My grandmother, Cordelia May Squires Stultz, lived from 1890 to 1980. Although she never really talked to me much about Bible things, I recently found out that she did pass on her wisdom to my cousin who is several years older than I am. So, I was pleasantly surprised, on going through her papers, to find some very interesting and forward-thinking (for her time) notes on Bible topics. These notes on Women jumped off the page at me, so I would like to share them with you.
What the Bible says about Women
In interpreting the Gospel to the world, Paul said that in heaven there was neither male nor female. Privilege was common and no line of distinction separated the sexes as participants in the grace of God.
And Paul correctly interpreted Christ in this. He never suggested or recognized any inferiority of women. He constantly assumed her equality.
Jesus treated women as he treated men. He talked with them.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? John 4:27
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. Luke 10:38
Among the Jews, talking with a woman was contrary to the custom of the doctors, and they declared that it was ‘better that the words of the law should be burned than delivered to women’. But Jesus made them his friends, as seen in the passage above, as well as in John 11:5, where it says, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Jesus answered their questions and exclamations and their sympathy.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. Luke 23:28
He praised their faith and included them in the beneficence of his loving thought and provision.
38 … and they that did eat were four thousand men beside women and children Matthew 15:38
Jesus was most tender and kind to women. He constantly helped them in need.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. Luke 13:11
He invariably spoke generously of them and never used a woman as illustrative of other than noble qualities
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8
Jesus commended one woman’s loving service of God.
1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Luke 21:1-4
He praised one woman’s lavish display of affection.
3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:3-9
And another’s simple-hearted trust and kindness and lifted another’s thought above her household cares.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. John 11:21-27
Women answered Jesus’ noble treatment of them by following him and by ministering to him of their substance.
3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. Mark 14:3
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:36-50
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. Luke 8:20
No woman said unkind words about him, and none betrayed or denied him. They stood at his cross, they came first to his sepulcher.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments;…Luke 23:55
Women were the first witnesses of his resurrection and his first heralds as read in John 20:1-17. Then,
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:18
Jesus did not regard woman as under a different code of morals from men. Sin that was pardoned in a man and condemned in a woman, Jesus condemned on man and woman. He forgave sin but he did not condone it. His call for purity, bound all to holiness.
… 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 7… So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast stone at her. … John 8:1-11
In teaching and example, Jesus did not recognize that woman as woman has a right to be silly and selfish any more than he recognized that man as man has a right to be domineering and superior. The ideal of the Beatitudes fits both and both are under the law of service as disciples of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
