For simply, as a child may be wiser than his parents, as a student may be more adept than his master, or as a civilian may be more upstanding than a police officer or the government, this does not give the one under another’s authority the right to challenge or usurp that hierarchy. And on the converse, the one holding the superior position is incumbently required to respect, nurture, instruct, protect, and to do all in the best interest of those under their responsibility. And in the case of governmental or familial relationships, the one in authority is obligated to give one’s life for those under their responsibility. Having authority is a responsibility, not a privilege or entitlement.
The following Biblical verses, although having various contexts and precepts, comprehensively address the relationship that is intended to exist between man and woman. Regardless of the specific circumstance of each pericope, one should begin to appreciate how scripture collectively, holds to the view of man’s hierarchal authority over women. In that, it would be extremely precarious for anyone to attempt to defy this over-arching theme, based on a few, implicit, isolated and exceptional verses.
Genesis 2:18, 23
2:18. The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." … 23. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, 'for she was taken out of man."
Genesis 3:16
16. To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
1 Timothy 2:11-14
2:11. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
1 Cor. 14:34-38
14:34. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. … for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 37. If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
1 Corinthians 11:3, 7-10, 16
11:3. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. … 9. neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 16. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice-- nor do the churches of God.
1 Peter 3:1-6
3:1. Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, … 5. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6. like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master.
Eph. 5:21-24
5: 22. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Colossians 3:18
3:18. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Tit. 2:4-5
2:4. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5. to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
1 Tim. 3:2-12
2. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, … 8. Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere… 11. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect… 12. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
Tit. 1:6
1:6. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient
Numbers 3:1-13
3:3. Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4. Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. … 9. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. 10. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death." 11. The LORD also said to Moses, 12. "I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine
And, it utterly amazes me how the following verses are understood to believe that there is no more gender in God’s eyes??? If this were so, does that mean that a man may marry and sleep with another man, since God does not see them as men anymore, …but just androgynous? Clearly the passage and entire context, starting from chapter two, is denouncing the Judaizers, and defining what the eligibility for salvation is. That is, circumcision, race, status, vocation, gender, age, size, wealth, pedigree has absolutely no bearing on one’s standing with God towards redemption.
Galations 3:11, 13, 25-29
11. Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 25. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27. for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
