Ten traits of Biblical Masculinity and Femininity

test 1 and midterm

Ten traits of Biblical Masculinity

1. courage

2. warrior spirit

3. integrity

4. sobriety

5. strength

6. endurace

7. sensitivity

8. compassion

9. service

10. chivalry

Ten traits of Biblical Femininity

1. strength

2. beauty

3. humility

4. virtuous

5. hospitable

6. reverent

7. industrious

8. gracious

9. modest

10. content

Courage (2 Sam 10:12)

1. Physical courage:

Willingness to risk one's own safety in order to help another

2. Moral courage:

Willingness to stand for that is right in the face of opposition regardless of the consequences

Warrior spirit (2 Sam 23:8-12, 20-23)

1. Does not mean being quick tempered or quick to fight

2. Not allowing fear or doubt to keep you from doing what God called you to do

3. Seizing God-ordained opportunities

4. Men have the responsibility to protect their loved ones, themselves, and their country

Integrity

1. Being willing to do right even to one’s own detriment

2. Beliefs inspire behavior (i.e, congruent)

3. Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts

Sobriety

1. Exercising self-control and restraint in one's actions

2. Voluntarily placing limitations on one's own freedom when necessary

Strength

1. Includes mental, physical, spiritual, and social areas of life

2. Growth and development occur in these four domains of wellness (cf. Luke 2:52)

Endurance (2 Cor 4:8)

1. Inward strength to withstand stress while doing one’s best

2. Capacity to endure hardship

Sensitivity (1 Kings 3:5-15)

1. Yielded to God’s influence

2. Opposite of callousness

3. Perceiving the genuine attitudes and emotions of others

Compassion (2 Sam 4:1-12)

1. The feeling another;s hurt in one’s own heart

2. Opposite of indifference

3. Investing in others as a way of healing their hurts

Service (John 13:1-15)

1. Meeting the needs of others

2. Investing time and energy to help another person to be successful

Chivalry

1. Respecting and dedicating oneself to the honor, protection, and courteous treatment of women

2. Resisting the abdication of male leadership in the face of onslaught of radical feminism

Strength (Esther 4:16; Ps. 144:12; Prov 31:25)

• Includes mental, physical, spiritual, and social areas of life

• Inward elegance of stretch that accentuates a woman’s feminine nature and that is evidenced by a strong constitution and deeply held convictions

Beauty (Job 42:14)

• God created the woman with natural beauty (cf. Gen 2:21-25; “ishshåh fro, iysh)

• Internal elegance of beauty that is manifested in external appearance, demeanor, and mannerisms

Humility (1 Peter 3:4)

• “Meek and quiet spirit" = humble and gentle attitude that expresses itself in patient submissiveness; strength under control

• Internal adornment of virtue, “which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet 3:4b)

Virtuous (Prov 31:10)

• Shamefacedness” denotes that which shrinks from exceeding the limits of womanly modesty; the idea is having a moral repugnance to doing something dishonorable

• Being discreet, as well as maintaining an innocence and purity of body, mind, and spirit

Hospitable (Titus 2:5)

• “Keepers at home” = working at home (i.e., housekeeping)

• Term also denotes hospitality and care of guests in the home

Reverent (Titus 2:3)

• “Holiness” = hieroprepes, which means “fitting for the temple” (i.e., suitable to holiness like people engaged in sacred duties)

• The idea of reverence implies that the woman, by her behavior, demonstrates that she belongs to God and that her life has been dedicated to His service.

Industrious (Prov 31:18-24)

• Whether working inside of the home or outside of the home (or both), the woman adds supreme value to the home

• Takes initiative, recognizes what needs to be done, and gets it done

Gracious (Prov 31:26)

• Resisting the temptation to be crass, crude, or caustic

• Speech that epitomizes “wisdom” and “kindness”

Modest (1 Tim 2:9-10)

1. Takes delight in their appearance; yet shuns a superficial preoccupation with attire

2. Avoiding any appearance that suggests sensual appeal or sexual availability

Content (Prov. 31:11-12)

• When God brings her into a relationship with a man, she completes the man, not competes with him

• Affirms his masculinity while resisting the world’s system in its attempt to destroy God-given differences between the sexes