The Relationship between Men and Women: Genesis 1-2 - Essay Example

The Relationship between Men and Women: Genesis 2 The first and second chapter in Genesis entails the primary biblical passage for people across the divide including those opposing and those supporting the ordination of women. People differ on whether men and women should have different roles to play in the church. The Old Testament does not offer the final answer to this question. However, both opponents and proponents of women ordination always fall back to the Old Testament in search of supportive evidence. While analyzing the concept of divorce in Matt. 19, 4-51, Jesus referred the Jewish audience to Genesis to demonstrate where the relationship between a man and a woman started. Since Genesis covers the account of creation, it is possible that it contains information about the design by God of a man and a woman as well as their specific roles. It could contain the ideal roles defining the relationship before the distortion of the order by sin. God uses the plural of the word man in the first chapter. Hebrew transforms the singular word man into plural without any comments. Adam starts with a definite article the, then changes to plural them in the process resulting into the explanation that the terminology man, represents both female and male (Genesis 1: 26-27). The process takes place while explains the creation of man. Bringing into modern translation but sticking to the flow of Hebrew, a better translation would be humanity2. Genesis 5: 2 also points to the fact that Adam includes both male and female. The analysis of this chapter reveals that it was and it is important for God to refer to the entire human race using one sex. The chapter explains that female and male sexes take part in equal roles in the image of God, taking both functional and ontological positions. The primary passage and other supporting verses do not give any hint of divine creation a specific order relating to woman and man. The passage does not present one sex as subordinate to another they are equal. God blesses them together and gives them the power to multiply, remain fruitful, as well as conquer the earth. They receive the mandate to dominate the earth (Gene 1: 28). It is not that man gets the dominion of a woman. The etymology epistemology of the name Adam following its origin in Hebrew also disapproves those who the view that referring to Adam as man, remained an entitlement of male sex. Adam a synonym of man represents the generic terminology for humankind. In the Scripture, it does not mean man. This discourse posits that Genesis 1 states the primary equality of a woman and man in both function and value. Value entails among other things appearing in the likeness and image of God as well as phenotypic resemblance and personality. On the other hand, functions also referred to as roles include taking procreation responsibilities, exercising dominion over creatures, and conquering the earth. The differentiation and relationship before creating humanity by God Himself highlights the ontological and functional equality of both female and male. God only mentions divinity in plural in Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” throughout the creation account. It is easy to conclude that it was not coincidental but for a purpose. It constitutes the plural of community, fellowship, or fullness with God the overall superior. The plural aspect is a deliberate intra-divine thoughtful concept among people within divine contexts. God forms an analogy of relationships with female and male when He describes interrelationships by saying, Let Us3. The Godhead does not give any indication of hierarchy in terms of roles and function to the sexes. At the same time, He does not point at one sex being submissive to another. Chapter one of Genesis concentrates on the functional relationship while describing fellowship and deliberation of equality. Genesis 2 comes out as reinforcement to the first chapter. Opponents of woman ordination base on five issues to support their argument. The first is the order of creation holding that God created a man before a woman. The procedure used to create a woman that she came from Adam’s rib. The third argument is that God addresses a man directly and not a woman. The purpose of creating a woman is for her to be a helper of Adam4. Finally, they aver that the mandate of naming of a woman went to a man just like other creatures under the command of man. However, thorough analysis does not prove any of the arguments as holding water that the man is above a woman. On the contrary, the points support functional equality without any elements of hierarchy. Creating a woman as the last creature marks the climax of creation according to Genesis 2. Secondly, being a product of Adam’s rib does not mean her subordinate role. It could be from the head to dominate over her or foot to rule over her but the ribs are on the sides. It literally meant having a woman stand by a man. List of References Gerhard Hasel. The Meaning of ‘Let Us’ in Gen 1:26. AUSS 13 (1975): 58–66. Jacques Doukhan. The Genesis Creation Story. Berrien Springs, Mich. Andrews University Press, 1978, 46-47. Nancy Vyhmeister. Headship, Submission, and Equality in Scripture, in Women in Ministry. Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 1998, 260-264. Richard M. Davidson, Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament. Peabody, Mass. Hendrickson, 2007, 24-35. Read More