There are many books, Bible studies and so forth on women that did things in the Bible. That’s not what I’m going to be doing here. I will posting twice, once from the Old Testament and once from the New, about why the people claiming the Bible was written by people in power to keep others under subjection are wrong. If you want to read about Queen Ester saving the Hebrews or Jael driving a tent stake through a guy’s head those articles/books/podcasts should be easy enough to find. We are starting in Genesis 2.

God formed Adam out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. I have written blog posts, preached sermons and including a chapter in my book on the creation of the man and woman. We could spend some time unpacking what it means that men and women – men and women – and created in God’s image according to Genesis 1. I want to look into Genesis 2 and highlight just one fact. In Genesis 2:18 God declared that it was not good for man to be alone. Adam lived in the perfect environment God created. At the end of the creation week, God looked at all that he had made and said that it was very good. Adam was placed in the garden to dress and keep it; before sin and the curse, he was given a task. He had a vocation but it did not involve “work” as it would after the fall. He was surrounded by animals that did not hunt each other or try to kill him. There was no war, no strife, no hunger, it did not rain. Adam was living the life. But he was alone, literally the only person in the world. And God said “It is not good…”

So men and women, I want you to dwell on this fact for a moment before we continue. God looked a world with no women in it and declared there needed to be one.

Now, as we continue reading Genesis 2:18, God said that he would make a helper fit for Adam. It would be easy to jump at those words and claim that the woman was created in a subordinate position. She was there to serve Adam by taking orders and making his life easier. They lived in literal paradise. Adam dressed a garden that did not grow weeds or thorns. But that doesn’t matter. Let’s examine the meaning of the original words and talk about their usage in other passages of scripture.

The ESV uses the word helper. The Hebrew word being translated it ‘ezer. Even though it’s translated as helper it does not mean an inferior subordinate. The word ‘ezer is used twice to describe Eve in Genesis 2. It is use a few times in the Old Testament to describe military allies in crisis. But the vast majority of the time, as many as 16 other occasions, it is used to describe God’s relationship to Israel as rescuer, protector and strength. God is neither inferior for subjegated to men so it cannot simply mean inferior helper. It is paired with the Hebrew word k’negdo which means suitable or fit. Modifying ‘ezer with k’negdo implies an equal match, face-to-face, of the same nature and status rather than a hierarchical assistant.

Once again, dwell on that thought for a moment before going on. Take a breath and think about it. If the Bible were written to keep people under subjection then these are poor word choices. Of course I will always argue the Bible was not written by men at all but is in fact the Word of God. It’s not about empires keeping their subjects under control or women in their place. It is written so that people who are fallen, sinful and broken can come into the presence of a Holy God that loves them.

Now you might think when we go to the New Testament that we’ll be looking at marriage texts in Ephesians or something. No, we are going to examine a passage much bolder than that.