What rights did the Bible and Jesus really give women?

Answer 1

Women in Bible times lived in a patriarchal society that normally restricted the role of women to the sphere of home and family, although a few strong women emerged as leaders; Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Esther. The father and then the husband or other male relatives gave protection and direction to women. The Ten Commandments includes a man's wife in the list of possession (Exodus 20:17). If a woman about to be married was suspected of not being a virgin, she was required to submit to a test. If her virginity was not established, she could be stoned to death at her father's door (Duet. 22:13-21). Adultery was seen as a crime against a husband's rights. A jealous husband who had some fears about his wife's faithfulness could take her to the priest and have her submit to an intricate test to determine her guilt or innocence. No such avenue was open for a woman who suspected her husband of being unfaithful. The husband could obtain a divorce from his wife "because he hath found some uncleanness in her." Inequity between boy and girl babies existed from the very beginning of life. A mother who bore a girl baby was considered unclean for twice as long as a mother who bore a male child.

Jesus elevated the status of women. He was inclusive and acknowledged their place in the kingdom. He enlarged and transformed women's possibilities. At the risk of censure from a male oriented society, Jesus talked to women, responded to their touch, healed them, received their emotional and financial support, and used them as main characters in His stories. Jesus affirmed Mary's choice to learn as a disciple (Luke 10:38-42) and talked theology to the woman at the well in Samaria. Jesus offered women caught in adultery new possibilities of living, not allowing her to be subjected to a double standard by her male accusers (John 7:53-8:11).

Paul (The Bible part of the question) welcomed women as co-laborers in the churches and commended them for their gifts and faithfulness. Phoebe, Prisca, Lydia, and others were seen as partners in the Gospel. The Bible urges women to use their responsibility as well as freedom to find a place in Christ. The Spirit of freedom and love in Christ is woman's as well as a man's.