Does The Bible Teach That Women Are Inferior?
The False Doctrine Of Female Inferiority
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, September 16, 2026 (Donate)
Sometimes skeptics—particularly evolutionary colleagues—attack
the Bible by saying that Christianity teaches that women are inferior to men.
Surprisingly, Charles Darwin held views about women that many people today
would consider very degrading.
This raises an important question: Which worldview provides
a consistent basis for the equal value of men and women? Hint—it isn’t the evolutionary
worldview!
Darwin And Women
Charles Darwin believed that evolutionary processes had
resulted in men having greater mental abilities than women. In Darwin’s The
Descent of Man, he argued that the average mental ability of men was above
that of women. He said:
... a higher eminence, in whatever
he takes up, than can women—whether requiring deep thought, reason, or
imagination, or merely the use of the senses and hands. If two lists were made
of the most eminent men and women in poetry, painting, sculpture, music
(inclusive of both composition and performance), history, science, and
philosophy, with half-a-dozen names under each subject, the two lists would not
bear comparison. We may also infer, from the law of the deviation from
averages, so well illustrated by Mr. Galton, in his work on “Hereditary Genius”
that ... the average of mental power in man must be above that of women.[1]
This definitely wasn’t simply a biblical idea that Darwin
borrowed. In fact, his view conflicts with the Bible's teaching—not just about
origins but also about the value of men and women.
Genesis teaches that God created both male and female in His
image (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, both have eternal value because they were
created by an eternal God. Galatians 3:28 also teaches that men and women are
equally able to receive salvation and be one in Christ Jesus.
Of course though, men and women and boys and girls have
differences. Scripture gives them different roles in certain areas,
but this does not mean one sex is less valuable than the other.
Does The Bible Blame Eve?
Some skeptics believe Christianity teaches that women are
responsible for bringing sin into the world because Eve ate the forbidden fruit
first (the fruit of the Tree of The Knowledge of good and Evil).
Eve certainly sinned first, but the Bible places the
responsibility for mankind's fall upon Adam. When Eve sinned, there was still
one person who had dominion over the world that wasn’t corrupt. When Adam ate,
they both were now fallen and their whole dominion fell. King Adam and Queen
Eve fell form their glorious estate together—but the king gets the responsibility
because the command was given to Him by God and he was the spiritual head of
the human race.
Romans 5:12 says that it was through one man’s sin
entered the world, and death through sin. 1 Corinthians 15:22 similarly reveals
by the Holy Spirit that in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
alive. As Christ became a man and lived a perfect life and upon His
resurrection from His humbled state and death on the cross, He now has all dominion
and authority—He is our new federal head of the human race.
Bear in mind that the Bible doesn’t teach that women are the
world's "biggest sinners." Instead, God’s Word teaches that everyone
sins (Romans 3:23). And one sin against and an infinitely powerful God demands
the full wrath of God to punish that sin. Christ took that punishment on our
behalf. Thus, both men and women need God’s gracious salvation through Jesus
Christ.
Has The Bible Been Changed?
Another common claim is that the Bible was changed over the
centuries, perhaps even to make women look bad. But making that claim is not
the same as proving it.
Thousands of biblical manuscripts and ancient copies allow
scholars to compare the biblical text across history. Discoveries such as the
Dead Sea Scrolls also provide ancient evidence for the transmission of the Old
Testament. Christians believe that God has preserved His Word. God’s Word—completed
about 2,000 years ago—is virtually identical to today.
But again, the when reading the Bible in context and
understanding its teaching, women are not inferior at all. Instead, we are
co-equal as image bearers of God.
Different Roles Do Not Mean Inferiority
Another argument claims that because the Bible gives men and
women some different roles, it must teach that women are inferior. But
different roles and responsibilities don’t mean different value.
Men and women are both created in the image of God (Genesis
1:26-27). Therefore, they possess equal human dignity and worth before our
Creator. At the same time, God designed men and women with differences that
allow them to complement one another. For example, Eve was created as a
"helper comparable to" Adam (Genesis 2:18). Being a helper does not
mean being inferior. In fact, Scripture repeatedly refers to God as a helper
(Psalm 54:4; Hebrews 13:6).
Some also argue that because wives are instructed to submit
to their husbands, the Bible must consider women inferior (Ephesians 5:22-23; Colossians
3:18). Again, submission does not mean inferiority in value, intelligence,
ability, or dignity. And in the same context husbands and wives are to submit
to one another (Ephesians 5:21)!
Scripture gives different responsibilities to husbands and
wives. Husbands, for example, are commanded to love their wives "just as
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25).
Biblical headship calls for sacrificial love. This doesn’t mean treating women
as lesser persons.
Christ Jesus provides an important example showing that
submission doesn’t equal inferiority. Christ submits to the Father (Luke 22:42;
1 Corinthians 15:28), yet the Son is fully divine and equal in divine nature
(John 1:1; 10:30). Thus, submission can’t automatically mean that the one
submitting is inferior. Keep in mind that the Father was ready to submit to the
Son as well (e.g., Matthew 26:53).
The same principle applies to other biblical roles.
Scripture assigns particular responsibilities to husbands, wives, fathers,
mothers, and church leaders like pastors/ministers/bishops as well as elders,
teachers, and deacons. Having different responsibilities doesn’t determine
someone's value before God.
Biblically, men and women are different and complementary in
certain roles while remaining equal as mankind created in God's image. Both are
sinners, both need Jesus Christ, and both can equally receive the gift
of salvation (Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 3:7). Different roles simply don’t mean
superior and inferior people; they merely reflect different responsibilities
within God's created order.
Conclusion: The Bigger Question
Ultimately, these debates concern authority. Do we begin
with human ideas about the past, or with God's revealed Word?
The Bible teaches that God created both men and women in His
image, that both are sinners, and that both need the same Savior. Christianity
doesn’t teach female inferiority. Instead, the value of every man and woman
begins with their Creator.
Sadly, the attacks on the Bible in this area are often by
skeptical evolutionists, who their “high priest” Charles Darwin did make
statements degrading women. One’s ultimate and final authority should always be
God, not fallible sinful man—like Darwin.
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending
6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working
at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as
well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in
2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a
501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in
churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees
from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught
at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of
undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did
research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of
titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test
Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science was coupled with a love of history,
philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and
updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr.
Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in
these fields.
*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge
[1] Darwin,
Charles, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. D. Appleton and
Company, New York, 1896, page 564.
