Are Man and Woman Equal?
In the beginning, God created Adam first, then Eve as his companion (Genesis 2:20–23). The creation of Adam was an independent one, but this was not the case with the creation of woman. The woman was made from man, and was recognized by him as a part of himself.
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:22,23).
“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved” (Matthew Henry Commentary). The woman was created to stand by man’s side as a help meet.
After the Fall
After the fall, the woman became subordinate to man because she was deceived (Genesis 2:18–22; 3:16). “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man… For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:11–15).
The husband is to be the head of the family and the ruler in the home; the wife is to help him in his duties. Her position is definitely honorable. And because of her dependent status she has a claim on her husband’s care and protection. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22–24).
The same message is also given in also in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35; Titus 2:4, 5; 1 Peter 3:6. The husband is to imitate Christ, giving up personal pleasures for his wife’s happiness. Christ gave Himself for the church because she was in desperate need. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).
However, the woman has equal status with the man in salvation (1 Timothy 2:6). For “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). But the women have certainly different divinely appointed roles than men to perform at home, at church, and in society.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
