Tenet 2

The Image of God and Gender Roles

Tenet 2. Both man and woman are made in God’s image (their human characteristics enable them to reflect His character) and they are both called to exercise dominion over the earth. They share an equal worth as persons before God in creation and redemption. The man is also the image and glory of God in terms of authority, while the woman is the glory of man. (Gen. 1:27-28; 1 Cor. 11:3,7; Eph. 5:28; 1 Pet. 3:7)

Gen 1:27-28 – So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

I Cor. 11:3 – But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Man is the head, but not all Greek scholars agree on the meaning of head here. 1 Cor. was first written in Greek, and their word here is kephale. Like the English head, kephale has the first meaning of the body part above the neck. After that, it has some symbolic meanings. Is "authority figure" one of them? Some Greek scholars say this word never mean authority figure. Even scholars who very much like to see male authority in the Bible, claim head mean "origin" more often than "authority."

(If you read authority into head here, you would read the authority figure of every man – atheistic man, male murderer, male Hindu priest, or drug abuser in the gutter- is Christ. “Is Christ.” Not “ought to be Christ.” Is He indeed their authority figure?)

1 Cor. 11:7 – For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

This text is rather baffling, as the woman was already called the image of God in Gen. 1, and God crowns us with glory according to Ps. 8:5 (man in :4 is not a gender specific word in the Hebrew),and we (male and female) change into the image of God’s glory (2Co 3:18).

Eph. 5:28 – So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

Eph. 5:28 is a very good truth, but seems to have no relevance to the tenet.

I Pet. 3:7 – Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
 

Being heirs together of the grace of life probably mean that they share equal worth in redemption. Whatever is meant by "as to the weaker vessel", this does not deminish the equal worth of women before God. Women should not be dishonored.
 

2a) Both man and woman are made in God’s image

Yes. That is Biblical.

b) (their human characteristics enable them to reflect His character)

If that explanation of what "made in God's image" mean is in the Bible, they should give a Bible reference for it. It’s easy to believe, but these are called Biblical tenets, and this one is not backed up from the Bible.

c) and they are both called to exercise dominion over the earth.

Yes. (Note that earth does not include people. Humans should exercise domininion over animals and planet, but Gen. 1:27-28 cannot be used to defend taking dominion over other humans. After all, they have the same dominion mandate.)

d) They share an equal worth as persons before God in creation and redemption.

Yes. Men and women were created equal, and God saves them completely and equally from whatever was marred by sin. As such, even if sin marred the equality, then saved men and women would be again equal in God's sight, or "equal in redemption." It could have had a verse to back it up, but it is Biblical. In fact, equality seemingly goes further: In the church, by Gal. 3:28, it does not matter if someone is male or female, as (s)he has Christ inside.

TBP show lip service to equality here, but in practice, where do we see them applying this truth? In what ways are men and women treated as equals within Vision Forum’s teachings and actions? (Also see the words “functional equals" in tenet 14.)

e) The man is also the image and glory of God in terms of authority, while the woman is the glory of man.

The text certainly does not say that man is the image and glory "in terms of authority." Authority is not in the text. By Ps. 8:5 and 2Co 3:18, we know "woman is the glory of man" is only a part of the truth, as she is, like man, also the glory of God.
 

Other ways Christians understand this:

I already touched on the opinion difference over head in Greek. Also notice that "the head of woman is man" is singular, and may refer to Adam being the head (source, beginning) of Eve. If women are the glory of man, men should be proud of them.
Many Christians believe that 1 Cor 11, the passage from which they get woman as the glory of man, is a place where Paul mentions a lot of contradictory ideas the Corinthians had about head coverings. "Woman is the glory of man" and perhaps even "Christ is the head of the man, the man of the woman" are quotes from those contradictory ideas. Paul answers the arguing factions with: "Everyone can decide for her(him)self, rather than to argue (with the choice of anyone else)."
Some think that it is dishonoring towards women to suggest men - not women - have a type of authority which scripture does not mention, and that it therefore contradict the command to show honor to wives.

Summing it up

How reliable is this tenet? I will use a color code:

      The color code:

      This is adequately Biblically defended

      This is defended biblically, but another view could also be defended biblically

      This is not Biblically defended

2. Both man and woman are made in God’s image (their human characteristics enable them to reflect His character) and they are both called to exercise dominion over the earth. They share an equal worth as persons before God in creation and redemption.
The man is also the image and glory of God in terms of authority, while the woman is the glory of man.

Tenet 4

4. Although sin has distorted their relationship, God’s order of authority for husbands and wives has not changed, and redemption enables them to make substantial progress in achieving God’s ideal for their relationship. (Gen. 3:16; Eph. 5:22ff.)

Gen 3:16 – To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.

“He shall rule” is not a command, but a statement of what will happen. It does not say if this is God’s will. Unless, of course, you see “thou shalt bruise his heel” (:15) as a command to Satan that God want him to harm humans.

Eph. 5:22, 25 – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. … Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it …etc. (Look up the rest of the passage)

Eph 5:22 starts in the middle of a sentence in the Greek it was written in. The "wives, [submit to] your own husbands” has no verb in the Greek. It borrows a verb from :21, “Submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.”
One Greek scholar suggest a good translation of :21-22 will be "... mutually submitting in the fear of Messiah; wives (mutually submitting) to your husbands as to the Lord.” As husbands are part of “one another”, the order to submit is given to husbands in :21. In 1st century society, men and women had very unequal positions, and following these teachings would actually have brought them closer to equality.

4a) Although sin has distorted their relationship,

Yes.

b) God’s order of authority for husbands and wives has not changed,

To Biblically prove that his order of authority stayed the same, you would have to prove that there was authority pre-fall, and then that he will rule (Gen. 3:16) mentions God's will, and not just a prophetic statement of how things will be.

c) and redemption enables them to make substantial progress in achieving God’s ideal for their relationship.

Yes, that is Biblical. But we have not Biblically established that authority was His ideal either pre-fall or post-fall.

Other ways Christians understand this:

While the authors of TBP believe that distinction was made between men and women in Eph. 5 because God gave them different gender roles, some others believe it was made because Ephesian society put them in different roles. Applying the same Christian principles for the very varied positions of men and women called for different applications.

Summing it up

How reliable is this tenet? I will use a color code:

      The color code:

      This is adequately Biblically defended

      This is not Biblically defended

4. Although sin has distorted their relationship, God’s order of authority for husbands and wives has not changed, and redemption enables them to make substantial progress in achieving God’s ideal for their relationship.

Tenet 6

6. A man’s authority in the home should be exercised with gentleness, grace, and love as a servant-leader, following the example of Jesus Christ. Leadership is a stewardship from God. (Ps. 103:13; Mal. 3:17; Matt. 11:29-30; Col. 3:21; 1 Pet. 3:7)

Ps. 103:13 – As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

Mal. 3:17 – “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

Matt. 11:29-30 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

These verses describe what God is like. Everyone, not just leaders or/ and married fathers, should follow Christ.

Col. 3:21 – Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

I Pet. 3:7 – Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

This tells to understand and honor her, not that you have authority over her. The word “vessel” is usually used in the Bible for the body or material things, and a weaker vessel probably refer to either physical strength, or to the fact that at a time when women often died in childbirth, they were weaker in health.

6a) A man’s authority in the home

TBP have not yet shown from scripture that men have authority that women do not.

b) should be exercised with gentleness, grace, and love as a servant-leader,

Yes, that is how to lead. The problem is when Patriarchy teaches men should lead in areas where the Bible does not prove they should. However gently a man lead where his leadership does not belong, it still is usurping the freedom of another.

c) following the example of Jesus Christ.

Yes. A verse for that will enhance TBP.

d) Leadership is a stewardship from God.

Once again, TBP give no verse for it. Some leadership is stewardship, but wrongly usurped leadership is theft.

Other ways Christians understand this:

Many Christians would not use the term “authority in the home” for an admonition to bring your children up in the faith, something which your wife and your church (and perhaps others) could also participate in. And it is common to believe that wrongly seized leadership is not stewardship.

Summing it up

How reliable is this tenet? I will use a color code:

The color code:

      This is adequately Biblically defended

      This is defended biblically, but another view could also be defended biblically
      This is not Biblically defended

 

6. A man’s authority in the home should be exercised with gentleness, grace, and love as a servant-leader, following the example of Jesus Christ. Leadership is a stewardship from God.

Tenet 7

7. The authority of fathers is limited by the law of God and the lawful authority of church and state. Christian fathers cannot escape the jurisdiction of church and state and must be subject to both. (Rom. 13:1ff.; Eph. 5:21; 6:4; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13ff.)

Rom. 13:1 – Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

If every soul should be subject to them, why does this tenet only mention fathers?

Eph. 5:21 – submitting to one another in the fear of God.

This don’t relate to authorities, but to how believers – including husbands and wives – have to treat each other.

Eph. 6:4 – And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Is this part of jurisdiction a father must be subject to? If the father's behavior makes a child angry (provokes him to wrath), is the child's wrath jurisdiction that must limit the father's behavior? Why is this text included here?

Heb. 13:17 – Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

This verse, in its context, refers to church jurisdiction. But once again, it speaks not only of fathers - everyone is under church jurisdiction.

1 Pet. 2:13 – Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme.

This verse, in its context, refers to state jurisdiction, but there is still no mention of fathers.

7a) The authority of fathers

See 5a); 5e) and 6a); perhaps also discussions of Tenet 3 and 4.

b) is limited by the law of God

Yes, God's law limits authority.

c) and the lawful authority of church; Christian fathers cannot escape the jurisdiction of church

Yes, the church should certainly believe that human authority ought to be limited.
d) and the lawful authority of state. Christian fathers cannot escape the jurisdiction of state

Yes, Christians - that include parents - should respect the law.

e) and must be subject to both.

Not an extra point, but a repetition of c) and d).

Other ways Christians understand this:

(No extra notes this time)

Summing it up

How reliable is this tenet? Here is the color code:

The color code:

      This is adequately Biblically defended

     This is defended biblically, but another view could also be defended biblically
      This is not Biblically defended


7. The authority of fathers is limited by the law of God and the lawful authority of church and state. Christian fathers cannot escape the jurisdiction of church and state and must be subject to both.

 

Submission. What does it mean?

(Submission is a significant part of the teachings of Vision Forum, and many other groups that focus on human control. As such, it will be wise to rethink what submission really mean in the Bible. My simple and first comment on submission will be that the Lord calls everyone to do it (Eph. 5:21), so it cannot mean those who have to do it are hierarchically lower than others. Everyone cannot be below everyone in a hierarchy, but everyone can submit.
This blog entry from R. Faurie is another take on the topic. Reposted with permission from here. )
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Submit, how? The wife’s “proper place”

Hypotasso, translated into English Bibles as submit (as in, for example, the verses that wives have to submit) is a combination of two Greek words.
The one is hypo, the other tasso.
Tasso means to arrange, and hypo means, according to the dominionists, under. And thus hupotasso would be, they say, to arrange under.
Really?

Hypo – G5259 in Greek dictionaries – is used 230 times in the Bible. It is mostly translated as of. Often, it is translated as under or by or with, and in singular cases as when or from or among. Hypo is under in just over 20% of the uses.

Examples:
of: “spoken of the Lord” (Mat. 1:22)
“the glory of men” (Mat. 6:2)
by: “spoken by the prophet”(Mat. 2:17)
“baptised by John” (Mat. 3:13)
“tempted by the devil” (Mat. 4:1)
under: “put it under a bushel” (Mat. 5:13)
“under authority” (Mat 8:8)
“under her wings” (Mat 23:37)
with: “vexed with unclean spirits” (Acts 5:16)
“carried with a tempest” (2Pet 2:17)
among: “of good report among all” (Acts 10:22)

The Greek word translated submit, then, may be loyalty or co-operation, arranging yourself by, arranging yourself about/ of (another), or arranging yourself with.

What if this was translated badly all along? What if translaters chose submit – arrange under – because of their limited understanding of scripture, and not because it was what the message actually said? What if the wife’s proper place, into which she should arrange herself, is beside her man and not below him?
Could it even be that Paul and Peter told 1st-century wives, who would have been positioned by society as below the men, to rise up to partner level?