Are Men&Women Equal?

[Lois]

I'm glad that you are allowing newbs to make new threads,Vic.I do have questions about verses at times and would love to discuss them openly to hear what others have to say about them.

Hopefully this one doesn't fall under a doctrine issue.

Okay so in 1 Corinthians 11:3 it says...

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Then this..
1Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

But then I read this and I became a little confused...

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

There are verses that clearly say there are distinctions between men and women...but then in Galatians 3:28 it says we are all one.If we are all one then there is no distinction..therefor a man is not my head but only Christ is my head??

I'm sure I'm missing something, somewhere.I'm glad I get to post a new thread Yipeee!

BTW Disclaimer
I am not a feminist.It is my hope and my prayer to always and in all things to be fully,wholly submitted to God.

[Vic]

(12-13-2011 02:14 AM)Lois Wrote:  I'm glad that you are allowing newbs to make new threads,Vic.I do have questions about verses at times and would love to discuss them openly to hear what others have to say about them.

Hopefully this one doesn't fall under a doctrine issue.

Okay so in 1 Corinthians 11:3 it says...

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Then this..
1Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

But then I read this and I became a little confused...

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

There are verses that clearly say there are distinctions between men and women...but then in Galatians 3:28 it says we are all one.If we are all one then there is no distinction..therefor a man is not my head but only Christ is my head??

I'm sure I'm missing something, somewhere.I'm glad I get to post a new thread Yipeee!

BTW Disclaimer
I am not a feminist.It is my hope and my prayer to always and in all things to be fully,wholly submitted to God.

Hi Lois,

Glad it helps. THis topic likely is a doctrine issue for some and belongs in the other section, but we can discuss it here unless it becomes a big issue. There are a couple of related threads which you might find of interest:

Are women created in God's image?
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=581

Woman Elders > http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=221

In our homes the man/husband is over the woman just as Christ is head of the church. But keep in mind first Christ's servanthood and care for the church. People immediately think of the 'authority' issue and relegate the woman to subservient, instead of the example Christ gave and showed to the disciples. Not as 'master but as servant to all. Men are heads over their own wives, but a true man of God, does not have to prove that by a power play which many do.

Keep in mind that **all believers** are to esteem others above themselves.
Men are to love their wives and treat them like they would treat themselves or other fellow believers....that is a huge missing factor for many.

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; ...
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

There could be no women apostles or preachers, and women were to ask questions about things taught in the churches (or synagogues at that time,) at home of their husbands because of esteeming them and being in subjection to them.

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

It would have been unseemly to interfere and cause commotion during the services to ask questions and enter into huge dialogue and interfering with the orderliness of the meeting. Christ, not men, is the head of the church. And husbands are head over their own wives in that same analogy. The Scriptures above show the attitude each is to have, although I didn't put them all in. In Christ, at the foot of the cross, we are all sinners saved by God's grace.

That said, it must be remembered that all believers are to become equipped to serve Christ. At some point each should be equipped to minister in whatever manner God calls them to-both men and women. If one looks at Paul's salutations in the end of his various epistles, there are many women mentioned as laboring to share Christ. That is what every believer is to do.

We are first and foremost servants of Him and part of the Body and we follow Him. But in capacity of wives, we are to esteem and support our husbands, and hopefully they will do the same.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

[Vic]

I forgot to mention that all believers regardless of heritage, men or women, are of the royal priesthood, are a temple of the Holy Spirit, part of the Body of Christ, and brothers and sisters in the Lord. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and need Jesus Christ. We are equal spiritually before the Lord. Husband and wife are joined as one and equally responsible for their union. Women have a weaker vessel aka physical body, less muscle mass, etc. , but that does not mean they are less spiritually, in wisdom, knowledge, and God given ability to live in victory in Christ or serve Him as a soldier of the cross, which we all are.

[Lois]

Very well said Vic,thank you.I figured I must have been missing a point somewhere and it was here I think.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
I think possibly someone caught up in having a rebellious nature would see this verse..1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
..as my husband is the boss of me and be upset about it..when they should be looking at as..
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
We are still all one in Christ Jesus and of equal value in the body of Christ.
These verses are so misunderstood and misused.

[Lois]

I think that I got a better understanding of 1 Corinthians 11:3,1 Timothy 2:12 and Gal 3:28.
I saw the whole context in which what was being said instead of just focusing on the verses.

In the whole context of 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy,Paul was talking about the roles of men and women in the Church.

In Galatians Paul is talking about salvation.

So when it comes to salvation,"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

But when it comes to the body of Christ gathering together to fellowship in a church setting,or a Christian household "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

and "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

I had wondered about what do the single women do if they have questions but no husband to ask?
Or,they have questions no husband or pastor to ask?

They do what I do.They can ask more spiritually mature Christian women. ;)