Why do women seem to have a small role in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

While there are relatively few women mentioned in the Bible compared with the number of men, the Bible actually records more about women than would be expected of a book written during ancient times. Most societies throughout history were patriarchal where women had little influence in the home, in politics, or in religion. While the Bible also reflects this type of society, it records many instances of women playing vital roles in God's plan for humanity. Below are several examples.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The first instance of a woman with an important role is Eve, the mother of all humanity. (Genesis 2:18; 3:20).
• In God’s pronouncement of curses and coming salvation, He told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
• he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This theme of the woman and the serpent repeats throughout the biblical narrative. Ultimately, of course, this promise is about Jesus who was born of a virgin.
• The Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah bravely protected the boys born to Hebrew women against Pharaoh’s command to kill them (Exodus 1:15–21).
• Both Moses' mother, Jochebed, and his sister, Miriam, played a vital role in saving Moses’ life as an infant, as did the Egyptian king’s daughter who adopted Moses (Exodus 2).
• After the exodus, Miriam led the Israelites' worship in response to God's rescue (Exodus 15:20–21).
• Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, hid and saved two Israelite spies as they prepared to enter the land God promised them (Joshua 2). She eventually became an ancestor to Christ Himself (Matthew 1:5).
• Deborah was the famous female judge who led the army to victory, bringing peace for forty years (Judges 4—5).
• Jael trusted in the Lord and assassinated the opposing army's commander during that battle. (Judges 4:18–22).
• Ruth, an outcast from Moab, due to her faith in God, followed her mother-in-law to Israel and eventually became the great grandmother of King David and ancestor to Christ (Ruth 1—4; Matthew 1:5).
• Hannah took her grief about infertility to God and in return was blessed to become the mother of Samuel, who anointed Israel's first king (1 Samuel 1:1—2:11).
• Abigail prevented David from avenging himself and becoming guilty of bloodshed (1 Samuel 25:33).
• Esther entreated King Ahasuerus to spare her people, Israel (Esther 7:3).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Elizabeth was a great source of encouragement to Jesus' mother Mary during her pregnancy (Luke 1:39–56).
• The prophetess Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah in the temple; “she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
• Jesus' ministry was supported by many women's own money (Luke 8:1–3).
• Martha and Mary of Bethany often hosted Jesus and His followers in their home (Luke 10:38–39).
• Jesus used the image of a persistent widow to encourage His disciples “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1–8).
• A widow offering her final two copper coins inspired Jesus' teaching on giving (Luke 21:1–4).
• Jesus praised the faith of a Canaanite woman who asked Him to free her daughter from demon oppression (Matthew 15:21–28).
• Women anointed Jesus multiple times in the Gospels, and He commended them for it (Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8).
• At Jesus' death, "There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him" (Matthew 27:55).
• The first people to learn of Jesus' resurrection and see His resurrected body were women. (Matthew 28:8–10).
• Lydia was a wealthy cloth dealer who hosted the church of Philippi in her home (Acts 16:11–15, 40).
• Priscilla ministered under Paul's tutelage and, along with her husband, even taught Apollos, another missionary, a more complete understanding of the gospel (Acts 18).
• Paul says that Euodia and Syntyche “have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2).
• Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, were credited for raising Timothy in the faith and giving him a foundational understanding of Scripture (2 Timothy 1:5).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The above list is not comprehensive, but it certainly demonstrates that women played a vital role throughout the Bible. Really, we don’t have to get far into the Bible to see the great worth of women in the eyes of God. We know from Genesis 1—2 that both women and men are created in God’s image and that God invites both women and men to join His work in the world. The continued role of women throughout the biblical narrative is particularly noteworthy as it contrasts the roles open to them historically in the societies in which they lived. God values women more than those societies did. Additionally, God values women more than many nations and religions in our modern world do. There remain nations and false religious systems that enslave women and treat them as property, but this is not of God. Jesus elevated women and brought them out of slavery.

God created both male and female in His image and blessed them (Genesis 1:27–31). Any woman who trusts in Jesus will receive all of the promises given to any man who trusts Jesus; there is no difference (Galatians 3:27–29). The Holy Spirit is given to believing women just as He is given to believing men (Ephesians 1:3–14). Both women and men have spiritual gifts that are to be used for the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12). Women and men can have meaningful lives because of freedom in Christ and participate with Him in meaningful ways in His work in the world (John 15:1–17; Ephesians 2:1–10).

UNDERSTAND

• Women played vital roles in God's plan despite societal norms.
• God values and includes women in His redemptive work.
• Women and men share equal worth in Christ.

REFLECT

• What do you learn about God’s character in the way He values women?
• How does understanding the roles of women in the Bible shape your view of God's value for both men and women?
• How can you personally affirm the biblical truth that both men and women are created in God's image and have significant roles in His plan?

ENGAGE

• How does the Bible’s portrayal of women compare to the roles women typically held in ancient societies?
• What are some ways the church today can better reflect God's value of both men and women in ministry and service?
• How does Jesus’ treatment of women challenge cultural or religious norms, both in His time and today?