by furaha nchimbi | 2 September 2019 08:46 pm09
Answer: This question is often asked, especially when reading verses like:
1 Timothy 2:13 (ESV): “
For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”
This verse is frequently interpreted to mean that Adam was given priority over Eve. However, it is crucial to understand that God is a God of order and purpose. If everyone were created identically, to come into existence simultaneously, and to hold the same authority in every aspect, life would lack structure and meaning. God’s establishment of roles and order does not imply superiority of one over another but reflects His divine design and purpose.
Theological scholars emphasize that God’s order is part of His created design, meant to reflect harmony rather than hierarchy based on worth. For example, animals and plants were created before Adam (Genesis 1). Does this mean animals have priority over humans? Obviously not. The priority here relates to God’s specific creative plan and intended roles, not worth.
The Apostle Paul addresses the confusion that arises when gender roles are blurred, especially concerning church leadership and family life. He asks believers, “Does not nature itself teach you?” (1 Corinthians 11:14, ESV), suggesting that the natural distinctions between men and women reveal God’s intended order.
Consider the unique role women play in childbearing. No matter how devoted a father is, he cannot physically bear or nourish a child in the womb. This heavy, life-giving task is unique to women (Genesis 3:16). The theological concept of complementarianism recognizes that men and women are equal in value but have different roles, gifts, and responsibilities.
Similarly, men are typically equipped for physical tasks such as protection and provision (1 Corinthians 11:3). While many duties can be shared, insisting on a strict 50/50 division in all roles disregards God’s design and leads to confusion.
In Scripture, Paul gives clear instructions regarding church leadership:
1 Corinthians 14:34 (ESV): “The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.”
1 Timothy 2:12 (ESV): “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
These verses are often understood within the theological framework that women have distinct roles in the church, especially regarding teaching and authority over men. Some interpret these passages as cultural, while others, especially within evangelical and conservative traditions, see them as timeless principles rooted in God’s created order.
Some women, feeling sidelined by these instructions, choose to teach or lead in ways contrary to Scripture, mistakenly believing they are building up the church. Yet, Scripture warns against disregarding God’s order:
1 Corinthians 14:37-38 (ESV): “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”
This highlights the importance of submitting to God’s revealed will in Scripture rather than human preference.
In conclusion, the Bible does not teach male domination but rather God-ordained order (1 Corinthians 11:3). Men and women are equal in dignity and value, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but they fulfill distinct roles according to God’s sovereign design.
Blessings.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2019/09/02/does-god-favor-men-over-women/
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