“The LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam ... He took one of his ribs, and made it into a woman. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh'” (Genesis 2:21-23)
The Bible gets short shrift when it comes to woman's issues, but too often we fail to see its positive radical nature that spoke to the cultures into which they were written. In particular we need to see this story as a polemic (a corrective) to cultures far and wide, ancient and modern. My main source here is Cunningham and Hamilton's “Why Not Women? A Fresh Look at Scripture on Women in Missions, Ministry, and Leadership.” While their work discusses the attitudes and practices of ancient Greece, I have no doubt they are similar to those of cultures into which Genesis was written.
Our growing knowledge of ancient Greece does not paint a pretty picture. It was one of the most woman-hating civilizations in all history! In particular, it would be hard to find a society that so elevated one sex, and subjugated the other. The poet Homer cast the die for beliefs and practices for thousands of years to come. In 'The Iliad' we learn that women were considered to be the cause of all conflict and suffering. They had no value however, they were mere possessions to be won, and pawns in men’s power plays. Things progressed negatively from there. Roman law gave the husband the right to kill his wife for either adultery or drunkenness. In the light of this, we need to see the positive radical nature of Biblical teaching. Cunningham and Hamilton's book is a must read in terms of understanding this!
A huge source of influence on beliefs and practice in ancient Greece were the gods, and their attitudes and practices filtered down into the culture. Zeus not only beat his goddess wife Hera, he had offspring with at least seven other goddesses. Hera of course was expected to be faithful. The Greek poets Semonides and Hesiod emphasized the separate origins of men and women, saying that women were a divine curse, originating from a sow, a donkey, or some other despised animal.
Over against this, Genesis paints a picture of shared origins. Created from Adam's rib, Eve is of the same exact flesh and bones. The Genesis 2 account, is an elaboration of the overview in Genesis 1:27, where we read that God created both male and female. Before Eve was created, it was not good for man to be alone (2:18). Only afterwards was creation declared to be very good (1:31). Her arrival transformed Eden into paradise! Matthew Henry comments “woman was made of a rib, out of the side of Adam; not out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” Adam and Eve were created equal, and we need to see here in the very beginning of the inspired Scriptures, the seeds of the emancipation of women. There is much to say!
Father, thank You for scholars who can give us insight into things we have likely missed. Again Genesis before the fall is the goal. Help us Lord, we have a long way to go, and we need Your help in Jesus Name Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment