What did St Paul think of women?

[MaryM]

I love the writings of Paul, he was an incredible man, yet I am in need of some clarification about his views of women and how they may still apply to this day and age.
I get the impression he didn't like women much, didn't want them to speak out, he felt marriage was not ideal unless a man or woman just couldn't control themselves. Then better marriage than fornication.

What biblical evidence is there about him, was he ever married and did he respect women? I wonder what he would think of women in important church positions as these days.

 

[tourist]

My perception is that Paul thought that women were inferior to men. He would not think much about women in important church positions or in positions of authority.

 

[SaysWhat]

My perception is that Paul thought that women were inferior to men. He would not think much about women in important church positions or in positions of authority.

Maybe he had a change of heart, after getting to know Priscilla and Aquila. He was quite fond of both of them equally.

 

[SonJudgment]

Paul thought well enough about women, but Paul being an apostle is bound to tell the truth both to them and about them. Just because the modern world doesn't agree with Paul about women doesn't make Paul bad or disrespectful, it rather just means the modern world is wrong and evil in that it has departed significantly from the soudness of the truth and God especially on the matter of women being a very recurring problem of the modern world.

 

[Magenta]

What biblical evidence is there about him, was he ever married and did he respect women?

It is possible that Paul was married at one time and widowed, though this is not explicitly stated in Scripture.

 

[Subhumanoidal]

I love the writings of Paul, he was an incredible man, yet I am in need of some clarification about his views of women and how they may still apply to this day and age.
I get the impression he didn't like women much, didn't want them to speak out, he felt marriage was not ideal unless a man or woman just couldn't control themselves. Then better marriage than fornication.

What biblical evidence is there about him, was he ever married and did he respect women? I wonder what he would think of women in important church positions as these days.

Well the marriage aspect isn't really about just women. It's about men And women. Both. So to suggest it's anti-woman is false.
Funny, I've never once saw Paul as disliking women. I saw him as sharing God's truths. After all the bible is not full of opinions and subjective views. It's God's book for us, written through humans. To suggest teachings in the bible are merely human opinion is to suggest God allowed things in the bible that do not reflect Him. And therefore it puts many more parts of the bible in question, thereby making it not God inspired or God given.

 

[Lafftur]

I think Paul matured in Christ in his writings… eventually, he said…

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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.

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.3.26,Gal.3.27,Gal.3.28,Gal.3.29&version=KJV

 

[SonJudgment]

It's an interesting question whether Paul was married or not. It seems he is not from some of his writings, particularly 1 Corinthians 7:7-8 indicaes Paul may have been unmarried at least by the time of the writing of the letter, but the whole chapter itself is incredibly topical and explores the larger topic at hand which the entire chapter is devoted to the topic of being unmariied and married and men and women's roles in being married or unmarried men and women. So there is a sort of spiritual dynamic here of four categories rather than the binary two, it's a matter of married men vs. married women vs unmarried men vs unmarried women with all the differences and comparisons of their minds and prerogatives and spiritual truths of their natures. A very great chapter on the whole I will just post the opening segment but highly recommend the whole chapter for the wider topic.

1 Corinthians 7:1-11

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

 

[daisyseesthesun]

Well the marriage aspect isn't really about just women. It's about men And women. Both. So to suggest it's anti-woman is false.
Funny, I've never once saw Paul as disliking women. I saw him as sharing God's truths. After all the bible is not full of opinions and subjective views. It's God's book for us, written through humans. To suggest teachings in the bible are merely human opinion is to suggest God allowed things in the bible that do not reflect Him. And therefore it puts many more parts of the bible in question, thereby making it not God inspired or God given.

My mom always said that the bible is a guide to a perfect life. It is a gift from God.

 

[JohnDB]

I love the writings of Paul, he was an incredible man, yet I am in need of some clarification about his views of women and how they may still apply to this day and age.
I get the impression he didn't like women much, didn't want them to speak out, he felt marriage was not ideal unless a man or woman just couldn't control themselves. Then better marriage than fornication.

What biblical evidence is there about him, was he ever married and did he respect women? I wonder what he would think of women in important church positions as these days.

Rumor had it he was divorced because he knew what was coming.

Jewish marriage had several stages that they considered to be "married" which we would term in other ways like "promise rings", engaged and etc. She, the unnamed woman, could have desired the divorce once Paul gave up his pharisee status.

Lydia, the dealer in purple, was said to have fallen in love with Paul.
She Put a piece of purple in his sarcophagus.

But the things you see as detractors have explanations readily available from anthropology sources that aren't misogynistic. Paul was not unkind or sexist.

 

[MsMediator]

Paul valued women but would have probably thought that a woman is incapable of doing a man's job. Nevertheless, he really helped women by telling men and husbands to step up to the plate and to love their wives as Christ loved the church. He also told everyone (including women) that they don't have to get married, which in a sense removes pressure and also freedom to not marry (or more specifically, freedom to not rush into marriage). This would remove a lot of pressure for women.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I love the writings of Paul, he was an incredible man, yet I am in need of some clarification about his views of women and how they may still apply to this day and age.

It is not what Paul thought about women but what God taught about the roles of men and women in the home and in the church. Those are not his personal opinions. That is divine revelation. So what you need to do is adjust your thinking. Go back to all passages pertaining to wives and women and tell yourself "This is what God says". Paul is simply conveying God's thoughts to you. And everything applies today.

This is all quite simple when you discard all the feminist nonsense. Within the Body of Christ there are no distinctions between men and women. In the church and in the home they are distinct. Ask yourself "Are women anatomically, physiologically, and emotionally different from men?" Of course they are. And that is why they have different roles. Transgenderism is demonic nonsense. Men do not give birth to babies.

 

[tourist]

Maybe he had a change of heart, after getting to know Priscilla and Aquila. He was quite fond of both of them equally.

I believe that you have to be careful and use discernment when reading the writings of Paul. There are many instances where it is implied that his speaking is based on his own personal perceptions.

Of course, even his perceptions may be aligned with the will of God, but then again, they might be slightly misaligned or, based on context, may be directed to a particular group, and perhaps based also on the couture and traditions in effect at that time.

Then again, if his writing states that this is this is from the Lord then you can rest assured that what he said is still in effect in this current time period

 

[tourist]

Paul valued women but would have probably thought that a woman is incapable of doing a man's job. Nevertheless, he really helped women by telling men and husbands to step up to the plate and to love their wives as Christ loved the church. He also told everyone (including women) that they don't have to get married, which in a sense removes pressure and also freedom to not marry (or more specifically, freedom to not rush into marriage). This would remove a lot of pressure for women.

I concur with your estimation in this regard.

 

[Nehemiah6]

He also told everyone (including women) that they don't have to get married...

Only because of certain circumstances. He also told younger widows to get married and bear children. And God told all human beings to get married and bear children (Gen 1:28): And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

What God says has the greatest value. And in general all human beings get married and bear children. The claim about over-population is bogus. Only those with an agenda talk about over-population. Some parts of the world are over-crowded, while other parts have few people.

 

[homwardbound]

I love the writings of Paul, he was an incredible man, yet I am in need of some clarification about his views of women and how they may still apply to this day and age.
I get the impression he didn't like women much, didn't want them to speak out, he felt marriage was not ideal unless a man or woman just couldn't control themselves. Then better marriage than fornication.

What biblical evidence is there about him, was he ever married and did he respect women? I wonder what he would think of women in important church positions as these days.

There is no Jew, Greek, Gentile or man or woman, we are all one in the risen Son
Paul looked for equality, not one person better than the other.
Yet there were traditions, transitions happening. women then were viewed as the person to take care of the home and have children, not permitted to speak, were not equals, back then not seen equal in God's Spirit and Truth by people (still happening today). there is no equality in the first born flesh and blood nature of men. They were god, and you the female, were subservient. that is still practiced in religion(s)
You having any questions at all, were to take it home to the husband and ask in private, that was the tradition then, when Paul wrote about this amazing grace given us by God through son for us all, to see new and be equally in love and mercy too.
Today, I see this, I am equal and so are all women too, from God's view. So in compassion I see problems happening and see to either speak up or not as I hear God says to or not to, within me. how about you too now? God lives in us, for us to hear God, who tells us the truth over error(s) of this world we are in, and not of any longer, thanks to God only in God's done work of Son for us all to stand in Thanksgiving and praise. seeing not to create problems, resting in the done work for us to be freed in and others see it and join in with God not me necessarily
Now God in Genesis 5 called both Adam and Eve Adam, I think it was Chapter five. Adam named Eve "Eve"
God did not, seeing man in charge to this day and me seeing when to speak and not speak is the call I see and learning to stand in Luke21:14-15, And the book of Ecclesiastes
It is not about how we feel, it is rather about how God feels over man/woman's petty squabbles
Trusting this helps you with your walk with Father and Son as Won (one) for you too

 

[Magenta]

God told all human beings to get married and bear children (Gen 1:28)

All was only two at that time.

 

[homwardbound]

All was only two at that time.

Be fruitful and multiply, wow, woe is me to see that from the beginning, thanks
And is it not for misuse as is today all over the world today, even through internet only for to gain money from people

 

[Magenta]

Be fruitful and multiply, wow, woe is me to see that from the beginning, thanks
And is it not for misuse as is today all over the world today, even through internet only for to gain money from people

Being married and having children is not for everyone despite what @Nehemiah6 said.

 

[homwardbound]

Being married and having children is not for everyone despite what @Nehemiah6 said.

agreed and I did not say to marry is for everyone. I said God said after the fall of Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. Man has put many laws in place of appreciated grace, no wonder people are trapped in man evil traps of the first born evil aware of to choose not to do or choose to do and even hide from people as if were good and are not, no one is but God. Matthew 19
Man/Woman
Do or else, God will get you, you not in, stressed people come from that.
Anyone goes to a church on earth, usually gets this, You not in until you clean you up, really, you got to be married. really?
You not in until you get water Baptized
And on and on and on from people that are not God, in the image, yes, but not God
God simply accepts us all as we are and then God talks to us as friends, at least me, and tells me, all about evil, being, getting made wise as a serpent, remaining harmless as a dove, trusting God daily for whatever word(s) that are to be spoken or not yet as God leads, not me, Luke 21:14-15
This earth is a long walk off a short pier to me