Different by Design

A Theology of the Body

"Different by Design"

Gen. 2:18

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[a] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. Gal. 3:28-29.

Egalitarianism = belief in the equality of all people, especially in political, social, or economic life.

Complementarianism = belief that men and women are equal yet different by divine design, and that God's design makes a difference in how we ought to live as male and female.

Different in the Home (Eph. 5:22-25)

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (Eph. 5:22-25).

That text echoed almost word for word in Col. 3, clearly states the husband has the role of headship in the family. He is to nurture his wife and lead his family lovingly, humbly, and sacrificially. The wife has the role of nurturing her children and intentionally, willingly submitting to her husband's leadership. When both husband and wife are complementing each other in this way, Christ is honored. In fact, the marriage itself becomes what it was designed to be: a living picture of Christ and the church (v. 32).

8 For man was not made from woman, but woman fro