I wanted to bring up a little Bible study to address this issue. This is also a response to Kilika's post on my other topic I made about moving to Springfield.
Here is some verses to start off with:
[Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD. [Proverbs 18:22]
(That's a good thing to hear! we obtain favour of the Lord if we find a wife...Its a good thing to find...)
And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. [Genesis 2:18]
(God said its not good for man to be alone. He needs companionship, and he needs a help to make things go smoother.)
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [Genesis 2:20-24]
(It says we are to leave our mother, and father and cleave unto our wives! - They become one flesh once its consummated in the marriage bed. God made woman for a reason, and brought her unto the man.)
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. [Genesis 3:16]
(Her desire shall be to please thy husband...and she is to be in subjection, and the man rules over her.)
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. [Genesis 3:20]
(Adam named his wife. I believe we also can, or are to name our wife's if we choose so...I know that sounds a bit strange, but according to that scripture above - Genesis 3:20 Adam did. So we also can, and its Biblical.)
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. [I Timothy 2:9-15]
(She is to continue in childbearing. The woman is to be in silence to her Husband, and the Church. She can learn in subjection, and in silence as it says in above scriptures. Also it talks about she may ask her Husband at home if there's something she doesn't understand. She is not to usurp authority over her Husband. Its how God made it according to the Word. There also are duties of the man such as providing, and leading the wife, etc. You can check other scriptures on that info if you like. Also she should maintain good works, and that they adorn themselves in modest apparel.)
(Now I have gotten into discussions, before about whether a Dress is more modest than pants - All I can say is "let every man be persuaded in his own mind." according to Romans. If its more cost effective to use pants than do so, but I do believe it can be crossing over into that line where shes trying to act like a man, or wear men's clothing. There are women's pants, but you have to ask yourself this question - Did men, or women sanction women to wear pants? If her husband allows her to do so than I believe its okay. Were not under the law, but grace. We are to be a light though and walk in holiness, because the word says, "Be ye holy as I am holy.")
(Also I know its hard to find modest clothing. I mean its not like you can go to Walmart, or Target, etc. So you have to shop around a little, or learn to make your own clothing, but also please note this is just my conviction I get, and understand if your not getting the same from the Lord.)
(According to above scriptures I don't think women should wear makeup. They already look beautiful as God made them, and our bodies are Temples of the Holy Ghost. We should honour them as best we can. She should be shy and quiet (shamefacedness) as well as not using a lot of jewelry, but being natural as the Lord made her. However were called to peace, and grace
)
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) [I Timothy 3:2-5]
(I listed this scripture, because I wanted to point something out about that a Husband should never strike his wife as it says he should be "no Striker," and remember she is the weaker vessel
Treat them with love, and kindness, and cherish them, and be protective. Do not beat, or harm them, or cause fear to them (Fear that is not needed if she doesn't reverence you that is.)
(Also he should be the Husband of one wife. Not two...not three, or five, but ONE. Loyal to one only. Also ruling his house well, and having his children in subjection as his wife, but to his wife and himself. I know this speaks about a bishop, but I think some of it applies also to normal Christian relationships as well.)
Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [I Timothy 3:11-12]
(Again the Husband of one wife - This scripture proves Women can't be leaders in the Church, because it doesn't say "The wife of one husband." Its God's word, not mine. Also their wives must be grave, and don't be slandering...just keep your mouth shut, and be quiet as is required of you. Sober, and faithful in all things, and to your Husband.)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [I Timothy 4:1-3]
(I bring this Scripture up, because some will Forbid to merry, but the Lord Jesus Christ never forbids us to merry. So we have to be careful about not telling others they can't merry. God permits it.)
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. [I Timothy 4:12]
(Don't let anyone depise your youth, or just because you have a young wife, and are taking care of a young wife.)
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. [I Timothy 5:8]
(This one kind of scares me actually, but that's good, because it talks about in Isaiah 66:2 that God will look to the man that trembles at his word. The point being we are to provide for our wives, and children according to the scriptures if its possible. I know in some cases it may not be, and there may be difficult times, but pray and fast to the Lord - for ultimately it is he who provideth all these things.)
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
For some are already turned aside after Satan. [I Timothy 5:11-15]
(They are to be keepers at home. They homeschool their children with the Word of God as well. Younger women should marry if at all possible, and I like this scripture, because I think it speaks against like "The Catholic's set up of the nuns and stuff. Its saying they should marry!" They bear children as they should.
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. [Titus 1:6]
The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
[To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. [Titus 2:3-5]
(This is pretty clear)
Also Proverbs Chapter 31 is always good as well.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God. [Deuteronomy 22:5]
(Brought this up, because not only should a man not wear womens clothing, or a woman mans I do believe this could also segway into like their speech, and how they act. Their attitude and such. So they should act like a woman, and not a man.)
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou [art] a virtuous woman. [Ruth 3:11]
And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. [I Samuel 1:15]
Now the name of the man [was] Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and [she was]
a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and evil in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb. [I Samuel 25:3]
For a **** [is] a deep ditch; and a strange woman [is] a narrow pit. [Proverbs 23:27]
[It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
than with a
brawling woman and in a wide house. [Proverbs 25:24]
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. [Proverbs 27:15]
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. [Proverbs 31:30]
(A woman who fears the Lord is also good, and required.)
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. [Mark 10:12]
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]? [Luke 15:8]
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband. [Romans 7:2]
I will post my second part of scriptures below.