Women's Rights

Social justice warriors fight for women’s rights. What’s interesting about this topic is that many think that women had no rights before the 1960s. Women have had rights for centuries. It’s true that depending on the time and culture, there were women without rights or authority. Then, some women were queens, military warriors, judges, business owners, etc.

This series on social justice asks the question, what does the bible say about social justice? And since women’s rights are at the forefront of social justice issues ( or they used to be), it’s essential to look at scripture and see how women were treated. This week, I’ll post two chapters from my book, “A Woman of Substance.” One chapter is about women during the Persian period, and the other chapter is about women during the Apostle Paul’s lifetime. Both chapters show how women operated during those historical periods. Interestingly, women in both periods had rights and positions, including their own wealth.

It’s true that history has not been kind to women in many cultures, and even today, in some nations, women are still oppressed. The Bible shows the heart of Jesus, our Savoir, towards women, but it also shows how Ancient Israel dealt with women’s issues amid Ancient Near Eastern cultures and law codes. Women in Ancient Near Eastern culture were (in most cases) the property of their fathers or husbands. But as time passed and law codes and culture changed, women received more rights and privileges.

Jesus broke the curse between men and women. According to scripture, “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.” Galatians 3:28

Through Christ, women have standing and freedom. But it’s not only what Christ did on the cross for women but also how he treated them. He blessed them, taught them, delivered them, and revealed himself to them after the resurrection. He also anointed and appointed them for service in his kingdom. The Lord is our greatest example of how to treat and honor women. Women, as well as men, are made in the image of God, and his love abounds in them and through them.