According to Christian belief, a husband is commanded to “love his wife just as Jesus loves His Church and gave His life for her” (Ephesians 5:25). But, as people turn away from the Bible, the suffering of women and others increases. Some have claimed Biblical authority for mistreating women, but there is not a single passage in Scripture that encourages people to be harsh with their wives. The foundation for equality in Western civilization, irrespective of race, religion or gender according to the Bible is that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, created man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). In Christ, all who accept Him as their Lord and Savior are adopted into His family (John 1:12 Galatians 3:28). God condemns partiality (1 Timothy 5:21; James 3:17). We find in the Bible that women are equal to men in nature and essence but different in position and function. However, they both are equal in redemption and salvation. Let's see this in detail.
I. Women are Equal to Men in Nature and Essence but different in Position and Function
1. It is God who created both men and women. Male and Female he created them (Genesis 1:26-27).
2. Women are equal in value, have the same essence, and share the same divine image that the men do. They also share with the men sovereignty over the physical creation (Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-2).
3. ‘In the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.’ (1 Corinthians 11:7-12).
4. As Christ is the head of the Church, the husband is the head of his wife (Ephesians 5:23).
5. ‘Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself’ (Ephesians 5:25-31); "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:19)
6. Wife – respect your husband (Ephesians 5:33)
II. Women are Equal to Men in Redemption and Salvation
1. God loves women and redeems them along with men. Christ died for both men and women, making all of them co-heirs of the kingdom (Galatians 3:26-29)
2. THEY ARE HEIRS WITH YOU OF THE GRACE OF LIFE (1 Peter 3:7)
3. Bible refers to women converts that were considered to be of prominent status had joined Paul and Silas (Acts 17:4).
4. Women are Equal Recipients of the Spiritual Gifts (Joel 2:27-29; Acts 2:14-18).
5. Women and men ‘joined together with one accord in prayer’ (Acts 1:14).
6. Women have a teaching position within the Church as teacher and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Titus 2:3-5).
7. Women as evangelists and missionaries - (John 4:27-30, 39-42); (Acts 1 and 2)
8. Prisca, or Priscilla, and Aquila were a husband and wife team (Acts 18:24-28); workers in the Lord, Tryphae'na and Trypho'sa(Romans 16:12-15); help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, (Philippians 4:2-3).
9. Women can also be eyewitnesses and their testimony is eqully valid. Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-10; Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-18).