Women and Early Christianity

This post-Pauline reading in Ephesians 5:21-6:9 do give some insight to women and early Christianity. In the earlier readings that we have had women were not seen in such an equal light as they are in the Ephesians passage. There is a clear authority that is given to the husbands and with wives. “Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband” (Eph 5:33). In this verse we can see that the husband should love and treat his wife like he would love and treat himself. In pre-Pauline reading we see that the woman is given the role of being quiet and submissive. They are supposed to do what their husbands tell them and obey their husbands, almost like their husbands are their masters. But here in Ephesians we can see that the marriage is more equal and that the wife should be valued. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” (Eph 5:25). The verse is comparing the husband and wife to Christ and the church, which is a very good comparison as it portrays the woman in almost a sacred and delicate way, like a church. I think this tells us that women were definitely starting to develop more of a role in society. Women are starting to have more active roles in the church and in Christianity and this is starting to get noticed by the authors of these different books. Early Christianity itself is developing to be more open and accepting to women, this may be just a small step but at least they are recognizing the women. In the writings of Paul he talked about some women that were working beside their husbands and even independent ones doing many things for the church. These women should receive some recognition and be valued by their husbands, but they should still respect their husbands. I think that this is the beginning of a two-way street for marriage relationships and how early Christianity viewed women.