A brief study of the Biblical passages on gender. Opens with a statement of purpose:
One of the most significant changes in human history has occurred during the past forty years. It is the gender revolution. In the words of historian William Manchester, "the erasure of distinctions between the sexes is not only the most striking issue of our time, it may be the most profound the race has ever confronted."
Like the rest of society, Christianity has been permanently affected by this change. According to a leading Time magazine article entitled "The Second Reformation," religious feminists "believe they are caught up in one of Christendom's great and historic transformations." In reality, the gender transformation taking place within the worldwide Christian community is not a sign of a "second reformation" (the first being Martin Luther's back-to-the-Bible, sixteenth-century reformation) but of a radical departure from biblical, apostolic Christianity.
Among Bible-believing Christians, the gender revolution has spawned intense, emotional controversy over what the Bible says about the roles of men and women. There are two major viewpoints in this debate. One is the evangelical feminist view (or egalitarian view); the other is the complementarian view, which is the non-feminist view.
The purpose of this book is to state and defend the complementarian viewpoint. Written in outline form, the book presents biblical evidence that Jesus Christ taught that men and women are equal yet different. It introduces the key terms, arguments, and the most recent research related to the complementarian position. Thus is also provides an easy-to-read summary of all the key Scripture passages commonly used in the gender debate.
Ninety percent of this book consists of Scripture exposition. I emphasize the Scriptures because the answer to this debate is found in God's Word, not in books on sociology or anthropology. Furthermore, "no factor is more influential in shaping a [Christian's] moral and social behavior than regular Bible reading." Yet biblical illiteracy abounds in alarming proportions among Christians today, and one well-known authority predicts an even greater decline in Bible reading. As the voices of postmodern secular society grown louder and more appealing, it is essential that Christians hear clearly the voice of God through the Word of God in order to counteract secular society's pervasive influence.
I sincerely pray that you will find the careful exposition of Holy Scripture to be the most rewarding part of this book. The study of God's Word should always be exciting for a Christian. Our Lord loved the Word of God and quoted it with full authority when He faced trials and controversy. As one biblical scholar says of Jesus, our Lord.
"We can say with all reverence that Jesus Christ was practically saturated with the Scriptures...One tenth of His words wee taken from the Old Testament. In the Four Gospels 180 of 1800 verses which report His discourses are either quotations of the written revelation or else direct allusions to it. If we are criticized for constantly quoting Scripture texts, what can be said of Christ, who had them constantly at the tip of His tongue?
This book is written for people who are unfamiliar with the biblical passages on gender and probably will not read a lengthy technical book on the subject (of which there are a bewildering number of choices). It is especially suitable for high school- and college-age young people. It is also an excellent resource for anyone who wants an overview of all the key biblical passages related to the gender debate from the complementarian position.
As to the spiritual identity of my readers, I take for granted that they accept the lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives and believe the Bible to be the written Word of God and the Christian's divine, unerring authority for doctrine and life. As the Bible says of itself,
All Scripture is inspired by God [literally, God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).I felt that it was important to share that...it is vital for our families that we have a clear, Biblical understanding of how Father intended the marriage relationship to function. I am going to list the chapter titles and sub-chapter headings.
- Understanding the Controversy
- Complementarian View
- Evangelical Feminist View
- Jesus Christ and Gender Discrimination
- A Plea
- I. Jesus Christ Appealed To The Creation Account
- A. Genesis 1: Created Equal in God's Image
- 1. God created the human race male and female.
- 2. God created both the man and the woman in His image.
- 3. God commanded both the man and the woman to multiply and rule the earth.
- 4. God name the human race "man."
- B. Genesis 2: Created Equal and Different
- 1. God made Adam the central character.
- 2. God created Adam first.
- 3. God formed the woman out of the man.
- 4. God created the woman for the man.
- 5. God gave the man the right to name the woman.
- 6. God created the man and woman equal in nature.
- C. Genesis 3: The Fall and the Battle of the Sexes
- 1. Eve's deception.
- 2. Eve's penalty.
- 3. Adam's penalty.
- II. Jesus Christ Appointed Male Leadership for His Church
- A. Jesus Had to Be a Man
- B. Jesus Appointed Twelve Male Apostles
- 1. Jesus was fearless.
- 2. Jesus was a non-traditionalist.
- 3. Jesus didn't fail women.
- III. Through His Apostles, Jesus Christ Gave Instruction on Marriage
- A. 1 Peter 3:1-7: Submission and Understanding
- 1. Peter instructs Christian wives to submit to their husbands.
- a. The meaning of submission (hypotasso)
- b. The inner beauty of a submissive spirit
- c. Limits on submission
- 2. Peter supports submission with the Old Testament Scriptures.
- 3. Peter instructs Christian husbands to understand and honor their wives.
- a. Be an understanding husband
- b. Show honor to your wife
- (1) Weaker vessel.
- (2) Equals in spiritual life.
- (3) Divine discipline.
- B. Ephesians 5:21-33; Submission, Loving Headship, and a One-Flesh Union
- 1. Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands.
- a. Submit as to the Lord
- b. A profound theological reason for submission
- (1) The husband is the head.
- (2) The husband's headship is based on Christ's headship.
- c. The wife's submission is based on the Church's submission
- 2. Paul instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church.
- a. Loving one's wife as Christ loves the Church
- b. Loving one's wife as one's own body
- (1) Husband and wife are one body, one flesh, one person.
- (2) Christ and His people are one Body.
- (3) A great mystery.
- C. Colossians 3:18, 19: Submission and Love
- D. 1 Corinthians 7:1-40: Divorce, Singleness, and Marital Obligations
- E. Titus 2:3-5: Teaching Younger Wives Love and Submission.
- 1. Love your husband.
- 2. Love your children.
- 3. Be a diligent homemaker.
- 4. Be submissive to your husband.
- F. 1 Timothy 3:4,5, 12: Men as Good Family Leaders
- IV. Through His Apostles, Jesus Christ Taught Gender Equality and Role Differences in the Christian Community
- A. 1 Timothy 2:8-15: Submission and Leadership in the Church Family
- 1. Men's prayers.
- 2. Women's dress.
- 3. Women's submission.
- a. Learning
- b. Teaching
- c. Exercising authority
- d. Biblical reasons
- (1) Adam was created first.
- (2) Adam was not deceived, Eve was.
- B. 1 Corinthians 14:33b-40: Submission in the Church Meetings
- 1. The Law and Christianity agree on submission.
- 2. Universal church practice agrees with submission.
- C. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16: Headship, Submission and Glory
- 1. Three headship-subordination relationships.
- a. Christ/Man
- b. Man/Woman
- c. God/Christ
- 2. The original order of creation.
- a. Man is the image and glory of God
- b. Woman is the glory of the man
- (1) Woman from the man.
- (2) Woman for the man.
- (c) The interdependence of man and woman
- D. Romans 16:1-16; Acts 16:14, 15, 18:24-26; Philippians 4:2, 3; 1 Timothy 3:11: Ministering Women
- 1. Romans 16:1-16.
- a. Phoebe
- b. Prisca (Priscilla)
- c. Mary
- d. Junias
- e. Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus's mother
- 2. Acts 16:14, 15; Philippians 4:2, 3: Lydia, Euodia, and Syntyche.
- 3. Acts 18:24-26: Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos.
- 4. First Timothy 3:11: Women as deacons.
- E. Galatians 3:28: Oneness with Christ
- 1. The Meaning of Galatians 3:28.
- 2. The Misuse of Galatians 3:28.
- 3. The Implications of Galatians 3:28.
- V. Jesus Christ and His Apostles Spoke Plainly
- A. We Allow Jesus to Speak and Act for Himself
- B. We Allow the Whole of Scripture to Speak for Itself
- C. We Allow the Plain Sense of Scripture to Speak for Itself
- D. We Allow the Core Passages to Speak for Themselves
- VI. Take Courage and Stand Strong In Your Faith
Being raised in a society pulsating with feminist ideology makes for an intriguing path in understanding and embracing God's design for male and female. While not easy, it is an obtainable goal.
A few quotes from the book:
Alexander Strauch: "...in Ephesians 5, the husband is commanded to love his wife --not to rule her, boss her, control her, break her, or enslave her."
He quoted Mary Kassian:
"Teaching on marital roles has often been lopsided. Many preach on woman's submission without allotting equal time to man's corresponding responsibilities. This is a source of endless frustration to women. They constantly hear how they are to submit, yet they seldom hear that this is tempered by the husband's responsibility to love.
As a result, some women have rebelled against biblical teaching. As well, the overemphasis on the woman's role has led men to believe that it is their duty as spiritual leaders to help their wives learn submission. This belief fosters a harsh, domineering, and chauvinistic attitude that makes it even more difficult for women to fulfill their role. Much bitterness and rebellion could be avoided if the emphasis on marital roles were correctly placed on the male role of loving leadership rather than on the female role of submission."
May God grant male and female to embrace His design, to walk in His love and mercy, obedience and submission to His calling and equipping us. May we reclaim that which God has given us and boldly encourage others to do the same.
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