It's kind of amazing how those that try to make women equal to men always seem to try and point out: "you know, the words offered by Paul were certainly influenced by the politics and such of the 'time'."
What do you suppose that the politics and such of that time were 'based' upon? Where do you suppose the Jews learned their behavior from as concerns the 'place' of men and women?
The Bible clearly states that because of Eve's deception, part of her punishment was that she would be under the 'rule' of her husband: Adam. He would 'rule' over her.
And I find nothing throughout the rest of the Bible in it's entirety that alters this format. Not a 'single' change from the beginning. Even the NT indicates everything it offers from this perspective. Not according to mere 'customs' of the people. But those ''customs'' being formed by the very words offered in the Bible.
God is the Head of Christ, as Christ is the Head of man, as man is the Head of woman. Isn't this what the Bible 'states'?
So is it really up to us to debate the issue? If we claim to be believers in the Bible: God's Word, is there any room for debate if God's Word clearly states that man is the Head of woman? Exactly what is there to debate other than what the word "Head" represents?
Blessings,
MEC
These type remarks also fail to recall in the beginning God created both the man and woman in his image and in his likeness so that both would be
one flesh.
Later it was the man who was led by the woman to disobey God's ordinance to not gain knowledge from the tree our omniscient God planted into paradise. And after that the man was given authority over the woman. When prior to that eating thereof, he did not exercise his own conscience and disobey the woman. Because neither were possessed of the knowledge of right or wrong.
Subsequently, in later passages it isn't what the scriptures say in that it is what certain men claim they say when they state that they should have dominance over women by God's decree. Often they cite Ephesians 5:22 in order to do this, failing to read the context of all of Paul's writings concerning women while disregarding what Jesus demonstrated and taught. Even when he himself had women in his company most of his ministry. And they fail to read 1 Peter 2:13.
They also fail to realize Jesus, who could have called a legion of angels to his defense when the temple guards and Roman soldiers came to put him under arrest, instead submitted to their authority because of the mission he knew he had to fulfill.
1 Peter 2:23. This didn't say Jesus was then inferior to those authorities. It said that he was choosing to fulfill his roll for the good of the world's people.
And finally, those who use the scriptures to claim they should rule over women fail to take into account not only the whole of Christ's teachings but also 1 Peter 5:5,
All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
As well as Jesus' wisdom wherein he said,
Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Matthew 20:27.
Therefore, when Christians say they obey the teachings and emulate the example of Christ they should recall that before claiming they believe because Jesus taught that women are inferior to men.