The Bible
The Bible is sexist and treats women as inferior.
Short answer
The Bible begins with men and women both made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Jesus treated women in ways that surprised his culture: he taught them as disciples, defended them and made them the first witnesses of his resurrection. Christians differ on some roles in church and family, but the Bible is clear that women and men are equal in worth, "fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life" (1 Peter 3:7).
In simple words: God made boys and girls both in his image, and they're equally precious to him. Jesus treated women with great kindness and respect.
Response
Some Bible stories describe terrible treatment of women, and some laws reflect the ancient world. But describing something isn't approving it. The book of Judges records horrifying abuse of a woman to show how far Israel had fallen, when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 19; 21:25).
The Bible's starting point is equal dignity: "in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27).
Jesus stood out in his day. It was unusual for a teacher to have women sitting at his feet as disciples, yet Mary "sat at the Lord's feet listening to His message," and Jesus said she had "chosen the good portion" (Luke 10:39, 42). Women traveled with him and supported his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). His disciples "were surprised that He was speaking with a woman" (John 4:27). He defended a forgiven woman against a critic at dinner (Luke 7:36-50). And he appeared first to women after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:11-18), at a time when, according to the historian Josephus, a woman's testimony wasn't accepted in court.
The early church honored women too. Paul commended "our sister Phoebe" and greeted Prisca and Aquila as "my fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Romans 16:1-3). He told husbands, "love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25). In that world, that was revolutionary: the husband's model is a man who died for the one he loved.
Christians sincerely disagree about some roles in the church and the home. But no faithful reading of the Bible teaches that women are worth less. In Christ there is neither "male nor female" (Galatians 3:28): one family, equal before God.
Key evidence
- Both male and female are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
- Women were among Jesus' followers and supporters (Luke 8:1-3) and sat under his teaching (Luke 10:39).
- Women were the first witnesses of the resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:11-18), though Josephus says women's testimony was not accepted in court (Antiquities 4.219).
- Paul commends women as fellow workers (Romans 16:1-3) and calls husbands to self-giving love (Ephesians 5:25).
Bible passages
- Genesis 1:27 Male and female in God's image.
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary at Jesus' feet.
- Luke 8:1-3 Women who traveled with Jesus.
- John 20:11-18 Mary Magdalene, the first witness.
- Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church.
- 1 Peter 3:7 Fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life.
Discussion questions
- Why does it matter that women were the first witnesses of the resurrection?
- How did Jesus treat women differently from what his culture expected?
- What's the difference between the Bible describing something and approving it?