I. Introduction: What does it mean to be a man? A woman?
II. Biblical Theology of Gender
A. Creation
Gen 1:26-27:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion....”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
- The image of God:
- Essence
- Function
- Relational nature
Gen 2:15 & 18:
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.... ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
- Differences between man and woman in Gen 2
- Man: “Work and Keep” (2:15) à Dominion / forming
- Woman: “Helper” (2:18)/“Life” (3:20) à Be fruitful / filling
B. Fall
Gen 3:16:
To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in child-bearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
- The fall brings about the distortion of created roles, not the introduction of new roles.
- Because of the curse, we shouldn’t be surprised at brokenness in gender and sexuality
C. Redemption in Christ
- Christ the perfect image of God (Col 1:15)
Gal 3:28:
There is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Christ’s work doesn’t obliterate gender distinctions, it redeems them (Eph 5, 1 Tim 2)
D. Restoration
- Creation will be set free from bondage (Rom 8:21); believers will receive glorified bodies (1 Cor 15:37-49)
III. Important Terms: Egalitarianism and Complementarianism
IV. Foundations for Biblical Masculinity
A. Adam, the Ground (’adamah) and Dominion
- Gen 2:5: No man to work the ground
- Gen 2:7: The man formed from dust of the ground
- Gen 2:9, 15, 19: The man names the other creatures formed from the ground and so exercises dominion (Gen 1:26)
- Gen 3:17-19: God pronounces to Adam the curse on the ground: he will have painful work until he returns to the ground in death
B. Working and Keeping
- Gen 2:15, 3:23 – Man’s calling to work/cultivate the “garden” God has entrusted to him = job and relationships (Eph 5:29, 6:4)
- Keeping/watching over/guarding (Gen 2:15, 3:24)
- The Christian vision of masculinity has far less to do with being macho or “wild,” and far more to do with lovingly providing for others
C. A Pattern of Responsibility
- God created the man first, then the woman (1 Tim 2:13)
- Gen 2:18: The woman is Adam’s helper;
Gen 2:23, he is the one who names her
- Gen 3:1: The serpent tempts Eve in order to undermine Adam’s authority (1 Tim 2:14)
- Gen 3:8-9: God holds Adam responsible first for their sin
- Gen 3:17-19: It is Adam who serves as a representative head for humanity
V. A Summary of Biblical Masculinity
“Biblical masculinity is displayed in a sense of benevolent responsibility to work God’s creation, provide for and protect others, and express loving, sacrificial leadership in particular contexts prescribed by God’s Word.”
A. “...Work God’s Creation…”
B.”…Provide for…”
C. “...and Protect...”
D. “...Loving, sacrificial leadership...”
- Biblical masculinity expresses itself not in the demand to be served, but in the strength to serve and to sacrifice for the good of others. (Luke 22:26, Eph 5:23-25)
- Biblical masculinity doesn’t have to initiate every action, but feels the responsibility to provide a general pattern of initiative.
- Biblical masculinity accepts the burden of the final say in disagreements between leader and led, but doesn’t presume to use it in every instance.
- Biblical masculinity recognizes that the call to leadership is a call to repentance and humility. (Psalm 130:3-4, 1 Pet 5:6)
E. “...In particular contexts prescribed by God’s Word...”