THESE are days of great unrest. The Suffragette Movement gained its great victory-votes for women-years ago. and things have marched forward since then with giant strides. Even such a conservative institution as the Established Church is preparing to give women a place in her ministry.
From the point of view of politics, this question should not concern the Christian. His politics are heavenly. " Our conversation [" citizenship," N.T. " politics "] is in heaven " (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).
We are, however, naturally affected by what surrounds us. Lawlessness in the world is apt to be reflected by lawlessness in the church. This being so, it appears to be a timely moment for the examination of this deeply important subject: Woman: her place in Scripture.
At first the subject seemed to divide itself under two heads:
Woman: her place in nature.
Woman: her place in grace.
It is, however, impossible to separate the two. Woman's place in nature illustrates her place in grace, or rather her relation as a Christian woman to God.
This is brought out by the very way woman was created. The manner of it was unique-in sharp contrast to every other being. It is typical, symbolic, illustrative.
Adam is thrown into a deep sleep-type of the death of Christ. From his side a rib is taken, a woman builded therefrom, and presented to him as helpmeet. This is typical of the church-the result of the death of Christ-which will be presented to Him as His bride.
" Doth not even nature itself teach you?" (1 Cor. 11:1414Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)), is capable of a wide application. God has in His wisdom put great differences in the physical, mental and emotional make-up of man and woman. He has most evidently marked them to be distinct, yet complementary.
Man's superior height, strength, reasoning equipment stand in happy contrast to woman's natural grace, gentleness, mental nimbleness.
The very fact that woman was " taken out of man " proves her equality. She is not an inferior, but an equal, a helpmeet. Between man and man there is similarity, identity-between man and woman there is equality, but with it diversity.
The very fact that woman was " taken out of man " proclaims the headship God has given man, as, also, her privilege to accord man the place God has given him.
Man and woman are equal morally, but he is the head positionally.
Scripture distinctly states: " The man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man... Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord. For as the woman is Of the man, even so is the man also BY the woman; but all things of God " (1 Cor. 11:8,9,11,128For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. (1 Corinthians 11:8‑9)
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. (1 Corinthians 11:11‑12)). How exquisitely guarded and balanced a presentation of the truth is this!
This is all designed to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the church. In Eph. 5 the relationship between husband and wife is unfolded. Is the wife to submit to the husband? It is on the ground that " the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church " (ver. 23). Are the husbands to love their wives? It is even " as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it (ver. 25). Is the man told to leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife as one flesh? We are reminded: This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church " (ver. 32).
From the very first the reader will see woman's place in nature is typical of her place in grace, and typical, as it widens out, of the church's relation to Christ. How wonderful!