Does the Bible condone misogyny?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Simply defined, misogyny means hatred of women. The Bible does not condone misogyny but teaches that men and women are equally valuable in God's eyes, each being made in His image (Genesis 1:27). In fact, two books of the Old Testament are named for women (Ruth and Esther). Many women throughout the Bible are presented in a positive light, such as Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Mary. The New Testament shows that women were among those who joined Jesus in His ministry journeys (Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 8:1-3) and were the first witnesses to His empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-6; Mark 16:9; John 20:1-2). Some have described the Bible as misogynistic because of the different roles God gives men and women. For instance, Paul's letters discuss the different duties of wives and husbands (Ephesians 5:22, 28; Colossiand 3:18). But even while expressing a distinction in roles, Paul makes it clear that they have equal value in God's eyes (Galatians 3:28). God loves and values men and women equally, and His Word clearly does not condone misogyny.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Men and women are of equal value to God because they are created in His image, meant to reflect who He is to the world (Genesis 1:27).
• Two books of the Bible—Ruth and Esther—highlight the courage and godliness of each title woman. If the Bible were misogynistic, two books would not have been named for women.
• Scripture also highlights many other exemplary women, such as Deborah (Judges 4—5), Hannah (1 Samuel 1—2), and Abigail, who became David's wife (1 Samuel 25). In fact, 1 Samuel 25 contrasts Abigail's "discerning" (1 Samuel 25:3) behavior with the foolish actions of her husband, Nabal. That  contrast would not happen if the Bible were misogynistic.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus never treated women as inferior. Women traveled with Him during His ministry (Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 8:1-3). Women even had the privileged position of being the first witnesses of Jesus' empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-6; Mark 16:9; John 20:1-2). Cultural norms of the time regarded women as inferior (in Luke 24:11 the apostles regarded the women's testimony of the empty tomb as "an idle tale")— but nothing in the Bible suggests that God views women as inferior.
• Jesus had a lengthy conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-45). That conversation would not have happened nor been recorded if the Bible were truly misogynistic.
• The angel Gabriel refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as "O favored one, the Lord is with you!" (Luke 1:28). Why would the angel God sent call her "favored" if God's word were misogynistic?
• Some call the Bible misogynistic because God specifies different roles for men than women. But different roles do not mean different value. Wives are told to "submit" to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossiand 3:18), but husbands are told to "love their wives as their own bodies" (Ephesians 5:28).
• God considers men and women of equal value. As Paul writes to the Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galtians 3:28).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Outdated, oppressive, inconsistent—this could be a review of your latest DMV experience, but skeptics have also used those words to describe the Bible. "Misogynistic" is another one. And all these words when applied to Scripture have one thing in common: they're inaccurate.

Much as we might be tempted to just ignore them, inaccuracies like those may influence others not to read the Bible. It may convince some women that God loves them less than men. In other words, they're lies about God that Christians should be prepared to correct (Jude 3).

But we can't know something is incorrect unless we know what is correct. That means that we need to regularly read God's Word. A daily discipline of Bible reading—even just a chapter a day—equips us to respond to the inaccurate depictions of the Bible that we might encounter. Familiarity with the Bible will help us defend it as timeless, liberating, coherent, and respectful of both men and women as God's image-bearers.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible is not misogynistic as it presents men and women as God's image-bearers.
• Both the Old and New Testaments feature exemplary women, which would not be the case if the Bible were misogynistic.
• Men and women have different roles, but that does not mean that God values one gender more than the other.

REFLECT

• In what ways have cultural messages shaped your understanding of gender, and how has Scripture impacted your view?
• What are some female figures in the Bible that you especially admire?
• How confident are you in explaining why the Bible affirms the equal value of men and women?

ENGAGE

• How can we clearly explain the difference between equal value and different roles of men and women?
• What examples of women in Scripture most challenge the idea that the Bible is misogynistic, and why?
• How can we respond with both truth and grace when someone claims the Bible is oppressive toward women?