Marriage & the Image of God

Two Different Contexts:

In certain contexts marriage is undermined. Some places view marriage as an impediment to careers because it ties you down to commitments that are restrictive. People in pursuit of other gods may find marriage to be repulsive, in the career-oriented, money-making context. In this context, a man or woman is able to bend moral rules so that they may be able to enjoy the pleasures of marriage without the restrictions of marriage.

In spite of this adverseness to marriage, there are also places where marriage is still valued. There are still people and churches who preach traditional values and faithfulness in marriage. Within this context, the danger is that marriage would become an idol. In this context, a man and woman are willing to bend the biblical truth to support their idolatry of marriage. In this context, if the marriage fails people feel like failures because their entire identity is rooted in that marriage.

So, how can we see marriage as the Lord intended it to be seen? How can we esteem marriage highly but not worship the relationship?

There are some key truths within the opening part of the scriptures that will help us to better understand marriage. Just as we would need to understand the varying components of the engine of a car, so that we could rightly value each part, so we must understand the varying parts of the first marriage. Within the first couple of chapters, the Lord gives us a glimpse into marriage and God’s image which is stamped within the marriage.

(1) In what image were men and women created? (, )

Both men and women were created in the image of God. When Paul references the woman reflecting the glory of man in , the point of that passage is created order. These early passages help us to understand where man/woman get’s his/her value and worth.

We would do well to note that this means that the earliest mentions of women in the Bible actually point to ontological equality to men. This means that women are honored in terms of their being and personhood. This would have been uncommon in the patriarchal society that existed in that time.

We would do well to note that this means that the earliest mentions of women in the Bible actually point to ontological equality to men. This means that women are honored in terms of their being and personhood. This would have been uncommon in the patriarchal society that existed in that time.

Defeater Belief: Women in the Bible are oppressed beings. There are several reasons why this is not true:

(i) First, the culture around women was tremendously immoral. Many of the laws where there are additional cleansing rituals or practices for women were there to clearly distinguish the women from the surrounding pagan culture. See ,

(ii) Secondly, the literary context within which the laws were found often prove the exact opposite of what some accusers would want you to believe. For example, consider the Levirate marriage. See .

(iii) Consideration should also be given to all of the positive Biblical examples of women who found honor: Eve; Sarah;

Defeater Belief: Women in the Bible are oppressed beings. There are several reasons why this is not true:

(i) First, the culture around women was tremendously immoral. Many of the laws where there are additional cleansing rituals or practices for women were there to clearly distinguish the women from the surrounding pagan culture. See ,

(ii) Secondly, the literary context within which the laws were found often prove the exact opposite of what some accusers would want you to believe. For example, consider the Levirate marriage. See .

(iii) Consideration should also be given to all of the positive Biblical examples of women who found honor: Eve; Sarah;

Application:

This leads us to understand that the fact that both men and women were created in the image of God should cause us to see them of equal value.

Women, this means that the source of your value is not found in your ability to get the laundry finished.

Men, this means that your wife’s value is not found in her ability to physical please you.

TRANSITION: Men and women were created in the image of God....

(2) What is the image of God? ()

First, let’s point out that image is not the same as job responsibility. Rather, the job responsibility reflects the image that they already had. In other words, the fact that they were able to dominate the other creatures is not itself the same as the image. It is a reflection of the image.

Secondly, it is not also that we are little gods.

The image of God means that God said “Let’s make man like us to represent us.”

This is often understood as man having the communicable attributes of God:

God’s being: spirituality & invisibility

Mental attributes: knowledge, wisdom, truthfulness

Moral attributes: goodness, love, mercy, holiness, peace, righteousness, jealousy, wrath

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine 1. The Meaning of “Image of God.”

The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God.

The image of God involves two important points of responsibility:

(i) The image belongs to God and thus puts man in unusual point of accountability to God - ; , It is also an accountability that is declared in creation revelation -

(ii) The image of God requires a recipient for the outflow of those attributes ()

In this passage, Adam’s responsibility to the Lord is noted and now the need to bend that image towards another is noted.

Application:

The issue I want to point out here is not one of marriage or singleness; but the fact that God did not create any man or any woman for the purpose of isolation. Because men and women are made in the image of God, they need to be engaged in companionship where others become the object of God through them.

(3) Why was the created image important for the original recipients of this account?

This verse is of importance, not merely for pointing to the intelligence of Adam, but because it shows a contrast. Though Adam had all of the animals before him, not one was like him, who was the image of God.

This presented a tremendous contrast for the original recipients and even earlier patriarch fathers. Here is what one man said: QUOTE:

The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis Adam and Eve (2:18–25)

Adam does not find companionship among the animals but will do so in one of his own kind. In Mesopotamian literature this concept is represented very differently in the Gilgamesh Epic. Enkidu, the half-man, half-beast, is content with animal companionship until he is seduced by a prostitute sent to capture him.

Application:

Animals may make good companions but they are not designed in any way to compare to the companionship we find in others. There are two reasons that I want to give you:

(i) Animals are not created in the image of God, hence their worth and value is no where near the same.

(ii) Gospel-grace cannot be extended to an animal as it can be extended to another sinner. We are often more forgiving of animals than we are of other humans.

(i) First, the culture around women was tremendously immoral. Many of the laws where there are additional cleansing rituals or practices for women were there to clearly distinguish the women from the surrounding pagan culture. See ,

(ii) Secondly, the literary context within which the laws were found often prove the exact opposite of what some accusers would want you to believe. For example, consider the Levirate marriage. See .

(iii) Consideration should also be given to all of the positive Biblical examples of women who found honor: Eve; Sarah;

Hence, the original recipients of this writing would have seen a stark contrast between God’s original intention and the surrounding world.

(4) What has taken place since creation that helps us to better understand the image of God?

There are a few things that have taken place.

(i) First, God created a suitable helper in the image of God for Adam ()

(ii) Second, the image of God has been terribly distorted by the Fall () but the value of man is still rooted in God’s image. See

(iii) Third, the restoration of the image of God began with Jesus Christ (coming in the “likeness” of sinful flesh - ) and continues by the Holy Spirit (; , )

(5) What impact does the image of God have upon marriage? ()

First, Adam recognizes a union that God accomplished. Secondly, the Lord (Moses is penman) says that this recognition should lead to an effort to maintain the unity. Thirdly, the author points out the security that existed.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul helps us to understand the implications of this passage: ,

Application:

1. Individual marriages are to be a foreshadowing of the ultimate marriage. So, don’t idolize your partner, but rather idolize the one your partner represents.

2. Single and married believers, as created in Christ Jesus, must see that the image they have in Christ calls them to be in communion with other believers for their edification.