Paul's View on Women

Most people seem to think that Paul didn't have a very positive view of women. They arrive at this conclusion by taking a couple verses from his epistles out of context, not always the wisest thing to do. Although most men during Paul's time looked down on women, Jewish society tended to hold women in higher regard and treat them better than many of the Gentile nations did.

In this case, actions may very well speak louder than words. Let's look at how Paul treated women. Of all his followers, he considered Timothy most like a son. Yet, he gave Eunice and Lois, Timothy's mother and grandmother, credit for the young man's deep faith (see 2 Timothy 1:5). When Paul went to Philippi, he not only baptized Lydia, a successful businesswoman, but he and his followers also stayed with her while they were there. Then in Caesarea, Paul lived with the evangelist, Philip, who had four daughters that were prophetesses. If outspoken Paul had any problems with this, he would have likely made it known, but he didn't. Perhaps he remembered the judge and prophetess Deborah from the Scriptures.

These are only a couple of the many biblical examples of how Paul treated and felt toward women. He also wrote favorably: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Beth Moore writes of Paul's attitude toward women in her book, To Live Is Christ: "A study of the entire life of Paul reveals an interesting fact. He had a vastly different view of women than many people think."

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