lessonEnglish

MALE AND FEMALE

Boyce Mouton · 8 pages · 4,029 words

MALE AND FEMALE

“Jesus replied. ‘But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate’” (Mark 10:6-9)

During the six days of creation everything was good until God created man. That’s when the Lord said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Gen. 2:18)
God specifically created the female to be different from the male!
Both Adam and Eve, however, were created in image of God! (Gen. 1:27)
Genetically speaking, however, men and women are different. Men have XY chromosomes, and women have XX chromosomes. Only males have a Y chromosome.
The differences between men and women are not an accident! God specifically created the female to supplement what was lacking in the male.
Adam called his wife “woman” because she was taken out of man (Gen. 2:23).
After God created the woman his creation ceased and “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.” (Gen. 1:31)

SCIENTIFIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

(There are many differences – here are a few)

1. Typically speaking, a man’s skin is 25 % thicker than that of a women. Usually, men also have denser and stronger bones, tendons, and ligaments. 2. From about age 14 to 51, women typically need more iron than men. This is due to their loss of blood during menstruation, which typically happens in a cycle of 28 to 40 days. 3. On average, men typically have more muscle mass than women. And those skeletal muscles are faster and more powerful. But women’s muscles more readily resist fatigue and are faster to recover. 4. The second longest finger for most women is next to their thumb—the index finger. But men are the opposite. They usually have ring fingers—those next to their pinkie finger—that are longer than their index fingers. 5. Folate is an essential vitamin. So, men and women both need it. But it is especially crucial for women of child-bearing age. If they become pregnant, women need enough folate to support the neural development of their babies. 6. There are differences in the way male and female brains are structured, how they process information, and interact with chemical signals. Also, women have bigger memory centers than men. 7. A woman’s circadian rhythm is more likely to be short of a 24-hour period. (They’re often six minutes short of a full day.) Men are more likely to be night owls. But women function better during periods of sleep deprivation. 8. During exercise, women’s primary fuel is fat. For men, it is carbohydrates. 9. An average adult female has about 15–70 nanograms per deciliter of testosterone. An average adult male has about 270–1070. 10. Men have pronounced Adam’s apples. That’s because they have larger voice boxes that make the surrounding cartilage stick out more.

11. Both sexes hit peak bone mass around age 30. At 40, men and women start losing bone. Menopause accelerates bone loss in women. So, women 51-70 need 200 milligrams of calcium more than men the same age. That’s 1200 mg per day for women and 1000 mg per day for men. 12. The daily calorie requirement for men is higher than women. There are a few reasons for this: higher muscle mass, stature, and basal metabolic rate. Pound for pound, muscles burn more than double the calories fat does. 13. Men and women carry different amounts of body fat. The higher body fat in women—about 10 percent—mostly supports reproductive physiology. One example is when a woman’s body fat gets too low, she stops menstruating. 14. Women typically carry their body fat in their hips and thighs. Fat tends to deposit around men’s stomachs. 15. The difference between men and women’s size, muscle mass, and calorie needs means men typically require diets higher in protein. 16. One study found that men have lower resting heart rates than women. But women have lower peak heart rates. Men’s heart rates typically rise faster during exercise and slow quicker afterward. 17. Men normally have more red blood cells than women. 18. Women typically have lower blood pressure than men—regardless of race or ethnicity. 19. For most of life, men and women have the same vitamin D requirements, but older women need to up their intake of vitamin D because it promotes better calcium absorption. 20. Men are less likely to seek regular medical checkups. And when they go to the doctor, they’re more likely to hide or lie about their symptoms. 21. Zinc needs are generally similar for men and women. But pregnant and post-menopausal women require more zinc. 22. Men are less sensitive to cold temperatures than women. 23. Women have better senses of smell and taste. They have 50 more cells (neurons) in their olfactory bulbs—the part of the brain responsible for processing smells. Women also usually have more taste buds than men. 24. The differences in the way men and women see the world is partly physical. On average, men are more likely to be colorblind, but their eyes also sense movement better. Women are able to distinguish small difference in color better. 25. Women have ovaries and produce eggs, while men have testicles and produce sperm. 26. Women can get pregnant and men cannot! 27. Women can nurse a baby and men cannot! Etc.

FAMOUS WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

Since most are familiar with famous men in the Bible, let us focus on famous women!
The first famous woman in the Bible is Eve. “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all living.” (Gen. 3:20). Without Eve, none of us would be alive!
Eve also played a part in our redemption, because it was the “Seed of woman” that would crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15).
Sarah is famous as the mother of the nation of Israel: “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” (Heb. 11:11-12 KJV)
Sarah and Hagar, and their children are famous as allegories of two covenants (Galatians 4:21- 31).
Deborah was a famous Judge who delivered Israel from the Canaanites (Judges chapters 4 – 5).
Jael is famous as the woman who killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army (Judges 4:17-22).
Ruth is famous as a Moabite who came to believe in Jehovah. Ruth was also an ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:5), and has a book in the Bible named after her.
Esther was a famous queen who saved the Jewish people from extermination. A book in the Bible is also named after her. For details read the book of Esther.
Rahab is famous as a harlot in Jericho who was considered righteous for giving lodging to spies and sending them out in a different direction (James 2:25). She also became an ancestor of Jesus (Joshua 2:1-24; Matt. 1:5)
Elizabeth is famous as a barren women whom became the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5- 80).
The Virgin Mary is famous as the mother of Jesus. In fact, all generations called her blessed (Luke 1:26-56).
Anna is famous as an elderly prophetess who met the baby Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:36-38).
Mary, Joanna, Susanna, and many others became famous for helped support Jesus and his apostles out of their own means (Luke 8:3).
A poor widow put two small copper coins in the treasury which were only a fraction of a penny. Jesus made her famous by saying: “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” (Mark 12;43-44)
The woman who anointed Jesus in preparation for his burial is so famous that wherever the gospel is preached what she did is told in memory of her (Matt. 26:13).
Mary Magdalene is famous as the first person to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection (Mark 16:9).
Dorcas was so famous for doing good and helping the poor that Peter raised her from the dead (Acts 9:36-43).
Etc.

JESUS AND WOMEN

The status of Roman women was very low. Roman law placed a wife under the absolute control of her husband. He owned her and all of her possessions. He could divorce her if she went out in public without a veil. A husband had the power of life and death over his wife. In Jewish law, however, women could own property (Numbers 27:1-11). The Ten Commandments require that we honor both our father and our mother (Ex. 20:12). Jesus not only honored his mother, but all women. Jesus not only spoke with women in public but even defended them when they were mistreated (Lk. 7:36-50). Here are some women that Jesus met and made famous.

The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well had been married 5 times and was living with a man with whom she was not married. In spite of this Jesus not only spoke with this woman but offered her “Living Water” so she would never thirst again (John 4:1-42).
Jesus also defended and forgave the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:2-11).
Jesus spoke with the widow at Nain and raised her son from the dead (Luke 7:11-17).
Jesus forgave a sinful woman in the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50).
Some women whom Jesus had cured of evil spirits and diseases followed Him and helped support him from their own means (Luke 8:1-3).
Jesus healed a woman who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. He did this in spite of the fact that she broke Jewish law by touching him (Luke 8:40-48).
Then Jesus raised a 12 year old girl from the dead (Luke 8:49-56).
Jesus also healed a woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath who had been bent over for 18 years (Luke 13:10-17).
Jesus treated this woman as an equal with a man by calling her a “daughter of Abraham” (Luke 13:16).
Jesus loved Mary and Martha, spent much time in their home. He also raised their brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).
As we have said, Jesus observed a poor widow putting two small coins into the treasury and told His disciples that she had given more than all the others (Mark 12:41-44).
When a women anointed Jesus at Bethany with expensive perfume Jesus said: “Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Matt. 26:13).
A group of women mourned and wailed for Jesus as He was carrying His cross (Luke 23:26- 31).
Many women who followed him from Galilee watched his crucifixion from a distance (Matt. 27:55).
There were three women at the cross when Jesus died. Interestingly, all of them were named Mary (John 19:25).
When Jesus was buried some women followed Him and saw where He was buried (Mark 15:47).
On the day Jesus was resurrected some women came to the tomb to anoint his body with spices. Angels appeared to them and told them Jesus was risen from the dead (Luke 24:1-8).
After Jesus was raised from the dead He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9).
After Jesus ascended into heaven about 120 disciples gathered in the upper room and this group included “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:12-15).
Wherever on earth the Bible is believed and taught woman are treated with respect!

PAUL AND WOMEN

Some have the mistaken idea that Paul was prejudiced against women and greatly restricted their service to Christ. This is not true! Paul’s first converts in Europe were women and Paul and Silas stayed in the house of a woman named Lydia in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15). When Paul was at Ephesus the household of a woman named Chloe informed him about the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11). A woman named Nympha had a church in her house at Colosse (Col. 4:15). When Paul wrote to Philemon he sent greetings to a sister named Apphia (Philemon 2). In his letter to the Philippians he pleaded with two prominent women named Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord for they had contended by his side in the cause of the Gospel (Phil. 4:2-3).

Paul had never been to Rome (Rom. 1:11-13). Yet he sent greetings to 26 people whom he knew by name in Rome and eight of them were woman. Here are the eight women mentioned in Romans chapter 16. All of them were friends of Paul and important workers for Christ.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” (Rom. `16:1-2) Phoebe apparently carried Paul’s letter to Rome and the brethren in Rome were instructed to “give her any help she needed.” Phoebe was just one of many dedicated women who help Paul.
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.” (Rom. 16:3-5) Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned six times in the Bible (Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom. 16:3; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19). The fact that Priscilla’s name is mentioned first in four of these references may indicate that she was the principle teacher.
“Greet Mary who worked very hard for you.” (Rom. 16:6) The word translated as “worked” is the Greek word “kopos” which means to labor to the point of complete exhaustion.
“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” Junia was a relative of Paul who was in Christ before he was. She was also well known and outstanding among the apostles.
“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.” (Rom. 16:12) The name “Tryphena” means “delicate”, and the name “Tryphosa” means “luxuriating”. They were apparently prominent women who, like Mary, also labored to the point of complete exhaustion for Christ.
“Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.” (Rom. 16:12) The same word “kopos” used to describe the labors of Mary, Tryphena, and Tryphosa is also used to Paul’s “dear friend Persis.” Throughout all of history some of the hardest working Christians have been women.
“Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.” (Rom. 16:15) Priscilla and Aquila had a church meeting in their house, apparently Julia and the sister of Nereus also met in a house church and Paul send greetings to all of the Lord’s people who were with them.

WOMEN DO SPECIAL WORK IN THE CHURCH

The early church had elders and deacons that were given special responsibilities in the church. 1 Timothy 3:1-13). Since the role of men is well know, we will concentrate about what the Bible says about the work of women. Widows also were given special work and responsibilities in the church. Paul wrote: “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” (1 Timothy 5:9-10) Some believe that Dorcas was one of these widows (Acts 9:36-42).

Paul wrote to Titus: “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” (Titus 2:3-5)

Peter on Pentecost quoted the prophet Joel to explain what was happening: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

Philip the evangelist had four virgin daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9). Special instructions were given by Paul regarding a woman who prayed or prophesied. “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:5-16)

Women have a responsibility to teach others: Paul wrote to Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2). The word translated as “people” in this passage is “anthropois”, from which we get out word “anthropology”. It refers to “people”, both men and women. The Greek word “aner”, by comparison, is translated as “man” and never refers to a women. It is obvious that Paul wanted Timothy to entrust the truth to both men and women who were faithful!

We have mentioned before that four of the six times that Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in the Bible, she is mentioned first. For example: “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:24-26). The fact that Priscilla is mentioned first may indicate that she was the lead teacher in explaining to Apollos the way of God more adequately.

We have mentioned before the Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). In John’s account Jesus said to Mary: “Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:17-18). WHEN JESUS COMMANDS WOMEN TO TELL THE GOSPEL STORY THAT IS ALL THE AUTHORITY THEY NEED!

NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but be thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) God had a plan for Jesus and Jesus correctly submitted to the will of the Father.

David said to God: “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:15-16)

Isaiah said: “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.” (Is. 49:1)

Jeremiah said: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appoint you as a prophet to the nations.’” (Jer. 1:4-5)

God said this about Cyrus 200 years before he was born: “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please’; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’ ‘This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.” (Is. 44:28-45:1)

Please consider that God may also have a plan for your life and you need to pray with Jesus: “Not my will but thine be done.”

Paul said it like this: “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21)

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not.” (1 Cor 4:7)

Job said it beautifully: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;” (Job 13:14-15)

CONCLUSION

Only two kinds of people will be reading this article, males and females!
Both males and females are created in the image of God!
Both males and females can serve God will all of their heart, soul, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Both males and females can reject and disobey God.
The choice is yours!
Please accept the way God made you and serve Him with gladness all the days of your life!