WHAT DO VARIOUS HOLY BOOKS OF MAJOR 
WORLD RELIGIONS SAY ABOUT WOMEN?
Compiled by: Fereshteh. T. Bethel, Ph.D.

Name of Religion: Christianity 
Name of Founder: Jesus Christ
Name of Holy Book: New Testament of the Bible
Translation: New Revised Standard Version
WWW.Christianity.com

Creation and Equality in the Sight of God
1. (Mark 10:6) But from the beginning of 
creation, 'God made them male and female.' 

2. (Galatians 3:28) There is no longer Jew or 
Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there 
is no longer male and female; for all of you are 
one in Christ Jesus.

Honoring Mary
3. (Luke 1:26-30) In the sixth month the angel 
Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called 
Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name 
was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's 
name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, 
"Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."  
But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered 
what sort of greeting this might be.  The angel said 
to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found 
favor with God.

Duties and Manner of Behavior Recommended for Women
4. (1 Timothy 5:14) So I would have younger widows 
marry, bear children, and manage their households, 
so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.

5. (1 Timothy 2:9)  ... the women should dress 
themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, 
not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, 
or expensive clothes,

6. (1 Corinthians 11:13-15) Judge for yourselves: is 
it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head 
unveiled?  Does not nature itself teach you that if a 
man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, but if a 
woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is 
given to her for a covering.

7. (1 Corinthians 11:5, 6) but any woman who prays or 
prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her 
head--it is one and the same thing as having her head 
shaved.  For if a woman will not veil herself, then 
she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful 
for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, 
she should wear a veil.

8. (1 Corinthians 11:7, 8) For a man ought not to have 
his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection 
of God; but woman is the reflection of man.  Indeed, 
man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

Status of Woman in Relation to Man
9. (1 Corinthians 11:9) Neither was man created for 
the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.

10. (1 Corinthians 11:11)  ........ in the Lord 
woman is not independent of man or man independent 
of woman.

11. (1 Corinthians 11:12) For just as woman came from 
man, so man comes through woman; but all 
things come from God.

12. (1 Corinthians 11:3) But I want you to understand 
that Christ is the head of every man, and the 
husband is the head of his wife, and God is 
the head of Christ.

Difference in the Attitude of Unmarried and 
Married Women
13. (1 Corinthians 7:34)  ...  the unmarried 
woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs 
of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and 
spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the 
affairs of the world, how to please her husband.

Marriage: Husband/Wife, Male/Female Relationship
14. (Ephesians 5:31, 33) "For this reason a man 
will leave his father and mother and be joined to 
his wife, and the two will become one flesh."  
Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, 
and a wife should respect her husband.

15. (I Corinthians 7:8, 9) To the unmarried and the 
widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried 
as I am.  But if they are not practicing self-control, 
they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be 
aflame with passion.

16. (I Corinthians 7:2) But because of cases of sexual 
immorality, each man should have his own wife and 
each woman her own husband.

17. (1 Corinthians 7:4) For the wife does not have 
authority over her own body, but the husband does; 
likewise the husband does not have authority over 
his own body, but the wife does.

18. (1 Corinthians 7:3) The husband should give to 
his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife 
to her husband.

19. (1 Peter 3:7) Husbands, in the same way, show 
consideration for your wives in your life together, 
paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since 
they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life
--so that nothing may hinder your prayers.

20. (Ephesians 5:22-25) Wives, be subject to your 
husbands as you are to the Lord.  For the husband is 
the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of 
the church, the body of which he is the Savior.  
Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also 
wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.  
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the 
church and gave himself up for her,

21. (Ephesians 5:28) In the same way, husbands 
should love their wives as they do their own bodies. 
He who loves his wife loves himself.

22. (1 Timothy 2:11) Let a woman learn in silence 
with full submission.

23. (1 Timothy 2:12,13) I permit no woman to teach 
or to have authority over a man; she is to 
keep silent.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

Getting Married Only One Time for Deacons
24. (Titus 1:6) someone who is blameless, 
married only once, whose children are believers, 
not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.

25. (1 Timothy 3:12) Let deacons be married only 
once, and let them manage their children and their 
households well;

Labor Pain
26. (John 16:21) When a woman is in labor, 
she has pain, because her hour has come. 
But when her child is born, she no longer 
remembers the anguish because of the joy of 
having brought a human being into the world.

Adultery
27. (John 8:3-7) The scribes and the Pharisees 
brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; 
and making her stand before all of them, they 
said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught 
in the very act of committing adultery.  Now in 
the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. 
Now what do you say?"  They said this to test him, 
so that they might have some charge to bring against 
him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on 
the ground.  When they kept on questioning him, he 
straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among 
you who is without sin be the first to throw a 
stone at her."




Divorce
28. (Matthew 5:31, 32)  "It was also said, 
'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her 
a certificate of divorce.'  But I say to you 
that anyone who divorces his wife, except on 
the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit 
adultery; and whoever marries a divorced 
woman commits adultery.

29. (Mark 10:11, 12) He said to them, "Whoever 
divorces his wife and marries another commits 
adultery against her; and if she divorces her 
husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

30. (1 Corinthians 7:10-16) To the married I 
give this command--not I but the Lord--that the 
wife should not separate from her husband (but 
if she does separate, let her remain unmarried 
or else be reconciled to her husband), and that 
the husband should not divorce his wife. To the 
rest I say--I and not the Lord--that if any 
believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and 
she consents to live with him, he should not 
divorce her.  And if any woman has a husband 
who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live 
with her, she should not divorce him.  For the 
unbelieving husband is made holy through his 
wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy 
through her husband. Otherwise, your children 
would be unclean, but as it is, they are 
holy.  But if the unbelieving partner separates, 
let it be so; in such a case the brother or 
sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has 
called you.  Wife, for all you know, you might 
save your husband. Husband, for all you know, 
you might save your wife.

Treatment of Widows
31. (I Timothy 5:3) Honor widows who are 
really widows.

Candace, The Queen of Ethiopia
32. (Acts 8:27) Now there was an Ethiopian 
eunuch, a court official of the Candace, 
queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her 
entire treasury.

Behavior of Women in the Church
33. (1 Corinthians 14:34) women should be 
silent in the churches. For they are not 
permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, 
as the law also says.

34. (1Corinthians 14:35) If there is anything 
they desire to know, let them ask their husbands 
at home. For it is shameful for a woman to 
speak in church.

Women Serving Christ on His Teaching Tours
35. (Matthew 27:55) Many women were also 
there, looking on from a distance; they 
had followed Jesus from Galilee and 
had provided for him.

Emphasis on Faith, Belief and Action
36. (Matthew 15:21-28) Jesus left that 
place and went away to the district of 
Tyre and Sidon.  Just then a Canaanite 
woman from that region came out and 
started shouting, "Have mercy on me, 
Lord, Son of David; my daughter is 
tormented by a demon."  But he did 
not answer her at all. And his disciples 
came and urged him, saying, "Send her 
away, for she keeps shouting after us."  
He answered, "I was sent only to the 
lost sheep of the house of Israel."  
But she came and knelt before him, 
saying, "Lord, help me."  He answered, 
"It is not fair to take the children's 
food and throw it to the dogs."  She 
said, "Yes, Lord, yet even 
the dogs eat the crumbs that fall 
from their masters' table."  Then 
Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is 
your faith! Let it be done for you 
as you wish." And her daughter was 
healed instantly.

37. (Matthew 12:46, 47) While he was 
still speaking to the crowds, his mother 
and his brothers were standing outside, 
wanting to speak to him.  Someone told him, 
"Look, your mother and your brothers are 
standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

38. (Mark 3:33) And he replied, "Who are my 
mother and my brothers?"

39. (Luke 8:21) But he said to them, "My 
mother and my brothers are those who hear 
the word of God and do it."

40. (Matthew 12:50) For whoever does the 
will of my Father in heaven is my brother 
and sister and mother."

41. (Matthew 10:37) Whoever loves father 
or mother more than me is not worthy of me; 
and whoever loves son or daughter more than 
me is not worthy of me;

42. (Matthew 10:35) For I have come to set 
a man against his father, and a daughter 
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law 
against her mother-in-law;

43. (Luke 14:26)  "Whoever comes to me and 
does not hate father and mother, wife and 
children, brothers and sisters, yes, and 
even life itself, cannot be my disciple.

44. (Mark 12:42, 43) A poor widow came and 
put in two small copper coins, which are 
worth a penny.Then he called his disciples 
and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this 
poor widow has put in more than all 
those who are contributing to the treasury.

45. (Luke 7:50) And he said to the woman, 
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene
46. (Mark 16:9) Now after he rose early 
on the first day of the week, he appeared 
first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had 
cast out seven demons.

Day of Pentecost: Mixed Assembly of Men 
and Women
47. (Acts 1:14) All these were constantly 
devoting themselves to prayer, together 
with certain women, including Mary the 
mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Paul Commending and Greeting Female Helpers
48. (Romans 16:1-4) I commend to you our 
sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at 
Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in 
the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and 
help her in whatever she may require from 
you, for she has been a benefactor of many 
and of myself as well.  Greet Prisca and 
Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 
and who risked their necks for my life, to 
whom not only I give thanks, but also all 
the churches of the Gentiles.

Lydia, First Female Convert In Europe
49. (Acts 16:14) A certain woman named 
Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening 
to us; she was from the city of Thyatira 
and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord 
opened her heart to listen eagerly to 
what was said by Paul.

Prophetesses
50. (Acts 21:9) He had four unmarried 
daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

Symbolism and Women
51. (Rev. of St. John 12:1) A great 
portent appeared in heaven: a woman 
clothed with the sun, with the moon 
under her feet, and on her head a 
crown of twelve stars.

52. (Rev. of St. John 12:6) and the 
woman fled into the wilderness, where 
she has a place prepared by God, so 
that there she can be nourished for 
one thousand two hundred sixty days.

Last Days and the Role of Women
53. (Acts 2:17, 18) 'In the last days 
it will be, God declares, that I will 
pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and 
your sons and your daughters shall 
prophesy, and your young men shall 
see visions, and your old men shall 
dream dreams.  Even upon my slaves, 
both men and women, in those days I 
will pour out my Spirit; and they 
shall prophesy.