THE BIBLE AND WOMEN

Mary A. Kassian

T he Bible highly esteems women. It teaches that they are co-bearers of the image of God—that he crowned them with honor and glory and gave them charge to exercise dominion over the earth. Women, along with men, have the enormous dignity, privilege, and responsibility to put the glory of God on display (Is 43:6-7). The Bible highly esteems women, but unfortunately, women do not always highly esteem the Bible. Some disregard it—they are apathetic and lackadaisical, unwilling to exert the effort to sharpen their Bible study habits, and unconcerned about applying the Word of God to their lives. Others disrespect it—they think that they have the right to choose which parts are or are not applicable to women today. Others deride it—claiming that since the writers were exclusively men, Scripture is flawed and insufficient for women. The tendency for women to disrespect and deride the Bible is particularly prevalent in our post-feminist society, even amongst those who claim to follow Christ.

Two women who had an enormous respect for the Bible were Eunice and Lois, Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Paul credits them with Timothy’s conversion (2Tm 1:5). He also credits them with carefully teaching Timothy Scripture and doctrine. Timothy’s father was not a believer, so he didn’t contribute to Timothy’s spiritual training (Ac 16:1). It was Eunice and Lois that acquainted Timothy with “the sacred Scriptures,” taught him what they meant, instructed him in the ways of the Lord, and ensured that he received instruction for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2Tm 3:14-15).

Paul reminds Timothy about his mother’s and grandmother’s attitude toward Scripture and their skill in studying, understanding, and applying it. He wrote the well-known verses about all Scripture being inspired by God and “profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,” to make us competent and equipped for every good work, in the context of the outstanding job that Eunice and Lois did equipping Timothy (2Tm 3:14-17). These two women did not disregard, disrespect, or deride the Bible. They held it in highest esteem.

In order to influence for Christ those who are in our relational sphere, women need to have the same regard for Scripture that Eunice and Lois had. We need to be students of the Bible and diligently study it, so we can correctly teach the word of truth (2Tm 2:15). “Correctly teaching” (Gk orthotomounta; “cutting straight, holding a straight course, doing right, rightly dividing”) suggests the imagery of a farmer cutting a straight furrow, a builder cutting a stone, or a tentmaker cutting the cloth. Precise, faultless workmanship is indicated. Women have a responsibility to develop their ability to handle Scripture correctly. Those who fail to do this are susceptible to error (2Tm 3:6). Women who highly esteem the Bible and have a good grasp of doctrine will be able to “teach what is good” and will have a tremendous impact in mentoring their children and friends in the ways of the Lord (Ti 2:3-4).