All the great themes of Scripture have their origin in the book of Genesis, and the subject of man and woman before God is no exception. Each of the main passages in the New Testament dealing with the relative roles of brother and sister in ecclesial life point to the Creation and Fall as the source of their teaching, and it is there that we begin.
Genesis 1 presents each new element of Creation with its place and purpose in the Divine scheme. The sun is to rule the day, the moon to rule the night; sea creatures are to fill the waters and fowl to fly above the earth. Man may differ from the rest, because he is made in the image of God, but his role is no less clearly defined (Genesis 1:26-28). He is to have dominion over all the earth, to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it”.
The inclusion of both man and woman in this role is significant: “So God created man in His own image ... male and female created He them”. Why then does the record say that God created man? Throughout chapter 1 the Hebrew word that is used for man is adam (being primarily a noun, not a name,1 and its meaning is ‘man’ in the general sense of ‘mankind’ or ‘the human race’, embracing both men and women. Together they were intended to fulfil their allotted role, and the significant point is that in this first account of their creation they have everything in common, no differences between them being identified.
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Author: Michael Lewis
Keywords: Man and woman, Men and women, Women priests, Women pastors, Women in the church, Serving women, Women, Women to remain silent, Silent in the churches, Women should not teach, Women are not to teach men, Women to be in subjection, Sexism, Ezer Kenegdo, Helpmeet, Help mate, Helpmate, Role of women in the church, Role of woman in the church, Woman's role, Feminist, Equality of women, Equality of woman, Equality of the sexes, Women's role, Women's role in the church
Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:20, Genesis 3:16, Judges 4, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:7, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, 1 Cor. 14:34-35, Gal. 3:28, Ephesians 5:22-24, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 1 Timothy 3:2-3, 2 Timothy 2:2, Titus 1:5, Titus 1:8-9, Titus 2:3-4, 1 Peter 3:1-6
Source: “Man and Woman,” The Testimony, Vol. 59, No. 705, September 1989, pp. 308-14.
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