Bible Discussion Thread

Our identity in Christ: Male and Female roles; and eternal rewards.

We are told in 1 Timothy 2:9 to the end of the chapter the role of women; and the explanation thereof. The reasoning given is that man was created first; and also Eve was the one who was deceived (and was the first to sin) as an explanation. This is somewhat explained in the result of the fall ( Genesis 3:16) where man would rule over woman but the "desire" would be for the husband. Others have interpreted that as an urge to take control and usurp that authority. Perhaps it means both depending on the submissiveness or lack thereof of the woman.

The further detail here as to who was first created and first sinned adds a somewhat perplexing additional detail here. It would appear that the resulting punishment after the fall was to be contrasted with the original state of man and woman or it wouldn't be mentioned in Genesis as something different. It seems that the continuing status specifically in the church is not only the result of the fall and consequences but because of the original order of the creation and fall involving Adam first; then Eve. I may not have the best answer here as to how it effects church roles. First of all it appears that all animals were named; and they were to be along with the garden something Adam had authority over and care for. This was part of the rulership given to Adam. There may have been other things as well we are not aware of. The fact that Eve was deceived and the first to sin doesn't leave Adam any more innocent. In fact; his deliberate disobedience of God was a sin compounded by the fact that he should have been concerned about what happened to Eve. He deliberately sinned in listening to her voice which in some ways is worse than being deceived; albeit may not have thought about it that way.

NOnetheless in Christ ultimately there is no male or female ( Gal. 3:28) in Christ; and that relates to cultural and racial barriers as well.