Biblical Womanhood: A Foundation
Our culture has many conflicting messages about womanhood. Sometimes it announces that women are sex objects, only useful for men’s pleasure and should look like a trophy wife. Other times, the message is that women should actually devote themselves to a career in corporate and become a “boss babe”. Or, perhaps the 50’s housewife stereotype—saying that women are baby making machines and housekeepers—is what culture is pushing. Other times, our culture struggles to even define a woman, especially with the rise of transgender ideology. Being a woman is completely redefined and changed.
One or more of these views may have affected your view on womanhood, but what does the Bible say? We go back to the basics—Genesis!—to learn more about God’s design for humans, men, and women.
Genesis 1:1-2:3
In Genesis 1, we read about the creation account. What does a literal, six-day creation account have to do with understanding womanhood? Ken Ham said, “If Christians doubt what at first appears to be insignificant details Scripture, then others may begin to look at the whole Bible differently, eventually doubting the central tenets of the Christian faith, namely the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus the historicity of Scripture is quite important.” (AnswersinGenesis.com) Since we believe the Bible does speak with authority, we take the creation account literally.
Made in God’s Image
The creation account also shows the Creator’s incredible design and care of His World, which is manifested in the creation of Adam. Genesis 1:26-27 says that we are created in the Image of God. Kevin DeYoung wrote, “As image bearers, not to mention coheirs of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7), men and women possess equal worth and dignity.” (Men and Women in the Church, 25) Distinguished from animals, and created in the image of God Himself, we certainly have worth and value as human beings.
The same page talks about gender. God created two genders—male and female. Scientifically, gender is defined by DNA (X and Y chromosomes; men have Y chromosomes, women do not.) DNA tells the body to develop the appropriate anatomy, the sexual organs and body parts that demonstrate your gender. Despite these scientific and medical facts, culture now tells us that we can develop a “gender identity” that is different from our DNA. When gender becomes based on feelings and we seek to alter that DNA God has engrained in us, we mock the very image of God.
As women, our gender is not an accident. God created us this way. Seeking to alter what God has created and seeking to change the process that God created will only bring ruin and despair.
Responsibilities
Genesis 1:28-2:3 give more insight into the responsibilities given to humans. God gave humans the command to be fruitful and multiply; Adam and Eve were to fill the earth. Today, the same principle continues with us, although the earth is much more “filled” then it was for Adam and Eve! Humans were also given a dominion and responsibility to rule over the rest of God’s creation and advance civilization.
Genesis 2:4-25
The second account of the creation of Adam and Eve is found in chapter 2. Chapter 1 was the record, and this is the narrative. In verses 18-20, God acknowledges the need for a helper for Adam. It was not good for Adam to be alone; there was a deficiency in Adam’s rule and God knew that Adam needed not only a companion and a relationship, but a helpmate. “It was not good for man to be alone because by himself he could not ‘be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”. (Kevin DeYoung, Men and Women in the Church, 28) Adam named all the animals, and in doing so, did not find a creature that was adequate to be his helper.
The Helper
Verses 21-23 explain how God gave Adam the helper—from Adam’s own rib! This description shows that she was a gift and a helper for Adam. Was Eve less than Adam because she was made from his rib? NO- Adam was made from the dust of the ground himself. The material has no bearing on the value! When Adam named Eve, he was recognizing that she was a wonderful creation, made in God’s image, like himself.
Some feminists like to accuse Bible believing Christians that the Bible teaches that men are in charge of everything and that women are treated as subordinates. Is that true? Not from these verses! Waltke wrote, “The man is created first, with the woman to help the man, not vice versa (see also 1 Timothy 2:13). However, this does not mean ontological superiority or inferiority. The word helper, used for God sixteen of the nineteen times it appears in the Old Testament, signifies the woman’s essential contribution, not inadequacy.” (Genesis, p. 88) The word suitable shows us that Eve was equal and adequate, not subordinate!
The Christian worldview, through the Bible, actually places more value on women than other ancient texts do! Constable writes, “The ancient Near Eastern texts contain no account of the creation of woman. Moses, however, devoted six verses to her formation compared to only one for Adam. This indicates God’s concern for women.” (Genesis Commentary) Those who attempt to make a case for men dominating women from Scripture cannot do so based on the Genesis account in creation.
Marriage
In verses 24-25, God begins the institution of marriage. These verses contain a description of the first marriage, and important principles for marriage in general. In a marriage relationship, a man and woman become joined together as an independent unit. Polygamy and Gay ‘marriage’ are a distortion of God’s purpose for marriage. It is important to note that a person’s value does not come from the state of being married, but it comes from one’s inherent worth as an image bearer of God.
What if you’re single? Singleness is acceptable to Jesus and called a gift (Matthew 19:1-11). If you are single, God may give you the gift of marriage or he may continue to give you the gift of singleness. As a single person, you can still honor God’s plan for marriage.
Also in this passage, principles are given for marriage roles. Adam names Eve just as he had the order to name the rest of God’s creation. While no other instructions for marriage roles are given here, we see the start of a pattern of male leadership in marriage and wives as helpmates. However, the Bible never states that men are superior to women, but the Biblical pattern set here shows the man as a leader and the woman as a helper—in a marriage relationship. It is important to note that this does not mean that all women must submit to all men. Kevin DeYoung writes, “The Biblical pattern of male leadership is never an excuse for ignoring women, belittling women, overlooking the contributions of women, or abusing women in any way. The truest form of biblical complementarity calls on men to protect women, honor women, speak kindly and thoughtfully to women, and to find every appropriate way to learn from them and include them in life and ministry—in the home and in the church.” (Men and Women in the Church, 17)
Children
Adam and Eve were told to populate the earth—what does this mean for men and women today? This can be a sensitive area for women, because although it takes a man and a woman to conceive a baby, a woman’s body is what carries and delivers a baby. What about single girls, or women who are unable to have children? What about couples who prefer to be childless?
First of all, just as a woman’s worth does not come from being marriage, a woman’s worth also does not come from children. It comes from being an image-bearer! Married couples who are able to have children should follow the lead of the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply, but note that God does not give specific instructions here. He is sovereign over these matters, and in that he allows husbands and wives some freedom as to the number of children, when to have them, how often, etc, but we can not underexposes God’s sovereignty in these matters!
If you are single or physically not able to have kids, be encouraged that your value has nothing to do with having children. If you are married and able to have kids but choosing not to, take to heart God’s design for families. You don’t want to say no to that lightly.
Genesis 3:1-24
In chapter 3, we learn how sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. Verses 1-7 describe Adam and Eve’s sin. There are a few things to notice about Eve’s sin here. First of all, when interacting with the serpent, Eve misquoted God’s Word. Her lack of understanding, whether the was intentional or not, made her susceptible to the serpent’s lies. She believed the lie that God was withholding his best from her, even though she had no reason to doubt God. In Eve’s sin, she also led her husband to sin.
It is interesting to note that Eve sinned because she was deceived; Adam was not deceived, but he still sinned. He failed to be a leader like God intended him to be. This does not mean that women are more prone to deception, but it does show us that both men and women have a common sin and need for a savior!
In verses 8-14, we see the effects of sin: Adam and Eve were guilty and hid from God. God soon found them and there were consequences. In God’s design for men and women’s roles, men and women would now experience suffering and frustration in those roles.
Eve’s judgement was to be pain in childbirth and a “desire” for her husband. Childbirth brings forth something amazing and wonderful, it would now include suffering. There are three views as to what “desire” for her husband could mean:
It can mean that a woman’s desire must be subject to her husband’s desire.
It can mean that a woman will have longing and dependance on her husband.
It can mean that a woman will desire to have control over her husband. Sin has corrupted that perfect relationship, between God and man, but also between man and woman.
Adam had a judgment as well. His work (physical labor of obtaining a living from the ground) became harder. Adam’s role as leader and provider became more difficult as well. Kevin DeYoung notes, “Whenever husbands are domineering or abusive toward their wives, this is not a reflection of God’s design but a sinister perversion of it. The marriage relationship, which was supposed to be marked by mutually beneficial headship and helping, becomes a fight over sinful rebellion and ruling. God designed sexual difference for one another; sin takes sexual difference and makes it opposed to one another.” (Men and Woman in the Church, 33)
While this passage is grim and filled with the seriousness of sin, it is encouraging to see what we learn about God from this passage.
God is loving and gracious
God sought Adam and Eve to restore them even as they hid from him
God took care of them (clothed them)
in God’s curse to the serpent, he also included the first prophecy of a seed which will eventually bruise the serpent. This is the first prophecy of the future Messiah, even though very few details are given here, there is hope!
Summing it up:
Kevin DeYoung said, “At its best, biblical manhood and womanhood is about nothing less than the joyful appropriation of all that God meant for us to be in the garden, divinely fitted for working and helping, for protecting and flourishing, for leaving and cleaving, for filling the earth and subduing it. That’s what God saw at the close of the sixth day, and behold, it was very good.” (Men and Women in the Church, 34) So, what do we need to know about our identity and place in God’s plan through the Genesis creation account?
RELATIONSHIP: Our unique relationship with God as humans is distinct from any other creation!
ROLE: Our role as women within a marriage, as a helpmate, is not a disability. We can embrace it joyfully!
REBELLION: Like Eve, we have a sin nature and our individual sin nature and unique judgment from Eve’s sin still affect women today
RULES: These passages do not contain every specific rule or guidance given towards womanhood. This rather lays the foundation and gives the first general principles of what it means to be human, to be man, and to be woman. The rest of the Bible is built on these principles and gives more detail at points.
1 Timothy 2:9-15
1 Timothy is a passage that does reference creation when talking about men and women’s roles. In the context, false teachers and conflict were affection the church body. Thus, Paul was addressing certain leadership and character issues here that would affect the entire church. Here is what he says about male and females roles within a church:
Men should take the lead on praying within the church (2:8)
Good works and godly character should characterize a woman more than the effort put into an outwards appearance (2:9-10)
Women should “voluntarily take the position of learners” (Constable) in the church. Paul clearly would not permit women to teach or have authority over a man in this context of a local church meeting. Does this exclude women from teaching or authority at all? No! But the principle of submission is being required of women in this specific context. (2:11-12)
The basis for Paul’s instructions is in fact based on the order of creation (2:13-15). The fact that God made Adam first and made Eve to be a helper to Adam shows this concept that has always been a part of God’s design for male leadership within marriage, and now within the church. Again, this does not mean that males are superior to females. It is helpful to see this as a responsibility: Men have more responsibility in certain leadership roles.
The mention of deception does not necessarily mean that women are more susceptible to being deceived. In Titus 2, responsibilities are given to older women and younger women. If women were more prone to being deceived, I do not think Paul would have had them play any role in discipleship! This can refer to the fact that some women at this time were specifically being deceived by false teachers. Paul may have been reminding these women not to follow in the footsteps of Eve.
1 Timothy 2:15 can be a difficult verse to interpret. To understand it within the context, it seems that Paul wasn’t meaning to simply exclude women from a certain role in the church for no reason, but is reminding them of the value of the role as a wife and mother. This is not meant to exclude single women; it’s speaking to the typical view and role. We also must be reminded that ALL women are encouraged to display godly character in the verses above!
There is a balance here. Women have limitations on the roles that they are permitted to serve in the church. Rather than seeing a limitation, see the opportunity that we have for fulfillment and a huge ministry right within our homes! Glorify God with it as you are a created being, fearfully and wonderfully made!
Making it Practical: How can I relate to someone who thinks differently than me?
The Genesis account introduces strict, yet broad, principles for men and women. We can see further practical implications of this in the New Testament. The Bible is not anti-women, nor does it demean women. Rather, men and women are valued as image-bearers and created to serve God. God does give men and women different roles, especially within a marriage and within the church (as expounded on later in the Bible). We must be humble and serve God where he has placed us.
Consider our opening question. How does culture’s view of womanhood compare to what the Bible says in Genesis 1-3?
What does the Bible say your worth is in, as a human being and as a woman?
How would you explain this to someone who was suspicious of the Bible?
