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VI. Conclusion
Hebrew law emphasized the equality of the sexes before God. The role that men played in worship in the outside world was counterbalanced by the leading role of the mother in worship and religious instruction within the home. Jewish women were seen to be shapers of the Jewish future, because their role was to educate their children. This resonsibility was appropriate because Jews have always seen women as more spiritual and open to religious ideas than men, and as closer to God. Women could not be priests, but neither could most men, as priests came from certain families, and their role was hereditary. On the other hand, Egyptian women have so much of freedom than Hebrew women. When it comes to law, legal correspondences show that (in theory) women stood as equals to the men of the same class. Egyptian women could inherit, she could purchase and own property and slaves, and she could sell her property and slaves as she wished. Therefore, the Egyptian women have freedom to do whatever their people can do. However, their freedom seem to be govern by their desire and it bring social injustice (e.g.slave trading). On the other hand, the people of God seek for social justice and family harmony. In general, Egyptian women seek for their freedom of right and Hebrew women stick on their responsibility as God determined for them. Egyptian laws are just partially good because of their social class system. The laws of the Old Testament are applicable to every human and every women as it is indeed universal law.

Ref: 

Cauchon, Dennis. “Women gain as men lose jobs.” USA TODAY.    
            http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-09-02-womenwork_N.htm
            (Accessed 25 September 2009).

 

Christopher, J. H. Wright. God’s people in God’s Land: Family, Land, and Property
            in the OldTestament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
            Company, 1990.
J, A. Thompson. Handbook of Life in Bible Times. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1986.

McHugh, John, trans. Ancient Israel: Its life and Institutions. London: Darton, Longmand and Todd, 1980.

Marry J. Evans. Woman in the Bible: An Overview of all the Crucial Passages on
              Women's Roles. Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1983.     

      
Perdue, Leo G, Joseph Blenkinsopp, John J. Collins, and Carol Meyers. Families in
              Ancient Israel. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/ancientqueens/tp/women_pharaohs.htm

 

http://www.stoa.org/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Stoa:text:2002.01.0007

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IV. The role of women in social order
The many forms of repression and subjugation of women have been the result of the male-dominated social order.
A. Egyptian women  
The Egyptian woman in general was free to go about in public; she worked out in the fields and in estate workshops. Certainly, she did not wear a veil, which is first documented among the ancient Assyrians (perhaps reflecting a tradition of the ancient Semitic- speaking people of the Syrian and Arabian Deserts). However, it was perhaps
unsafe for an Egyptian woman to venture far from her town alone. The love poetry of that era, as well as certain letters are quite frank about the public accessibility and freedom of women. In general, the work of the upper and middle class woman was limited to the home and the family. This was not due to an inferior legal status, but was probably a consequence of her customary role as mother and bearer of children, as well as the public role of the Egyptian husbands and sons who functioned as the executors of the mortuary cults of their deceased parents.
B. Hebrew women
Women in the Old Testament were not the social or economic equals of men. A  married woman would be largely subject to the wishes of her husband, and an unmarried one to the wishes of her father. For example a husband or father had to consent before a woman could take religious vows (Numbers 30:3-5). This situation was roughly similar to the position of women in the surrounding societies of the time. In general, the women of highest status within the Pentateuch were pious married
mothers, especially mothers of sons (Meyers). For example, the prophetess Deborah was both married and a mother. Among the lowest of status in the Hebrew Bible are prostitutes, though interestingly, prostitution is not forbidden by the Old Testament.

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III. The Roles of women in civic
The role of ancient women in civil matters was depended upon their husband’s involvement in the community. It is crucial to understand women’s legal rights in order
to understand their roles in civic.
A. Egyptian women: Legal rights
When it comes to law, legal correspondences show that (in theory) women stood as equals to the men of the same class. Egyptian women could inherit, she could purchase and own property and slaves, and she could sell her property and slaves as she wished. There were several ways for an Egyptian woman to acquire possessions and real property. Most frequently, she received it as gifts or as an inheritance from her parents or husband, or else, she received it through purchases--with goods which she earned either through employment, or which she borrowed. However, in the event of divorce her property had to be returned to her, in addition to any divorce settlement that might be stipulated in the original marriage contract. Egyptian women had the right to bring lawsuits against anyone in open court and this inscription is the actual court record of a long and drawn- out private land dispute which occurred in the New Kingdom.
B. Hebrew Women
Women in the Old Testament were not the social or economic equals of men. A married woman would be largely subject to the wishes of her husband, and an unmarried one to the wishes of her father. For example a husband or father had to consent before a woman could take religious vows (Numbers 30:3-5). The most significant role of Hebrew women in family and outside of the family is obeying to the commandment of God and submissive to the husband. Therefore, their
role is to fulfill God’s original purpose for a woman that is to be a helper of the husband. One of their responsibilities is to nurture children at home. Hebrew women are mainly
educator for children and manager for their husband’s property. Wright said, “ The Hebrew wife therefore, as the proper mistress of the home, far from being a slave
in her own world, was something decidedly more like a queen it.”
III. The Roles of women in civic
The role of ancient women in civil matters was depended upon their husband’s involvement in the community. It is crucial to understand women’s legal rights in order
to understand their roles in civic. A. Egyptian women: Legal rights When it comes to law, legal correspondences show that (in theory) women stood as equals to the men of the same class. Egyptian women could inherit, she could purchase and own property and slaves, and she could sell her property and slaves as she wished.

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B. Hebrew Women: Marriage and Divorce
In biblical Jewish culture, marriage was regarded as a sacred covenant symbolic of God’s relationship with His chosen people Israel. The Old Testament is very formative
in shaping our understanding of marriage. Marriage is instituted by God at creation Parents were responsible for choosing appropriate spouses for their children, and the
young man and woman were expected to accept their parents’ arrangements. Betrothal was similar to engagement as we now know it, but it was much more binding. Once betrothed a couple was considered legally married, even though the marriage was not yet consummated. Therefore, marriage is scared ceremony. The incest prohibitions listed in Leviticus 18 forbid marriage with "any one near of kin", a vague category with no intrinsic definition. The Mosaic Law apparently, on the side of the husband, made it as difficult as possible for him to secure a divorce. No man could unceremoniously and capriciously dismiss his wife without the semblance of a trial. Divorce was denied two classes of husbands (a) the man who had falsely accused hiswife of ante nuptial (preceding marriage) infidelity (Deut. 22:13), and (b) a person who had seduced a virgin (Deut. 22:28). In addition, a heavy penalty had to be paid to the father of the daughter.

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II. The roles of women in the family
A good mother has been historically expected to contribute her whole life to her family. Mothers have been the glue that holds a family together because it is up to them to provide the loving care and support needed by growing children. Nevertheless, marriage and divorce are the most two serious matters for every women in every time.
A.Egyptian women: Marriage and Divorce
Marriage was a very important part of ancient Egyptian society. Some people say it was almost a duty to get married. Compared to today's world, Egyptian marriages were very different; husbands could marry more than one wife, and people of close relations (first cousins, brothers and sisters, ect.) could also wed one another. For the most part, however, incest was frowned upon, except in the royal family, where incest was used to safeguard the dynastic succession. Marriage required no religious or legal ceremony.
There were no special bridal clothes, no exchange of rings, no change of names to indicate marriage, and no word meaning wedding. A girl became universally acknowledged as a wife after she physically left the protection of her father's house and entered her new home. The new husband in no way became the new wife's legal guardian.The wife kept her independence, and still kept control her own assets. Divorce was a private matter, and for the most part, the government did not interfere, unless upon the request of the "divorce's". Almost any excuse could be used to end a marriage, and an alliance could be terminated at will. Anyone who had drawn up a marriage contract would have to honor those terms, and those who hadn't could, if they wished, could invest in a legal document. Legal cases, however, were very unusual; most marriages ended with the wife moving back to the matrimonial home, returning to her family, therefore setting both parties free to marry again.

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I. Introduction
The roles of women in society are a topic that has been debated and fought over for several centuries. From the beginning of the history of mankind, women group seem to be dominated by men. Furthermore, the history of the world appears like the records of men’s account because only a few women are recorded in the ancient history. Nevertheless, in this postmodern era where secularism becomes stronger in the market place and political society, feminist movements have remarkably achieved their goal of equality with men. In today’s society the gap between male and female has narrowed down much more than the ancient days, (e.g. more and more female playing top leadership roles in political society and business world more than before) .It is very crucial for God’s people to practice godly values either in postmodern world or during in ancient world. God called Israel to be His people. God’s people are called to be different from the people living around them. In this paper I will compare how women were treated in the family, civic and social order among Israelite and Egyptian. Unlike the position of women in most other ancient civilizations, including that of Greece, the Egyptian woman seems to have enjoyed the same legal and economic rights as the Egyptian man - at least in theory. This notion is reflected in Egyptian art and historical inscriptions. Surprisingly, God used Egyptians to rule over Israel for a few hundred of years. On the other hand, the people of Israel were led and govern by God-given laws and values.

Unity and Diversity: Final Part

V. This Unity that Paul is Speaking of is for a reason: Maturity
         Maturity is a true mark of Unity. We can not get in to the state of Maturity if we are not Unity. We need each other to cover our weakness and to correct our errors. The following are explanation of each phrase from verse 13 to 16.
Verse 13
        - Attain to the  unity of the faith: unto oneness of faith (of trust) in Christ which the Gnostics were disturbing.
        - the knowledge of the son of God: the oneness of full knowledge of the son of God, in opposition to the Gnostic vagaries.
         - A mature man: in sense of Adult as opposed to infants.
         - to the measure of the stature: boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man. But Paul adds to this idea “the fullness of Christ,” like the fullness of God.   
The main message is to putting away childish things(1Cor.13:11).

Verse 14
        - No longer to be Children: negative final clause with present subjunctive. Some                                                                        
                  Christians are quit content to remain “babes” in Christ and never cut their
                  eye-teeth (Heb.5:11-14), the victims of every charlatan who comes along.  
                  - to tossed here and there: to be agitated by the waves.
                  - Carried about: to carry round, whirled round by every wind of teaching. In some it is all wind, even like a hurricane or a tornado. If not anchored by full knowledge of Christ, folks are at the mercy of these squalls.
                 - Every wind of doctrine: Paul has covered the whole ground in this picture of Gnostic error.

Verse 15
    - in love: following the truth in love.
    - Grow up in all aspects into Him: it is the metaphor of verse 13 (the full-ground man. We are the body and Christ is the head. We are to grow up to His stature.

Verse 16.
- from whom: out of which as the source of energy and direction.
- Fitted and held together: join and united both to Christ the foundation by faith, and to each other by love.
- The proper working of each individual part: just “in measure” in the Greek, but the assumption is that each part of the body functions properly in its own sphere. No living could not retire from his or her part.   
 
VI.    Conclusion
In this world of anti-Christian bias we need all the more an extra measure of maturity, of grace, of gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Each of us needs to keep our eyes on the Lord. Each of us needs to keep our eyes on the one faith. As members in the body of Christ we are continually being built up to maturity. Two area of maturity (a) maturity in personal area: mentioned above in humility, gentleness etc. (b) matures corporately: the personal maturity leads to corporate maturity. Finally, in this verses Paul showing us to knowing what is essential and what is not essential so that the body of Christ may grow with unity. It is the very purpose of God for believers.

One God: WHY?

For there to be more than one God, each would have to differ in some way from the others because to differ by nothing is the same thing as not to differ at all. In order to differ by something there must be some real difference. As a result, one would have a quality that the other one would not have. But nothing can limit an all powerful  Being, who has no potential but is pure actuality (Jn.8:58). Therefore one would be God and the others would be less than God. Consequently there can only be ONE GOD. 

By: David Geisler