TOWARD A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF EQUALITY

Authors

  • Prof. Marcel Măcelaru, DPhil (Oxon), Dr. Habil. Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7391972

Keywords:

Equality – biblical teaching, gender – biblical teaching, image of God, justice, relating rightly

Abstract

Toward a Biblical Understanding uf Equality.

The notion that all humans are equal is a widespread idea. This study shows that the traditional stance in Christianity in regard issues of gender and other forms of equality has many a time fallen short of the human rights ideal, and justifiably asks whether “equality” ought to be a Christian imperative. A quick overview of biblical principles however  rovides solid ground for the affirmation that all humans are created equal and therefore “equality” ought to be a preoccupation of the Church. The study concludes with a proposal on the implementation of such a perspective.

References

• Bailey, Kenneth E., “Women in the New Testament. A Middle Eastern Cultural View”, Theology Matters 16-1, 2000, pp. 1–11.

• Bilezikian, Gilbert, “A Challenge for Proponents of Female Subordination to Prove Their Case from the Bible”, available online at: https://godswordtowomen.org/bilezikian.htm, accessed on 19 October, 2022.

• Friedman, Theodore, “The Shifting Role of Women, from the Bible to Talmud”, Judaism 36, 1986, pp. 479–487.

• Măcelaru, Marcel, “Equality – A Christian Perspective”, in Corneliu Constantineany, Georgeta Rață and Patricia Runcan, eds, Christian Values vs Contemporary Values, București, Editura Didactică și Pedagogică, 2014, pp. 75–82.

• Măcelaru, Marcel, “Equality in Human Rights Talk and Jeremiah’s Principles of Truth, Justice and Uprightness ( Jer. 4:2)”, in Marcel Măcelaru and Julijana Mladenovska-Tešija, eds, Demokracija, dijalog i dar-al salam Međuvjerski dijalog i praktično djelovanje – Zbornik radova, Osijek, Evanđeoski Teološki Fakultet, 2012, pp. 39–52.

• Măcelaru, Marcel, “Jednakust u ubrazovanju – relacijska perspektiva”, in Marcel Măcelaru and Julijana Mladenovska-Tešija, eds, Obrazovanje za rodnu jednakost, Tenja, Ženska udruga „Izvor”, 2010, pp. 18–21.

• Măcelaru, Marcel, “The Practice of Equality and the Problem of Religious Liberty”, in Nelu Burcea and Thomas Schirrmacher, eds, Jurnalul Libertății de Conștiință, Bucharest, Editura Universitară, 2013, pp. 603–621.

• Măcelaru, Marcel, “Truth, Justice, Uprightness. Human Flourishing in Prophetic Perspective”, in Robert Petkovšek and Bojan Žalec, eds, Truth and Compassion. Lessons from the Past and Premonitions of the Future, Wien, Lit Verlag, 2017, pp. 53–54.

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• Wright, N.T., “The Biblical Basis for Women’s Service in the Church”, Priscilla Papers 20-4, 2006, pp. 5-6.

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Published

2023-01-04

How to Cite

TOWARD A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF EQUALITY. (2023). Journal for Freedom of Conscience (Jurnalul Libertății De Conștiință), 10(2), 621-629. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7391972