In ancient western civilizations, cultures like the Hebrews and Romans the status of women were clearly defined as inferior to men either through scripture, law or custom that is understood and obeyed by everyone in these cultures. The freedom of Hebrew women was extremely limited. Their roles were restricted to little or no authority. Rome was founded as a patriarchal society, women were the property of their fathers later their husbands. However, in early Christian culture women are held in higher regard than the previous two cultures mainly because of Jesus and Paul. Jesus teaches equality, but Paul spread his message and popularized Christianity.

In early Hebrew history, the emphasis on details of purity law to keep the chosen people separate reduce women’s roles in formal prayer be

Similarly, in Rome women in a male-dominated world is mostly admired in the traditional roles of wife and mother. A woman had power in her ability to influence and pass onto her children. Thus the focus of Roman men on a women’s fertility made strength out of necessity and gave mothers unparalleled moral influence and stature.

cause the law stressed that anyone worshipping Yahweh had to be “clean.” Women, seen as sometime unclean because of menstrual blood of childbirth, were excluded from participating in the formal worship rituals (Sherman 33). Besides religious they were not granted much secular freedom as well. For example women could not appear in public venues, talk to strangers or testify in court. Overall, the status of women as Metzger observed, “They had become second-class Jews, excluded from the worship and teaching of God, with status scarcely above that of slaves” (806).

Life was certainly difficult for women in ancient times. That is why since the emergence of Christianity women have been draw to it because it gives them unparallel equality unlike any time before in history. Hebrews did not allow women to practice religion and granted very restrict secular freedoms. Romans governed their women like children and treated them as subjects and property. Although as the Christian church grew and received increasing pressure to conform to the norm of society which meant that women were pushed out of leadership roles, but the essence of Christianity is everyone is equal before god only faith alone can attain salvation, a message taught by Jesus and reiterated by Paul in his doctrines. This belief has a profound impact on people in contemporary society such as ours today.

Whether the role of women is defined by the Hebrew scripture or Roman law, statuses given to women are similar in both societies. The treatment seems to convey that women are socially insignificant. According to the Hebrews women are sinful and impure thus can not achieve salvation. In Rome, women are viewed as unintelligent and child-like; incompetent to achieve political or military success.

While Hebrew view women as impure, Romans saw women as properties. The Romans, as in many other civilizations treated wom

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