The Weaker Vessel
Feminism?; My Thoughts on Other People's Dumb Thoughts; The reason I started blogging. These are all possible titles of this blog but I decided to go with the words of Peter himself, "The Weaker Vessel."
A few days ago my little sister was asked this question, "Here in the bible Peter says that women are weaker than men, does this verse offend you?" The verse 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." Does this offend you?
My first response to this question was anger. I was angry at the question. I was angry that some guy was telling my sister that she as a woman was "weaker" than he was as a man. Now I have no idea what the word weaker meant to him but to me he was saying less capable, less important, in need of the guidance and protection of a man, not as wise, not as usable, and dependent on the strength of men. I probably judged the intentions and thoughts of this questions asker too quickly. He simply quoted a verse of scripture and asked for an opinion. He didn't write the verse; Peter, inspired by a holy God, wrote these words and the truth is they did offend me.
So what did Peter mean by the weaker vessel? As I reread this verse and the ones following God began to calm my heart and my anger. God, and my bible commentary, reminded me that as whole women are physically weaker than men. Women are also in general more emotional. Emotion is also often seen as weakness, especially when it's expressed publicly, but I don't see it that way.
God has given women a gentle and quiet spirit to love and to relate to others emotionally. In verse 4 of this same chapter, Peter tells women to clothe themselves from within with the, "unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." Later in verse 8 Peter tells both men and women to be "tenderhearted." Because of the gentle heart given to women by God being tenderhearted is much easier for us. Our gentleness, our emotion, our "weakness" is our strength. God loves women and he has made us for a purpose (not just having children and encouraging the men). I'm thankful that in my anger God chose to teach me about his love for me and how he has gifted me as a woman for his glory.
Men and women are made differently by God. We are different for a purpose, but different does not mean inferior, just different. We were created for different things, but those of us who have put our faith in Jesus are equal heirs in heaven, equally loved by God, and equally capable of bringing glory to His name.
A few days ago my little sister was asked this question, "Here in the bible Peter says that women are weaker than men, does this verse offend you?" The verse 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." Does this offend you?
My first response to this question was anger. I was angry at the question. I was angry that some guy was telling my sister that she as a woman was "weaker" than he was as a man. Now I have no idea what the word weaker meant to him but to me he was saying less capable, less important, in need of the guidance and protection of a man, not as wise, not as usable, and dependent on the strength of men. I probably judged the intentions and thoughts of this questions asker too quickly. He simply quoted a verse of scripture and asked for an opinion. He didn't write the verse; Peter, inspired by a holy God, wrote these words and the truth is they did offend me.
So what did Peter mean by the weaker vessel? As I reread this verse and the ones following God began to calm my heart and my anger. God, and my bible commentary, reminded me that as whole women are physically weaker than men. Women are also in general more emotional. Emotion is also often seen as weakness, especially when it's expressed publicly, but I don't see it that way.
God has given women a gentle and quiet spirit to love and to relate to others emotionally. In verse 4 of this same chapter, Peter tells women to clothe themselves from within with the, "unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." Later in verse 8 Peter tells both men and women to be "tenderhearted." Because of the gentle heart given to women by God being tenderhearted is much easier for us. Our gentleness, our emotion, our "weakness" is our strength. God loves women and he has made us for a purpose (not just having children and encouraging the men). I'm thankful that in my anger God chose to teach me about his love for me and how he has gifted me as a woman for his glory.
Men and women are made differently by God. We are different for a purpose, but different does not mean inferior, just different. We were created for different things, but those of us who have put our faith in Jesus are equal heirs in heaven, equally loved by God, and equally capable of bringing glory to His name.