gengwall

A comprehensive review which should require little commentary. Let me offer my “little”…

The problem Adam had which required a “helper” was not a domestic one, but a heart and soul one. Eve rescues Adam from his aloneness, a far greater problem than needing someone to tiddy up the garden home while Adam plays king. To presume that Adam had some unique earthly, domestic, ruling mission in which Eve was subordinated under him as assistant, or even worse, servant, completely misses the point of Genesis 2:18.

I continue to think there is significance in the “guardian” and “helper” designations for Adam and Eve and that significance is reflective of design. That can be argued another day (I am thinking of opening a forum for authors on my blog to offer their views on this topic). The glaring reality of those two “roles”, if hierarchialists want to use that term, is that neither contains an element of authority. In fact, both are positions of sacrificial service!

Paul reinforces this theme of selflessness in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 7 when dealing with husbands and wives. I still can’t help but think that Paul’s gender specific instructions in the former, echoed by Peter in 1 Peter 3, are related to design differences. But those differences don’t grant authority! The only time Paul grants authority in marriage – in 1 Corinthians 7 – it is reciprocal, equal, and astonishingly still balanced by selflessness.