Wife Behaviour in the Bible

[Medina83]

As for what was the norm, I think it was apparent that Jewish women, while obviously an important part of society, had a more discreet role than that of men. Perhaps a Jewish member might shed more light on the subject. From what I know the Talmuds and the Mishnah point to more rigid guidelines than those Jesus followed in his dealings with women. As for "special" women in the New Testament, if you look at Acts 18:24, it describes Apollos visit to Ephesus where he is praised for his knowledge of Scripture, but the text states that Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the nature of God more accurately, as he only knew about the Baptism of John. This points to the early Christian church having women of influence in high positions.

As for women prophets, it also states in Acts that Paul stays in Caesaria with Philip the evangelist whose daughters prophesied. (Acts 21:19)

In Cor 11:4-5, Paul offers advice to men and women prophets on headcovering while prophesying.

So it would seem there were indeed female prophets during this time.

I think u are mixing prophets with apostles who preach...

there were women preachers but not prophets who received divine revealation

 

[Keltoi]

I think u are mixing prophets with apostles who preach...

there were women preachers but not prophets who received divine revealation

I'm not mixing anything, the New Testament speaks of women prophets and apostles. We can't be certain if the women or men who prophecied were receiving divine revelation, but it does in fact speak of them.

 

[glo]

I agree with Keltoi.
"submission"....brrrrrr...how does it sound?
But I'm speaking only from theoretical point of view, while Glo knows something in practice :rollseyes

Hi duskiness

I was telling Medina that this thread reminded me of an email exchange I had with a Christian woman from the US some years ago.
She was telling me about the Bible calling women to submit to their husbands - and I reacted very much like you did in your post!

All I could equate it with, was the woman being passive and helpless, whereas the husband got 'to do what he liked'
I kept thinking 'what if the beats her?', 'what if he abuses her?', 'what if he is unfaithful?' ... and imagining that the wife would have to sit back and suffer without any rights of the own.

But the husband has his rules he should obey by, namely to protect, to love, to respect. If he does those things, he would do any of those above things in the first place.

No woman should suffer abuse or injustice inside marriage or out.
Nothing should prevent a woman from taking action, when her husband does not treat her right - certainly not some warped interpretation of God's word.

Sometimes I wish I still had that American lady's email address, so I could tell her I became a Christian, and I know see some things differently ... :statisfie

 

[Malaikah]

Here is a nice hadith about teh duties of the husband:

A man asked the Prophet (pbuh), "What right does a woman have over her husband?" He said:

"He should feed her when he eats and clothe her when he clothes himself; he must not strike her face nor must he sure her or say hurtful words other; and he should not forsake her except in their home"​

Related by Ahmad. (Classified as hasan saheeh by Al-Albaanee)

:statisfie

 

[Umar001]

As for what was the norm, I think it was apparent that Jewish women, while obviously an important part of society, had a more discreet role than that of men. Perhaps a Jewish member might shed more light on the subject. From what I know the Talmuds and the Mishnah point to more rigid guidelines than those Jesus followed in his dealings with women. As for "special" women in the New Testament, if you look at Acts 18:24, it describes Apollos visit to Ephesus where he is praised for his knowledge of Scripture, but the text states that Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the nature of God more accurately, as he only knew about the Baptism of John. This points to the early Christian church having women of influence in high positions.

As for women prophets, it also states in Acts that Paul stays in Caesaria with Philip the evangelist whose daughters prophesied. (Acts 21:19)

In Cor 11:4-5, Paul offers advice to men and women prophets on headcovering while prophesying.

So it would seem there were indeed female prophets during this time.

Well this would not then be Jesus' doing as such, I mean, I wouldnt see the above as Christ going against cultural norms, that's something I was baffled on since I hadnt seen much of that in the Gospel accounts of his life. I dont really see much that goes outside the cultural norms, maybe its 'cos I dont know the cultural norms much.

 

[Keltoi]

Well this would not then be Jesus' doing as such, I mean, I wouldnt see the above as Christ going against cultural norms, that's something I was baffled on since I hadnt seen much of that in the Gospel accounts of his life. I dont really see much that goes outside the cultural norms, maybe its 'cos I dont know the cultural norms much.

Actually it was the "doing" of Jesus in as far as his circle of disciples put the first Christian church into action, and women were a big part of it.

 

[Umar001]

Actually it was the "doing" of Jesus in as far as his circle of disciples put the first Christian church into action, and women were a big part of it.

See I think I'd regard it as his doing if he told people to or something like that, else would then disciples mistakes be rendered his doing too?

I'll look into the quotes, *gets reading glasses ready*

 

[glo]

See I think I'd regard it as his doing if he told people to or something like that, else would then disciples mistakes be rendered his doing too?

We are moving away from the topic of the original post, but Jesus clearly broke many cultural taboos of his time with regards to women - by his actions alone.

I am in my break at work, so I cannot look for biblical references at the moment, but a few situations that spring to mind:

As Keltoi already said, women were very much part of the group of his followers.
Jesus let himself be touched by women - see Mary who washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair
Jesus let himself be touched my a menstruating woman (a BIG no-no)
Jesus spoke to non-Jewish women - the Samaritan woman by the well

All these things must have been quite controversial at that time.

That's all for now ...

 

[Keltoi]

See I think I'd regard it as his doing if he told people to or something like that, else would then disciples mistakes be rendered his doing too?

I'll look into the quotes, *gets reading glasses ready*

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 Cuza, 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)

There is a passage I found referring to the women who traveled with Christ. From what I know of early Jewish custom in regards to women, this was a radical situation indeed. Notice I said Jewish "custom", because while there are some sexist passages in Jewish religious texts, the role of women was respected in the Old Testament much more than it was in practice during the time of Christ.