It is fascinating to hear the different narratives about what happened in the garden of Eden. I was talking with my husband about the history of sin and the promise of redemption from sin through Christ’s forgiveness, in Genesis 3. 

I was asking Bill, “What do you think should have happened? Should Adam have swooped in and taken over the situation?” How we understand what happened in the garden affects our lives and relationships today. The narrative that Eve became a feminist, and usurped her husband’s authority, came out from under her umbrella of protection, that’s one narrative that has been brought forward, and has led us into dominionism.

“Well, that’s what some people think that Adam didn’t fulfill his responsibility. I think Adam and Eve should have talked about what was happening, and worked together.” said Bill.

I found that helpful. And interesting. I haven’t heard anyone say that before. That they would work together to defeat evil. It got me thinking that they could have been each other’s ezer, or necessary ally. Eve was created to be Adam’s ezer, but Adam could also have been ezer for Eve. They could have been each other’s necessary ally. Defeat the forces of evil together. 

How can we bring this narrative forward into to new creation so that men and women are now working together, in marriage and in the church? Instead of this domestic violence narrative of men ruling and women fawning. Men and women could both be eldering and pastoring the church, or using whatever gifts the Spirit gives them.

From CSB

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’? ”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”

4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

A lot of extra has been read into this text. Whatever narrative we think is happening here, both of them ate the fruit and both of them sinned. Was sin happening before they ate the fruit? I don’t think so. Was it sin that they did not discuss what was happening and defeated evil together? I don’t think so? They ate the fruit and sinned, and both of their eyes were opened. 

The result of sin is pain. Separation from God. Pain in our sexuality, pain in our relationships, pain in our work, pain in our death.

There is good news in verse 15, the cross and resurrection are coming, and with it new creation in Christ. We are united back to God through Christ. We can rest in Christ’s victory over evil, at the cross and resurrection. In our restored relationships we can lead together in mutual authority and mutual submission. We can declare as ezers: Our sins are forgiven and we are holy and righteous on account of Christ crucified and resurrected. Adam and Eve saw, tasted, and ate the fruit. By trusting in Christ we taste and see that the Lord is good. 

15b He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

16 H e said to the woman:

I will intensify your labor pains;

you will bear children with painful effort.

Your desire will be for your husband,

yet he will rule over you.

17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and

ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:

The ground is cursed because of you.

You will eat from it by means of painful labor

all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow

until you return to the ground,

since you were taken from it.

For you are dust,

and you will return to dust.”

 

I take issue with the ESV translation of verse 16. 

To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

    in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be *contrary to your husband,

    *but he shall rule over you.”

It should say, your desire shall be *for your husband *yet he will rule over you.

I believe the word *contrary leads to more domestic violence, and a deep suspicion of women always wanting to be contrary to their husbands, and men ruling over women is control. The editors of the ESV were evil to change God’s word, and create more domestic violence within the church body.

Because of Christ crucified and resurrected for the forgiveness of our sins, I’d like to believe that we can have redeemed relationships. Where we are living together, as necessary allies to each other.  

Your desire may wish to be terminated in your husband, but it will be terminated in Christ crucified and resurrected, instead. You may want to rule over your wife, but because of Christ crucified and resurrected, you will rule with your wife. We can think of headship as union, and a ruling with.

This also gets me thinking about Paul telling married men and women to live as if they are not married. What does that mean? 1 Corinthians 7:

23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. 

And

29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything, 31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.

32 I want you to be without concerns. 

We can live as freed people. If you have a spouse enjoy marriage. With mutual authority, mutual leadership, mutual submission, mutual freedom.

Let other people be free from the law of Moses through the body of Christ, from your law or personal preferences, to use whatever gifts the Spirit gives them for the benefit of others, as they are willing and able to. Live in peace with one another as far as you are able to. As ezers, as necessary allies. These are appeals to a freed conscience.

God is already glorified in you on account of Christ crucified and resurrected, apart from anything that you do or don’t do. By faith you are righteous, holy, justified, and sanctified.

“But the Jerusalem above is free, (from Mount Sinai) and she is our mother.” Galatians 4:26

I would love to be in a local church body that was free of the law that came through Moses, and free of gender roles of male authority, and female submission. Living under the law of faith, living in the absolution, forgiven and free.

 

Related:

Examining Gender Roles