Women in Ministry

God’s Original Design

Genesis 1:26–27 “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Here we see that both men and women are created in the image of God. As image bearers, they are both given authority on earth over everything. Assigned as care takers, they are each gifted but also different from each other. While both are image bearers, they are both unique, it is when they are joined together that they best express God’s image to the world. This is not a position on singles needing to get married to better reflect God, but rather recognition that both men and women exhibit different traits in their reflection of the Lord. When those traits are combined, functioning according to their original design, they moe fully reflect the person of God. Created unique from each other, they were also given distinctive roles. The husband to be the sacrificial, loving leader and the wife to complement him (Gen. 2).

We also need to consider the implications of Adam being formed first (Gen. 2:7; 1 Tim. 2:13), Eve was formed from Adam, not independently (Gen. 2:21-22; 1 Cor. 11:8). Additionally, Eve was created as a “helper” (Gen. 2:18,20), further developing the position of a complement to Adam. Each of these examples has some implication of Adam’s authority over Eve. While it is accurate and true to say this, we must remember that we are designed to compliment each other. Many will move on from these passages with the comment of authority of men over women. That man was created first and therefore independent in his leadership. However, Paul deconstructs that argument (1 Cor. 11:11-12) and we are regularly reminded that men are to sacrificially serve their wives through their leadership (Eph. 5:25-33; 1 Pet. 3:7).

Regardless of their distinctive roles, men and women are both created with equal value, dignity, honor, and worth. In other words, before God they are not seen as greater and lessor, but as equal value. Meaning, that they complement each other not from a place of rank but from a place of equality. In Ephesians 5:3—20, Paul builds towards the direct discussion of marriage by setting some preliminary guidelines for an appropriate posture in marriage. Then gives a key transitional reminder of God’s intention for us to compliment each other (Eph. 5:21). This complementary relationship should then inspire a confidence by both men and women to serve in ministry as the Lord has gifted them (Eph. 4:1-16).

We are called to imitate God, embrace our identity as believing children, and walk in love as modeled by Jesus (Eph. 5).