I was recently jolted by a young woman’s comment that her opportunities were limited because “women were created to be the weaker vessel.” This misquote of 1 Peter 3:7 nonetheless paraphrases how church culture often presents women’s role in God’s work.
Studies on “Christian manhood” and “Christian womanhood” permeate our bookstores and conferences—as if these are two entirely different ways of life. They wrench passages from the context of Scripture to support traditional cultural gender roles, ignoring a bulk of Biblical texts that speak to all believers—without gender division. Christian womanhood’s depiction, in particular, has become incomplete, artificial, and ultimately debilitating.
ARE TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES INSPIRED?
Men and women do differ in fundamental ways. They are meant to complement and complete each other while ruling over and caring for God’s creation—together. In the beginning, God created male and female, blessed them and invited them to work with Him and make the most of the world He’d given them (Genesis 1:26-28).
A strict division of purpose and ability was never meant to be an issue. Unfortunately, it is very much so in today’s world. Too often, the church takes traditional and cultural gender roles to the extreme, in many cases, teaching them as if they were divinely inspired. In reality, God’s directives regarding the differing roles of men and women are rare and often misunderstood.
ARE WOMEN TO BE BACK-OF-THE-SHELF CHRISTIANS?
One passage often used to argue against women in places of active work, ministry, or leadership is 1 Peter 3:7: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (ESV).
Does this verse say, as the young woman paraphrased it, that women were created to be weaker? No.
This 1 Peter passage is part of a larger context instructing both men and women on how to honor Christ in their relationships with others—particularly in their relationships with unbelievers. It speaks to women with unbelieving husbands, slaves with unbelieving masters, and here, men—presumably with unbelieving wives. A summary statement for the entire passage could be that in every relationship, believers are to treat others with humility, respect, and love.
The addition of the phrase “as to the weaker vessel” admonishes men to treat their wives as something precious—with tenderness toward a soul that is loved by God, reflected in the phrase, “since they are heirs with you of the grace of life.” Contrary to pushing women down into a box of can-dos and can’t-dos, this passage lifts them up, in direct opposition to the patriarchal culture of the day in which it was written.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN WOMANHOOD?
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone…1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11, ESV
The Bible never bans women from participating with all their skill, intelligence, and strength in God’s work. Instead of dividing Christians, it calls them to unity and active love for God and each other. Men and women alike are called heirs of grace, servants of God, and fellow workers in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:16, 1 Cor 3:9).
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6, ESV
Beaty, K. (August 2017). A woman’s place: a Christian vision for your calling in the office, the home, and the world. Howard Books. New York, NY.
Nugent, J. (30 July 2018) “The “weaker sex” or a weak translation? Strengthening our interpretation of 1 Peter 3:7.” Priscilla Papers. Retrieved from https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/priscilla-papers-academic-journal/weaker-sex-or-weak-translation-strengthening-our
