By Nathan A. Cherry

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood was Established and Distorted in the Garden: When God created man and woman, He created man first from the dust of the ground, then He created woman using a rib from man’s side. Everything involved, from the order of creation, the method of creation, to the man’s responsibility of naming the woman and teaching her the “rules” of the garden suggest the headship of man in his marriage and family. Let’s not forget the Fall of man in the garden and the man’s primary accountability for that event. In fact, the Fall depicts an all-too-common modern day marital order that is decidedly unbiblical.

In Genesis 3 we read of the temptation and deception of Eve. A common mistake is to assume that Eve was deceived, ate the fruit, then went to find Adam and gave him the fruit to eat. But Genesis 3:6 says that Eve gave the fruit to her husband who was “with” her. In other words this is the first and most deadly case of role reversal.

To put it in perspective, what most likely transpired could be termed “the usurpation by woman and the abdication by man.” As Eve was being tempted Adam stood next to her without saying a word. Even though it was Adam’s responsibility to teach Eve God’s law, he was silent. Even when Eve misquoted God (See Gen. 3:3), Adam said nothing. Even after Adam’s failure to teach his wife God’s word and his failure to protect her from the temptation of Satan, Adam completed his failure as a husband by joining with his wife in sin.

What must be understood here is that even though Eve sinned first it was not Eve that God called to stand account but Adam. If this was simply a matter of sinning God would have called Eve out first. But the fact that God calls Adam to stand accountable for his family highlights the error of role reversal as well as the headship/leadership placed upon the man. It cannot be overstated that every husband/father will one day be held accountable by God for how he led his family.

The idea of male headship within marriage is unpopular in the current culture; even within the church. However a proper understanding of the roles which God has ordained for men and women is essential to understanding our responsibilities and function within marriage and family. When the evidence is carefully considered the fact of man’s headship is undeniable. Already considered are evidences such as the creation order, the method of man and woman’s creation, man’s responsibility to name woman, and man being held primarily accountable for the Fall. Now consider the parallel between marriage and Christ and the church. 

Paul compares the man in marriage to Christ and the woman to the church (Eph. 5:23-32). There is only one way to understand this passage, which is the authority in marriage, the headship, is given to man. Certainly we would not suggest that the church and Christ have equal authority, as some have suggested for man and woman in marriage; and we dare not say the church is greater than Christ. The reasonable conclusion then is that just as Christ has authority over the church, so man has authority over the woman in marriage.

Again, it cannot be overstated that the man has the responsibility for the leadership of his wife and family and will one day be accountable to God for it.

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