He, She, Three:Theological Reflections onGender Relations

Philip B. Payne

“Although nothing in Gen 2-3 teaches this directly, [some] argue that certain elements in the story imply that God put man in a position of authority over woman.”

Philip B. Payne

“Various proponents of this view give eleven arguments to support it, just as feminists point to various elements in the text that might suggest that God put woman in a position of authority over man … neither assertion is justified.”

Philip B. Payne

“Instead, the dominant focus of the text is on the equal status and mutual responsibility of man and woman.” [emphasis added]

Philip B. Payne, Man and Woman: One in Christ, p.43

The “Big Idea”

God intends the relationship of male and female in marriage to reflect

the equal, mutual, and reciprocal relationship of Son and Spirit as they

together reveal God the Father in the world.

Gen. 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. …”

Gen. 1:26-28

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; ….’

So God created humankind in his image,

In the image of God he created them,

Male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, ….’”

Gen. 1:26-28

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; ….’

So God created humankind in his image,

In the image of God he created them,

Male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, ….’”

Joseph Campbell

“Marriage is recognition of a spiritual identity. … By marrying the right person, we reconstruct the image of the incarnate God, and that’s what marriage is.” [emphasis added]

Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth, p.6

Gen. 1:26-28

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; ….’”

Henri Blocher

“So what can ‘us’ and ‘our’ mean in the case of God? … The answer to that, from the text, is the mention of the Spirit. … God addresses himself, but this he can do only because he has a Spirit who is both one with him and distinct from him at the same time. Here are the first glimmerings of a trinitarian revelation.” [emphasis added]

Henri Blocher, In the Beginning, p.84

The Trinity of GodGOD

Son Spirit

Father

Jesus

The “trinity” of Marriage

GOD

Gen. 2:24

“Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.”

Allen P. Ross

“God decided to make a helper suitable for the man. ‘Helper’ is not a demeaning term; it is often used in Scripture to describe God Almighty (e.g. Ps. 33:20; 70:5; 115:9). The description of her as ‘corresponding to him’ means basically that what was said about him in Genesis 2:7 was also true of her. They both had the same nature. … The culmination was one flesh (v.24) – the complete unity of man and woman in marriage.” [emphasis added]

Allen P. Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary Vol. 1, Genesis, p.31

Mark 10:6-9

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Eph. 5:25-32

“…’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church.”

The church is indwelt by the Holy Spirit!!!

Two Triangles

“The greatness of the mystery refers to the two becoming one flesh.” –Harold Hoehner

from The Bible Knowledge Commentary Vol. 2, Ephesians, p.641.

Father

Son Spirit

God

Man Woman

MarriageGodhead

Trinity and Marriage

God intends the relationship of male and female in marriage to reflect

the equal, mutual, and reciprocal relationship of Son and Spirit as they

together reveal God the Father in the world.

Matthew Henry

“Observe that 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.” [emphasis added]

- From Matthew Henry’s commentary on Genesis

www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc1.Gen.iii.html

Further ReadingHenri Blocher. In the Beginning. Inter-varsity Press;

Downer’s Grove, IL; 1984.

Joseph Campbell. The Power of Myth. Anchor Publishing; Harpswell, ME; 1991.

Harold Hoehner. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Baker Academic; Grand Rapids, MI; 2002.

Madeleine L’Engle. The Genesis Trilogy. WaterBrook Press; Colorado Springs, CO; 2001.

Philip B. Payne. Man and Woman: One in Christ. Zondervan; Grand Rapids, MI; 2009.

Allen P. Ross. Creation and Blessing. Baker Academic; Grand Rapids, MI; 1997.