I read a moving post yesterday on Molly’s blog. She links to a place with post after post of Christian women accepting as a matter of fact that their very femaleness renders them less capable 
“these women… share that their femaleness makes them more emotional, more inclined toward error, etc.”
I used to be right there with those women agreeing with the lies. Underlying my self-rejection and self-deprecation -deep down inside- I really believed that God loves His sons more than His daughters, that He prefers sons… There were even some scriptures which I thought “confirmed” that. Really, that is a LIE right from the pit of hell. And I honesty wonder how many women AND men -deep down inside- (behind the denial and the protestation) believe that to be a woman is inferior and less desirable than to be a man.
1 Peter 3 refers to woman as “the weaker vessel”.
This is not a defect,
but by God’s design and intentional on God’s part.
Self rejection and self hatred is sin.
God made me female and God loves me female!
HE rejoices over me with singing 
I am HIS beloved 
Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
(see also Is God punishing women for what He Himself made them—because they are women, not men?
A subtle but important distinction is that husbands are given an analogy of how to treat their wives, AS the weaker vessel. Women are not called “weaker vessels,” but likened to them. And the weaker vessels were the more precious, more fragile vessels. They weren’t the huge, nearly indestructible water pots, they were the finest of the tableware.
So instead of treating their wives like so much replaceable breeding stock and slave labor, husbands were told to cherish their wives and treat them like they treated the precious, delicate vessels they showed off when they had guests in their homes: with care and tenderness, and not just a little pride. Even poor Christians who didn’t own precious vessels would have known how they should treat such things.
I, too, have always loved the Zephaniah passage. It makes me think of being in a crib, God getting a little foolish over me, making funny faces to see me smile, singing and carrying on, then proudly turning to everyone and saying, “Yes, I’m a fool over this one. Who wouldn’t be? She’s perfect, and she’s MINE!” Just like any proud papa, eh?
Dear Psalmist,
Thank you for the clarification and for that lovely word picture about the precious vessel!
I will be back to your site!
Keep up the good work.
I have further “observation” on this…
I believe that one could make a valid argument about what it means, exactly, to be a “weaker vessel”.
There is a form of strength in “seeming” weakness.
Some make the argument that Christ on the Cross was weak “where is your God now…”.
It seems almost a blasphemy for me to come here and comment. As a man, I have zero authority on the subject of feminine nature (other than having dated a far too many).
But, I suppose, from the outside, sounding boards and observations can be a good thing…a sort of “outside, looking in”.
It could be said that women are weak due to what we males perceive as a cruel and unfortunate twist of biology, nature and “architecture”.
From our perspective, we truly have it easy. Our “fixtures” are designed for ease of use. We do not, for the most part, have any special concerns, or artificial apparatus to which we are chained on a regular cycle (also something that might “confuse” those thinking about weak vessels – unable to contain the passion).
Additionally, we do not have to go through that whole birthing process; those pangs betwixt life, and death.
But enough of the obvious (the arguments, you see, can be made for strength or weakness in this – we have a tendency to not worry with preparation and just, all-too-often, simply charge forward, where you ladies “might” have the central tendency to ask about preparation before charging – an obvious strength).
“Weak vessel”, could also quite adeptly refer to the overall human condition as well. We are all subject to sin.
I’ve heard arguments in psychology, sociology and religious classes that men should be the moral center of the household (perhaps as the woman has so many other things on which to concentrate, perhaps?).
I don’t know any of the answers, to be 100% honest, but I do not perceive that women are “weak”; I do, however, know that they are most assuredly different from us.
I do not think it makes them better, or worse. Simply different.
As to the “weak vessel”, I believe it is something that affects us all, especially on the subject of sin. Christ is our example, and we should each challenge ourselves to rise to his level.
It is in this struggle that we become truly divine.
Even the weakest vessel, if maintained intact through faith, can carry the full spirit of God. There can be no weakness in that!
I too was giving some more thought to “weakness”, Precipii
These are the passages which occurred to me:
“God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” 1 Cor 1:27
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:9-10
Paul DELIGHTS in weaknesses!
Its one of those “upside-down” Bible teachings.