In the New Testament, women played a large part in the ministry of
Jesus. As some of his closest friends and faithful followers were women:
“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” (Matthew 27:55-56)
“But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.” (Luke 23:49, 55)
They were the last to leave Jesus’s cross and the first to see him resurrected:
“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” (Luke 23:55; 24:1)
There were women who followed Jesus as he traveled about, and who supported him and his disciples:
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:1-3)
Minister
Don Karl Juravin thinks that
traditionally, the role of women was primarily in the kitchen, yet we are reminded by
Jesus commending Mary for sitting and listening instead of working:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
Phoebe, a woman who had greatly helped the church at Cenchrea and was acknowledged by Apostle Paul himself:
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” (Romans 16:1-2)
The teaching on the marriage relationship has elevated the position of the woman:
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:22-33)
Women with great accomplishments
Holy Land Man thinks that contemporary “
Christians” have a narrow view of godly women. Today, some Christians even think that godly women are still as limited as wives stuck in the kitchen.
Yet here we see great stories of women:
- Risking their own safety by rescuing young children from danger
- Mephibosheth’s nurse who hid the child from danger:
“Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.” (2 Samuel 4:4)
- Jehosheba who rescued her nephew Joash:
“When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.” (2 Kings 11:1-3)
- Miriam sacrificing herself to praise her brothers who are leading Israel the war:
“I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.” (Micah 6:4)
- Zipporah (Exodus 4:24-26), Michal (1 Samuel 19:11-17), and Abigail (1 Samuel 25:1) acting quickly to save their husbands from imminent death.
- Rahab committing treason against her own people in order to help Israel. (Joshua 2:1; 6:22-25)
- Ruth comforting her husband:
“When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.” (Ruth 3:7)
- Sheerah and the daughters of Shallum help build the town/walls of Jerusalem:
“His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.” (1 Chronicles 7:24)
“Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.” (Nehemiah 3:12)
- Various women involved in outside works other than staying in the house:
“While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd.” (Genesis 29:9)
“So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.” (Ruth 2:8)
“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16:14)
- Teaching and inspiring people with messages:
“The sayings of King Lemuel an inspired utterance his mother taught him.” (Proverbs 31:1)
“and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:37-38)
“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:26)
- Hosting and leading a house church: Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe (Acts 16:40), Nympha (Colossians 4:15), Priscilla with Aquila (1 Corinthians 16:19), and the Chosen Lady (2 John 1:1, 5).
Part 2/8 How And Why GOD Created The Woman?
Note that all general claims and observations by Holy Land Man refer to the vast majority of 70-90% and never to the 100% and so the assertion that "women are…" never refers to 100% but to 70-90%.
Women In The Bible Series
- Women in the Bible (Old & New Testament)
- Women’s Role in the New Testament
- Women Role in the Church
- Women as Prophets “Prophetees”
- Women as Mothers “Light of the Family”
- Women as Leaders “Politically”
- Women Standing in a Relationship “Gender Equality”
- Women As Whisperer/Influential
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5789760
