HOW GOD DEFINES MEN
AND WOMEN:
• Feminine Distinctive
• Selective Submission
• Possessing Spiritual Equality
• Possessing Strength of
Character
1 Corinthians 11:11-13 However, in the Lord, neither
is woman independent of
man, nor is man independent
of woman. 12 For as the
woman originates from the
man, so also the man has his
birth through the woman; and
all things originate from God.
NASU
• 1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I want
you to understand that the head of
every man is Christ, the head of a
wife is her husband, and the head of
Christ is God.
• Acts 5:29 - 29 But Peter and the
apostles answered, "We must obey
God rather than men.” ESV
POSSESSING SPIRITUAL
EQUALITY
• Gen 1:27- God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He created
him; male and female He created
them.
• WOMEN ARE EQUALS SPIRITUALLY
AND FULFILL DISTINCTIVE ROLES
• Women in the New Testament church are
pictured as members of the body--co-workers
in the Christ, but are not given the roles of
elders, pastors, or apostles.
1 Timothy 2:11-14 (ESV)
11 Let a woman learn quietly
with all submissiveness. 12 I do
not permit a woman to teach or
to exercise authority over a man;
rather, she is to remain quiet. 13
For Adam was formed first, then
Eve; 14 and Adam was not
deceived, but the woman was
deceived and became a
transgressor.
• First, Paul writes this passage going all the
way back to the Garden and the fall.
• Second, my understanding is that Paul is
dealing with the how.
– Priscilla and Aquilla taught Apollos. Acts 18:2426 - 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an
Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man,
came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in
the Scriptures. 25 This man had been
instructed in the way of the Lord; and
being fervent in spirit, he was speaking
and teaching accurately the things
concerning Jesus, being acquainted only
with the baptism of John; 26 and he began
to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But
when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they
took him aside and explained to him the
way of God more accurately. NASU
Women prophesied in both Old and
New Testaments.
• Acts 21:7-10 - 8 On the next day
we left and came to Caesarea,
and entering the house of Philip
the evangelist, who was one of
the seven, we stayed with him. 9
Now this man had four virgin
daughters who were
prophetesses. NASU
DEBORAH PROPHETESS AND
JUDGE OF ISRAEL
• Deborah - Judges 4:4-6 - Now Deborah,
a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth,
was judging Israel at that time. 5
She used to sit under the palm tree
of Deborah between Ramah and
Bethel in the hill country of
Ephraim; and the sons of Israel
came up to her for judgment. NASU
1 Peter 3:1-3 - 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, 2
when they see the purity and
reverence of your lives. NIV
• Third, “learn quietly” and “remain
quiet” is translated from the Greek word
hesuchios - “causing no disturbance to
others.” It is translated "quiet" in 1
Timothy 2:2, RV (KJV, "peaceable");
• "quiet" in 1 Peter 3:4, Vine says “it is
associated with ‘meek’ and is to
characterize the spirit or disposition.”
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of
Biblical Words
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 - 10 For even
when we were with you, we used to
give you this order: if anyone is not
willing to work, then he is not to
eat, either. 11 For we hear that some
among you are leading an
undisciplined life, doing no work at
all, but acting like busybodies. 12
Now such persons we command and
exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to
work in
fashion and eat their
own bread. NASU
“it is associated with ‘meek’ and
is to characterize the spirit or
disposition.”
1 Corinthians 14:34 - 34 The
women are to keep silent in
the churches; for they are
not permitted to speak, but
are to subject themselves,
just as the Law also says.
NASU
• The word used by Paul is not
hesuchios.
• The word is
and it means
“to keep closed” to “hold ones
peace.”
• They are not permitted to
speak. Laleo – utter words.
They are not permitted to utter
words, or to utter a word, or say a
word.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in
all wisdom, singing psalms
and hymns and spiritual
songs, with thankfulness in
your hearts to God.
• 1 Corinthians 14:40 - But everything must be done
in a proper and orderly way. ISV
• The NIV reads 1 Corinthians 14:40 - 40 But
everything should be done in a fitting and
orderly way. NIV
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 –
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,
it should be by two or at the
most three, and each in turn,
and one must interpret; 28 but
if there is no interpreter, he
must keep silent (sigao) in the
church; and let him speak to
himself and to God. NASU
• 1 Corinthians 14:29-33 - 29 Let two or
three prophets speak, and let the
others pass judgment. 30 But if a
revelation is made to another who
is seated, the first one must keep
silent. 31 For you can all prophesy
one by one, so that all may learn
and all may be exhorted;
33 for God is not a God of
confusion but of peace, as in all the
churches of the saints. NASU
Immediately after this passage Paul
says.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 –
34 The women are to keep
silent in the churches; for they
are not permitted to speak,
but are to subject themselves,
just as the Law also says.
NASU
1 Corinthians 14:37-39 - 37 If
you think of yourself as a
prophet or a spiritual
person, you will know that
I am writing only what the
Lord has commanded. 38
So don't pay attention to
anyone who ignores what I
am writing. CEV
Paul is consistent with the Lord
and his example and teaching.
• 1 Tim 2:12-15- 12 But I do not allow a
woman to teach or exercise
authority over a man, but to remain
quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was
first created, and then Eve. 14 And it
was not Adam who was deceived,
but the woman being deceived, fell
into transgression.
Paul expressed affection and
appreciation for women he
acknowledged as co-laborers
and spiritual equals in Christ
(Rom. 16:1-3,6,13,15; Gal. 3:2628; Phil. 4:3).
SUBMISSION DOES NOT
ASSUME INFERIORITY
• Jesus Christ showed us that being submissive does not imply
inferiority of person.
– He lived on earth "under the law"
• Gal 4:4- But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth
His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
– Under the authority of His parents
• Luke 2:51 (NASB-U) And He went down with them and came to
Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His
mother treasured all these things in her heart.
– Under the authority of government leaders
• Matthew 22:17-21 (NASB-U)"Tell us then, what do You think? Is
it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" [18] But Jesus
perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me,
you hypocrites? [19] "Show Me the coin used for the polltax." And they brought Him a denarius. [20] And He said to
them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" [21] They
said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render
to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things
that are God's."
• And above all, under the authority of His heavenly Father.
1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I
want you to understand
that the head of every man
is Christ, the head of a wife
is her husband, and the
head of Christ is God.
GOD DEFINES WOMAN AS ONE WHO
POSSESSES STRENGTH OF CHARACTER.
• The most beautiful women in the world
are not those who parade in swimsuits and
evening gowns before judges and
television cameras.
• She is beautiful—she is a person of
serenity because her trust and security is
in the Lord.
• She is a person of dignity because her
value and sense of significance is found in
God.
• A woman's strength of character is
found in the person and example of
Jesus Christ.
• 1 Pet. 3:3-5- Do not let your beauty be
that outward adorning of arranging
the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting
on fine apparel; but let it be the hidden
person of the heart, with the
incorruptible ornament of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is very
precious in the sight of God. For in this
manner, in former times, the holy
women who trusted in God also
adorned themselves, being submissive
to their own husbands…
BIBLICAL MODELS OF GOD’S
WOMAN
• The virtuous woman described in Proverbs
31:10-31 has the following characteristics:
• She is a commendable wife and mother.
• She lives for her home and family.
• She is industrious.
• She is self-disciplined and orderly.
• She is a sharp business woman. She buys fields.
Makes deals. Provides financial assistance in
taking care of her home and family.
• She has good, refined tastes.
• She manifests the grace of hospitality.
• She is charitable in time of need.
• She is spiritually minded.