The Apostle Paul gets such a rubbishing these days from the feminists that I think a few words from time to time do need to be said about that. Having read “women’s studies” as 200 level sociology papers, I am well aware of the various theoretical models applied by feminists to analyze the place of women in history and today’s society, and the arguments and conclusions that result from all the comparisons made concerning our standing in relation to the menfolk and their patriachial institutions. Paul comes out of it like someone dragged backwards through a gorse bush, a quite beleagured figure out of place in today’s philosophical scheme of things, and wearing a placard to advertise himself as the First Place-getting misogynist.

Poor politically incorrect Paul. But he is poorly understood by those who would criticize him quite so harshly. For the time in which he lived, he was actually most enlightened. He treated women well, with considerable regard for them. Gender roles were not so blurred back then as they are today, and it is not fair to pluck a body out of a 2000 year old environment, stand him in the glare of another world, and judge him by those ideas and attitudes of that other world. Or is it? If you say no, then we should probably leave him alone. But if you say yes, then I have something rather lovely to describe to you.

Many women immediately baulk at the Christian view of marriage where Paul tells women that they are to submit to their husbands. I have heard it said like this:

Well, you know what “submit” means, don’t you?
What does it mean then?
Well, the prefix sub means “under” and a mit can mean the hand - so submit means “underhand” - quite, quite, underhand!

But that is not how Paul meant for marriage to be at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. The Christian faith teaches that while the husband is the one to make the decisions and his wife is to submit to him, the part that gets lost in the instant uproar that follows is this - that in doing so he must love and put her ahead of his own self and sacrifice himself for her, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. And not only must he love her as himself, but that he must also submit himself to Christ - as each of them must do - whose love is in the best interests of the both of them. Paul also tells us, both husband and wife: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21). So what exactly, in a truly loving relationship where each partner considers the other first and foremost, and both are accountable to the Word of God, is so underhand about all that?

When a marriage is truly working according to the Christian principles set out by Paul, is there really any more beautiful relationship of selfless caring for each other? Each partner has a different but complimentary role where they come together as a united whole, and both are accountable to the One whose name is that of the greatest love of all. Compare that with all those many marriages that go wrong and fall apart, leaking all the pain, grief and ugliness of human degradation at their splitting seams, and then tell me that Paul must have got it wrong. What is more, Paul got it right symbolically as the reflection of God’s process of Creation as described in Scripture and understood by Christians - that God made man first, then woman to be with him as his companion. In this way Paul’s teaching is from God Himself, a mirror held to the way of being that God has ordained in the consistent pattern of godly relationships seen throughout all of Scripture.

Paul lived according to the Christian worldview and this will not sit comfortably with any theoretical models of feminism. He will always score badly by feminist standards - as does much of feminism by Christian standards. The worldviews are simply different. The best thing that feminism can offer is the accountablity that is thrust back upon men to take responsibility for their own sinful behaviour where they do not fulfil the divine command to love as did Christ, and yet that must apply to all of us - male and female also.

Some words from this same man, the Apostle Paul…

Romans 12: 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.