Equality of Women in the Kingdom of God

Starting with passages in chapter 7, Luke introduces us to how Jesus included women in a male-dominated environment.

The context of the first section where Jesus was dining with a Pharisee was a test to see how he (Jesus) behaved whilst dining out, having just been ridiculed for enjoying too much entertainment. If he truly was a great prophet, surely he would be able to distinguish between saints and sinners.

Jesus astounds his host by allowing the woman to wash his feet with her tears and anoint them with perfume. Jesus then turns the situation on its head. God's view is that the woman is the one who is actually sitting in the place of honour, not the host. Faith in Jesus and the forgiveness of sins are equally open to men and women.

We then have a passage that is a bookend to an earlier passage where Jesus selected 12 men as apostles. This was significant, making a statement that Jesus was establishing a new Israel. As Israel started with 12 men, leading to 12 tribes, Jesus also appoints 12 men. To make this point they had to be men. However, only a few are recorded elsewhere in the bible and the church was not evidently structured on these actual 12 men. It was more of a symbolic point being made at that time.

Jesus makes it plain that women also had an equally prominent role in his kingdom together with the '12', even when it came to dealing with finances.

In Jesus' time, as in many parts of the world today, women are treated as second-class citizens. Judaism increasingly made men more prominent, as do other religions.

In his gospel, Luke makes a point of stressing the essential role of women, from Elizabeth and Mary in chapter 1 to those at the resurrection in chapter 24.

Men and Women are Equal

Men and women were created as equals by God, male and female in his own image. The Hebrew word for woman is often translated as 'helper'. Helper can sometimes be seen as an assistant, and therefore a lesser role. However, the word means to compliment, to correspond to, a counterpoint. They are different but equal and enhance each other.

Genesis explains how God establishes marriage, the relationship between a man and woman, as the core of society. The relationship is one where each compliments the other.

This extends beyond the example of marriage, where a mix of men and women will enhance a group dynamic. The Kingdom of God is such a mix.

In the Genesis songs we find that it is where the woman and man act independently that disaster strikes. Eve follows the serpent’s advice and then acts on her own, then when Adam finds out he also decides to act on his own and they both ignore God's advice. What may have happened if Eve and Adam had jointly discussed the serpent’s temptation? And then what if they had talked it through with God when they had their next walk in the garden. One benefit of marriage is that of support, one covering the other.

The effect of sin is described as a series of curses. To the woman, this was that man would rule over her. This was not God's will but a curse resulting from sin.  We see this happening everywhere including in religions.

Jesus deals with sin and removes the curse. He brings release to women. Paul underlines this in his letter to the Galatians explaining that in Jesus we are free. There is no preferential treatment of Jews over Gentiles, masters over slaves, or males over females. All are equal.

Women had prominent roles in the early church. Sadly there has been misinterpretation of some passages that has undermined the role of women. Some women wear head coverings because of a passage in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. However, the point of the passage is not about hats and hair-styles, but about independence. As with Eve, men and women work best in partnership, with each other, not divided and in factions. Some women stay silent because of another passage, but this is in contrast to others where they are praying and prophesying. The context is about having some order when gathering together, not acting independently and causing chaos.

The Corinthian church was one of disorder where people tended towards doing their own thing and lacking awareness of others. Paul's message is to encourage awareness of, and submission to, each other thus developing unity of purpose and order within a diversity of expression. Some women were probably dominating by over-enthusiastically enjoying the new freedom that they had found in being part of the church. Paul's advice needs to be taken in this context.

The other passage used to undermine women in church is where Paul sends advice to Timothy. However, this is the same issue mentioned above, bringing us back to the story of Eve and the dangers of women deliberately acting independently from men. This is not stating that women should be submissive and men should not, or that women should not teach others. It just warns about acting independently, and not listening to, and submitting to others.

Masculinity and Femininity

God is described as masculine 'He', whether this is as the Father, Son or Holy Spirit. The names of God are masculine e.g. El. Where Jesus appears in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord (a theophany, a christophany) he is masculine.

However God is also described as feminine, e.g. a mother to Israel's child.

When God is personified this can be feminine, e.g. as wisdom.

God expresses both masculinity and femininity, and is comfortable with either!