A Right Understanding of Gender

NOTE: This is the third post in a a 5-post series by Andrew Courtis, Pastor of Hills Bible Church. In it, Andrew discusses some of the most contentious issues facing society. In response to these issues, he turns to the Scriptures to present the biblical perspective on each.

When God created male and female – He created them with equal value and dignity. Both were created in His image (Gen. 1:27) and both therefore reflect the handiwork of their Maker. Though they are both of equal value and dignity, the Scriptures make it clear that there are differences of function between the two of them. The most obvious of these differences is that Adam was a male and Eve was a female.

When Adam saw Eve for the first time he was captivated by her appearance. Unlike the animals, he noted the similarity and connection she had to him as he stated that she is “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” However, there was a clear distinction in her person. Adam says, “she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” She is similar but different – Eve was a woman. In creating Eve, the Lord made her “a helper fit for” Adam (Gen. 2:18; cf. 1 Cor.11:9). Though equal in value and dignity, Eve’s role was to be a help for her husband Adam. Wayne Grudem notes, “She was created as one who differed from him, but who differed from him in ways that would exactly complement who Adam was.” [1] The Lord has designed marriage to consist of a man and a woman rightly functioning in their God ordained roles.