Gender Roles In Old Testament - Research Paper Example

 Gender Roles In Old Testament Understanding gender roles in the Old Testament and its relation to our culture Gender roles in the Old Testament still hold true today regardless of the changing culture and society. They vary in some regards such as ministry and marriage. Men and women are also given different roles in accordance with different churches and their beliefs such as Orthodox and Catholics. Men would become priests and women could become sisters or nuns and they could hold higher positions like that of the abbess but not pope or bishops. Protestants have certain different beliefs such as the fact that conservative Protestants believe that only men can be clergies, but in the modern culture, women are increasingly adopting these roles. Men and women both are considered saints when they die according to the Testament; there are different aspects of being a saint such as being a martyr, a military leader or a monarch etc. which symbolized the different roles that were played by them in their life as Christians. Jesus is believed to have told his followers in the Testament that God is like their Father and should be addressed so. Catholics and Orthodox Christians also believe that there is a special place for Mary, who was the Mother of Jesus and this shows that they give virtue to the maternal value in Christianity. Protestants however don’t believe in the devotion towards Mary, called Marian devotion. [Ron04] The Old Testament describes the journey of Christianity and its beliefs. Christianity came from patriarchal societies which place men in a higher position of command in a marriage bond, in society, government and many other aspects. Christ was inclusive of women, however apostles were only male. Marian devotion rose in the middle Ages and so did chivalry. Women became part of church life later by developing the concept of a convent where women played a role by being religious nuns and sisters. [Joh07] Since then, they have played an important part in our culture and especially in missionary schools, nursing settlements, hospitals etc. Gender roles have also been debated over the years among people of different beliefs and their different theories however there are some views that are widely accepted in our culture and in our practical lives as well. The way of life is shown in the Old Testament; it is a revelation with roles defined for men and women that people often confuse for their own purposes today. It covers what their roles have been since they were created. And it further helps us to overcome barriers, races, cultures etc. and to understand the broader sentiment of the subject. The new Covenant has also not changed the roles of males and females and so they gold for us today in our culture as did the Old Testament. [Har47] God created Adam and Eve and he first created man and woman in image which shows that both sexes were meant to be equal. They are both together to be heirs to God’s inheritance. There are three solid beliefs; we all come from God and God created mankind, including both males and females. Secondly, we all have a certain resemblance to God and lastly we are both, male and female created by God and therefore both will have some similar characteristics to him. Creation was what led to males and females to coexist with each other. They were not created together. First man was created and he was placed in the Garden and he was to give all the animals a name and when Adam felt the need to have a partner to do this task, God made Eve and he didn’t make her from the dust but a rib of Adam so that they fitted well enough to be equals. [Car88] Woman was thus believed to be taken out of man and thus not to be looked down upon but as someone who could be his companion. It is believed that man is the “Glory of God” and women from man, and this doesn’t imply that women didn’t exist in image with God but it shows that a woman’s role is very important with regards to her husband and she reflects where her husband is in life or where he is not. Certain roles are defined going forwards. Eve, symbolizing women, could give birth and bear children and she could alone nurse the child. These roles were fixed forever by God regardless of culture. She was smaller in physical form and she had differences in her life and well being including her cycles which made her a man’s responsibility. The male was the dominant leader of the household and in many ways they still are though society is moving towards a more egalitarian culture. The headship was presumed due to the order of creation in God’s plan. Any denial of this formation or the headship of males would be to deny the Testament. And this is once again proven when Adam ate the fruit of the Forbidden tree and so had Eve before him but Adam was called to be accountable before she was. And he was charged and punished for following her. According to the Bible, he should have told her to shirk the sin rather than allow Eve to step out of her role and lead the family rather than be the submissive wife. Man was given the primary care giving ability and duty by God as well; to eat what he had earned and that his creation was to live on this earth till he turned into dust, the very place he had come from. And this applies to our culture to teach us to be humble at all times; because all our greatness we owe to God, and to him we will return. This glory is simply worldly. So even though we live in the world, and are surrounded by material things, this doesn’t mean that we forget that we are to go back to him. This applies to our culture till today because the fear of the afterlife is what holds us back from doing sins. [Car07] There are other gender roles such as those related to garments and clothing etc. What so ever is ordained for women would not be adorned by men, and vice versa. This was to maintain the distinction between men and women. That is why in our culture, men and women have different articles of clothing and hair styles etc. and any other aspect would be unnatural in the eyes of God. [Rut92] There is also a gender difference with regards to male and female babies and their purification. Inheritance is also where men have a greater hold and only inheritance was only passed on to daughters if they married within their own tribe. Women also have different roles regarding respect and piousness. They need to be virtuous by making food for their families, sewing and doing household jobs well and the man sits down with the major decision makers. And the woman was to accept what the man said as a sign of his headship. [Ger65] Even with regards to divorce, men were to lead it and send the woman away as they had command over the house. This holds true in our culture today yet many woman have ownership of homes as well. Certain conclusions can be made about the Old Testament in the light of genders even in our modern society. Women have to fulfill their role as a mother and a wife. Without fulfilling these two roles, they will not find fulfillment in life and that doesn’t mean that they cannot pursue a career but if they can manage all at the same time, then that is allowed. Women can also not be self-seeking with regards to their children and their welfare. A godly woman is believed to be one who is devoted heart, body and soul to her children and not someone who would be a burden or stop her from living her life. [HKe70] Every equal home needs to have a man and he is the head. The modern society concept of having a home where equality is important is not in accordance with the Old Testament. However this norm has come about due to men who aren’t following the concept of headship and forgetting their role to protect the women and the family and abusing women which have led to this change. This has led to not only society but every generation accepting this egalitarian system. Being abusive makes man less of a leader than he was ordained by God. When the roles of a man and woman are changed, the house will not function as it should and how God wants it. Women cannot assume a job and be the man and take care of all the aspects that a man should such as earning income and protecting the family because this would go against the predefined roles according to the Testament. These and many other aspects of gender in the Old Testament apply to our modern culture and sometimes we refute it; but this is our book of principles and guidance. [JBa70] Bibliography Ron04: , (Pierce, Groothuis, & Fee, 2004), Joh07: , (Barton, 2007), Har47: , (Willoughby & Research., 1947), Car88: , (Penner, 1988), Car07: , (Osburn, 2007), Rut92: , (Tucker, 1992), Ger65: , (Rad, 1965), HKe70: , (Beebe, 1970), JBa70: , (Payne & Society., 1970), Read More