The Different Characteristics Of God Essay

In Biblical times women were the owned property of a man. Men ruled over women and their children. Women had very few, if

in this world, and they are effects derived from a cause. The effects in turn

The stories told about women in the bible illustrate the importance of their role and contribution to society. Although the Bible does not explain God’s relationship with women as with Moses and other prophets, it illustrates love and devotion women had for Him. The stories of the bible describe brave, nurturing, and God fearing women whose decisions impacted the existence of the Israelites.

In the Hebrew Bible, a significant section where this idea can be seen is in the beginning with the story of Adam and Eve, specifically in Genesis 4. When Eve is manipulated to eat the forbidden fruit, it poses the idea that the suffering of humankind was caused by a woman, showing the idea that woman react without consideration or senselessly, when really Eve was only acting on a very human trait, curiosity. When Eve convinces Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, one of gods punishment to Eve is “Your man shall be your longing, and rule over you” (p.97). Or when God describes Eve as “his woman”, God is essentially saying she is not her own independent person and is meant to be owned by men. This passage alone shows that women are viewed as people that were meant to be controlled; that men were always meant to be above them.

Some believed that God deliberately made women inferior to men, which was evident in the Bible. The General Association of Massachusetts issued a Pastoral Letter which stated, “the appropriate duties and influence of woman are clearly stated in the New Testament. Those duties are unobtrusive and private, but the source of mighty power. When the mild, dependent, softening influence of woman upon the sternness of man’s opinions if fully exercised, society feels the effects of it in a thousand forms.” Women are supposed to handle domestic affairs. God made women soft and mild to balance out the strong nature of men. This balanced relationship keeps society in check. When a woman becomes independent, “she yields the power which God has given her for protection, and her character becomes unnatural. If the vine, whose strength and beauty is to lean upon the trellis-work, and conceal its clusters, thinks to assume the independence and the overshadowing nature of the elm, it will not only cease to bear fruit, but will fall in shame and dishonor into the dust.” A woman is like a vine; a vine without support will fall and will become unfruitful. A woman who is independent will be shamed by society and will become unsuccessful. God made women to depend on man. If a woman does not comply, she will fail. Some people believed that God intentionally made women weaker

The Greek civilization suggest the Gender gap as being of a more strategic implication rather than a gender viewpoint. The male having dominance over woman is a theme in Greek mythology, from sons allying with mothers to defeat the fathers, to the rape of Persephone. As Homer and Hesiod describe Hera as being second and subservient to her husband, using trickery to overcome Zeus’ plans. Although the feminine does play an important role it is one of creation and nurturing. Likewise, in the Genesis story, woman is created from man and is made to give him aid. After they had eaten of the fruit from the tree of good and evil, God was as a parent and correcting, or punishing the children. God said to Eve in Genesis 3:16 “your desire will be for your husband and he shall rule over you.”

Genesis is the first book of the Bible.  It begins with the story of God’s creation of the universe.    The Lord is the Almighty Creator of the world, skies, heavens, seas, animals, man, and woman.  He governs the universe and develops relationships with man.  Throughout Genesis, God acknowledges the fact that human beings make mistakes, and accepts their imperfection.  Throughout Genesis, God changes from one who does not tolerate disobedience, to one who shows clemency.  Early on in Genesis, God punishes Adam and Eve for disobedience.  After making the mistake of flooding the world, the Lord realizes that even He is not perfect, and does not allow Jacob’s deceit of his father to taint his future.

Christian views, attitudes and beliefs about gender have always varied with some ideas evolving with society and others set in tradition, never to change. While some see gender difference as a feminist issue, others see it as a role requirement set by God. Of course, there are extremists on both sides of this argument, as well as inter-lapping beliefs, but gender issues are still debated by Biblical scholars often and passionately. Not exclusive to denomination, gender equality is a subject that can be examined in many ways, but the focus of this paper will be on two types of theologies, Complementarian and Egalitarian. While both theologies rely on Bible scripture to gain and prove their

The Bible is full of statements and teachings on the topic of gender. Unfortunately, these are often ignored in the home. For example, the different roles of mothers and fathers. The Bible claims that mothers are called to be involved in the teaching, nurturing, and mentorship of their children. According to Proverbs 13:24, fathers are also called to discipline their children, to teach them, and to mentor them. Parents' roles are very similar according to the Bible with the caveat that fathers are called to be the disciplinarians and leaders of the household. Another example of the differences between genders according to the Bible is that of a Godly

We start out with the use of the male dominated language in the Bible. Much of the development of Christianity has been primarily mostly by men, so our understanding of Christianity and the Bible may come from a more masculine perspective. Mainly men today translated the vast majority of Bibles available. To be honest, I never really gave this topic much thought as an adult before because I just assumed the obvious, that God is a male. All my life, from my parents, extended family, friends and church, this is what I have always been taught and exposed to. This just comes to show that the Bible just enforces the picture in our minds of a male figure since the beginning of time and in turn, we teach our future generations the same. Japinga states that,

Gender roles, and the mere existence of a gender binary, has been a recent topic of conversation for many churches, theologians, and individual believers. As the cultural pressure to remove gender-specific limitations builds, many of those aforementioned have turned to scripture for answers. Seldom are women’s roles in the Old Testament characterized by decision making or personal merits. Rather, a woman’s capacity to produce an heir for their husband complements his dominance and responsible faithfulness and allows God’s plan to be fulfilled through their combined efforts. In the New Testament, through the transformative power of Christ, prominent women became less of an anomaly, but were still held to a different set of standards and expectations than men and were usually still praised according to their actions and their faith. The Pauline epistles, written in the context in which the Church still exists today: the age to come, provide a basis for today’s understanding of women’s roles in marriage and in church leadership. Although there are many instances of women fulfilling God’s plans and proving their worth among the community of Christians, the biblically normative role of women is to avoid authoritative church leadership positions and remain submissive in situations of teaching and interpreting the Word.

Feminist theory and Christian worldview can be integrated but to what extent? Too much emphasis on the abstract, detached mind leads us astray. To be fully human does not require sex or gender but it does require God’s image. That, it seems, does not disappear with gender or sex, for both God and the angels are personal yet without sex or gender. As such, the thin essential properties of humanity, being rooted in God’s creative work, remain forever whereas the human cultural creations of gender and sex do not. In the beginning we are sexed and gendered (Genesis). In the end, we are neither (Galatians), hence the solution to the apparent contradiction of the Christian scriptures on gender.

The Bible is controversial on the matter of gender equality. There are numerous contradictions about the status of women in Christian society. Historically, the most prominent interpretation has been rather negative toward women. The Christian Church, with principally male authority, emphasizes the idea that women are inferior to man. They focus on Eve’s sin leading to a punishment that “her husband will have authority over her.” (Drury, 34)

When exploring the concept of ‘God the Son’, the incarnation and attributes of God as seen in Christ enter the picture. In order for human sin to be covered, a human sacrifice is all that could meet the requirement ordained by God, yet, they had to be sinless. Only the incarnate God could fulfill this role, exhibiting qualities of God Himself, such as selflessness, unconditional love, and purity. Another core trait was humbleness, although Jesus held the highest status in all the world, which shone brightly in His ministry, as He also served the children of God. Paul captured the essence of Jesus as God and the reality of the incarnation in these verses, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7, NKJV).

Gender gives you power; males are considered more powerful in comparison to women as a result of their physical makeup. People also mistake what the Bible conveys about the male and female relationships. In the Bible, God states that men should be the head of the house and are responsible for anyone in his household; while women should take care and bring up the children and support the man. God intended this to be a balance of power between soft and strong. The Bible states in Ephesians 5:23-33 “Wives be subject to your husband.. Husbands love your wives.. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as they love their own bodies..He who loves his own wife loves himself;..” However, countless people misinterpret this description-because they