My personal response to the Egalitarian views of Linda Belleville and Craig Keener is varied. When reading and learning from Belleville I would go from understanding and personally align in thought, to feeling her view was somewhat stretching for me especially when other references were used outside of scripture. I was able to follow Keener closer, but this could be based on my up bringing in the evangelical church. It was very helpful to learn from Belleville the difference between egalitarianism and feminism and that they are not the same view. That feminism minimalizes sexual distinction and egalitarians affirm sexual distinction and that they are equal yet complementary. In evaluating the weaknesses of the Egalitarian view, one of
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The complementarian says that as first seen in Genesis, God’s original design of man is for male headship. God’s intended design of male headship is seen in several ways. First, man was created before woman. The word ‘helper’ is then used to define the woman. The complementarian recognizes that ‘helper’, or the word helper in Hebrew ‘ezer’, in its self is not inherently an inferior description of women. In fact, a helper can actually be a superior position as scripture also refers to God as our Helper, and His superior help is available to us in times of need. In other cases of scripture that the word ‘helper’ reflects a subordinate role. It is important to note that scripture does not state that man is an ‘ezer’ of his wife. In fact, man is given the authority to name creation as well as woman. Male headship is seen in story of creation in both of these ways. In Genesis 3, the hierarchy of male headship then continues after the fall but it becomes corrupted. Both male and female sinned. God pronounces judgment twice on both. Woman’s desire and man’s rule were both corrupted in their relationship. The same corruption of desire and rule are also seen in Genesis 4 with Cain before killing his brother Abel. Both the actions of desire and rule are no longer seen in a loving, giving relationship but as ungodly …show more content…
The complementarian recognizes many women displayed in the New Testament being close to Jesus and learning from him, evangelizing, including the first witnesses of His resurrection. Jesus’ teaching and relationships represent him being countercultural in equal treatment of men and women. However, Jesus himself represented a complementarian view in that He is the authority instructing others and His twelve apostles were all males. It was not until the next circle of a larger group of leaders does a woman appear. Blomberg makes a point in this with the statement “Increasingly, both liberal feminists and evangelical complementarians are agreeing that Jesus was no full-fledged egalitarian, despite initial enthusiasm among evangelical and liberal feminists alike that perhaps he was.” (145) The complementarian view is that women were not appointed as apostles. As the early church begins, scripture displays the Holy Spirit coming and dwelling in all believers, male and female. Both male and female receive the gift of prophecy. Women again are seen leading in multiple ways including helping the poor and evangelizing. Priscilla and Aquila are even mentioned taking into their home a young adult man, Apollos, and teaching him in the area of religious
The complementarian says that as first seen in Genesis, God’s original design of man is for male headship. God’s intended design of male headship is seen in several ways. First, man was created before woman. The word ‘helper’ is then used to define the woman. The complementarian recognizes that ‘helper’, or the word helper in Hebrew ‘ezer’, in its self is not inherently an inferior description of women. In fact, a helper can actually be a superior position as scripture also refers to God as our Helper, and His superior help is available to us in times of need. In other cases of scripture that the word ‘helper’ reflects a subordinate role. It is important to note that scripture does not state that man is an ‘ezer’ of his wife. In fact, man is given the authority to name creation as well as woman. Male headship is seen in story of creation in both of these ways. In Genesis 3, the hierarchy of male headship then continues after the fall but it becomes corrupted. Both male and female sinned. God pronounces judgment twice on both. Woman’s desire and man’s rule were both corrupted in their relationship. The same corruption of desire and rule are also seen in Genesis 4 with Cain before killing his brother Abel. Both the actions of desire and rule are no longer seen in a loving, giving relationship but as ungodly …show more content…
The complementarian recognizes many women displayed in the New Testament being close to Jesus and learning from him, evangelizing, including the first witnesses of His resurrection. Jesus’ teaching and relationships represent him being countercultural in equal treatment of men and women. However, Jesus himself represented a complementarian view in that He is the authority instructing others and His twelve apostles were all males. It was not until the next circle of a larger group of leaders does a woman appear. Blomberg makes a point in this with the statement “Increasingly, both liberal feminists and evangelical complementarians are agreeing that Jesus was no full-fledged egalitarian, despite initial enthusiasm among evangelical and liberal feminists alike that perhaps he was.” (145) The complementarian view is that women were not appointed as apostles. As the early church begins, scripture displays the Holy Spirit coming and dwelling in all believers, male and female. Both male and female receive the gift of prophecy. Women again are seen leading in multiple ways including helping the poor and evangelizing. Priscilla and Aquila are even mentioned taking into their home a young adult man, Apollos, and teaching him in the area of religious