Men and Women in God’s Design // Africa Study Bible

When God created Adam out of the earth, Adam was alone, and it was not good. Even with creation complete, Adam did not find fulfilment. God took Eve out of Adam so they would be together (Genesis 2:7, 18-25). God created both men and women to be in his likeness, giving us value and dignity (Genesis 1:26-28). Both men and women reflect our Creator in their ability to think, to create, to love, to rule over creation, and to live holy lives.

Both men and women reflect our Creator God.

God formed woman from man’s side. She is (called) a helper, different from him but equal to him. The word “helper” (ezer) in the Old Testament applies to God 16 out of 21 times and does not suggest a weak person. Often it means a military ally (1 Samuel 7:12). Israel needed God, their strong ally. To obey God’s command to fill the earth and reign over creation, man needs woman (Genesis 1:28).

But Adam and Eve sinned. The woman had come from the man, so God said that the husband would rule over his wife and that childbirth would be painful (Genesis 3:16). The man had come from the earth, so God said that man would labour to farm food from the ground (Genesis 3:15).

The Battle of the Sexes

The consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin still affect us today. In society and the church, men have often taken advantage of position and physical strength to mistreat, abuse, and belittle women. We have seen wives beaten, girls not able to attend school, widows denied justice, women sexually harassed, and rape used as a weapon of war.

Men have often taken advantage of position and physical strength to mistreat women.

But through Jesus, God “freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:24). God promised that the woman’s offspring would strike the head of the snake (Genesis 3:15). Jesus was Mary’s offspring, who fulfilled this promise through the Cross. “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We may not see all the effects of the curse reversed until heaven (Revelation 22:3), but no matter what our station in life, every believer is a child of God who inherits the promised Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14, 29).

Man and woman were originally called to fill the earth and reign over creation together. But men and women often struggle against each other instead.

Women, Ministry, Leadership and Gifts

Women’s gifts and perspectives can benefit everyone when they are allowed to contribute to leadership and decision-making. Women were active public participants in the leadership and services of the New Testament church. But neither women nor men should seek leadership to lift themselves above others and misuse power. Jesus taught that real leaders suffer and serve others (Matthew 20:20-28).

Jesus taught that real leaders suffer and serve others.

All Christians are called to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). We must live out whatever God has called us to—in humility and love under the authority of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11). Equally, we should honour both the pastor of a church and the godly spouse who often gives up leadership opportunities for the family’s sake.

“There Is No Longer Male or Female”

We must be clear that Galatians 3:28 does not erase all distinctions between men and women. Today’s media often encourages gender confusion. Some men dress like women or want to become women. Some women desire to sleep with women or become men.

Our gender impacts how we live in our family, church, and society.

We can learn from each other, but men and women are not the same—from our bodies to how we interact with each other. Our gender impacts how we live in our family, church, and society. God has chosen specifically each of us to be a man or a woman. Delight in this (Psalm 139:13-16)! We should honour each person as created equally as a man or woman in God’s image. In our families and congregations, let’s celebrate each member’s unique gifts that flow out of both the strengths of their God-given gender and their individual talents and abilities.

Together, we reflect God’s image and fulfil God’s purposes.