The Role of Women in the Church

Session 7 Preparation Questions - True Womanhood and the Work of Women in the Church

Read Proverbs 31 : 10 – 31. Give some thought to the role of women during Old Testament times. Consider the following questions regarding this ideal woman.

1. What was the status of women in the Ancient Near East during Old Testament Times related to: 1)marriage rights; 2) political rights; 3) property rights; and 4) religious rights?
2. Proverbs 10:10 – 31 is an acrostic poem in Hebrew. What does that mean? Does it have any significance for persons trying to understand the passage in English?
3. What does the author mean by the question, “Who can find?”
4. Do you believe that the husband of the worthy woman in Proverbs 31 had more than one wife? If so, why? If not, why?
5. In what ways is the worthy woman “wise” (31:26)?
6. What are the responsibilities of the worthy woman’s husband in the family? In the community?
7. Is the independence of the worthy woman unique for this period of history? What might the description of the worthy woman suggest regarding the “stay at home wife”?
8. Is there evidence that the worthy woman is a member of the “weaker sex”? If so, what is the evidence? If not, why not?
9. Given the worthy woman’s economic well being, is the fact that she works with her hands (31:19) unusual?
10. Is there a lesson for women today based on the woman’s acts of charity? (31:20)
11. What is the relationship of the worthy woman to her husband? To her children?
12. If the worthy woman is exceptional, is she to be admired or to be a model?
13. Are there lessons for single women to be derived from Proverbs 31?