Essay #1

Sterling Von Strohe

WGS 3463

Essay/Blog 1

The two passages of scripture show different depictions of gender roles through Adam and Eve (Gen 1:1-2:3 and Gen 2:4-24).  Within the first passage, each aspect of creation is presented in twos. From light and darkness to water and land to day and night (Gen 1:1-19), each piece God created in twos but this does not mean the two are in conflict or contradict each other. I believe that the two compliment each other. Due to having both, our world is more complete and the goodness of the Lord is able to shine through.  Due to showing the difference between each creation, humans are able to appreciate creation more and see all that was done. In turn, when God creates male and female on day six I believe that neither one has greater power over the other, just as every other day of creation. The two are created to compliment each other, enable our world to reproduce, be unique, appreciate the other, and both are made in God’s image (Gen 1:27).  God created “twos” each day of creation therefore it only made sense to create two genders, male and female, each with different strengthens and purposes. Niditch explains that “without establishing relative rank or worth of the genders, the spinner of this creation tale indicates that humankind is found in two varieties, male and female” (Niditch, 30). In the second account, Eve was created after Adam when the Lord decided that it was “not good that the man should be alone” (Gen 2:16), and that no animal was suitable to be a helper and partner to Adam. In addition, in the second account Eve was created from a rib of Adam (Gen 2:22), in some ways showing how men and women are similar and alike in origins. The second passage creates man to come across superior to women due to Adam being created first, Adam’s rib being used to create Eve, and the fact that Eve was created to be Adam’s helper. On the contrary, that God used the rib of Adam to show that Adam and Eve were “equal in every respect” (Stewart, 46) or “parts of a whole” (Niditch, 30). In the same way, the second passage also uses words like “partner” and “become one flesh” showing a desire for man and woman to still be viewed as equal (Gen 2:18 and Gen 2:24). In addition, in Genesis 2:24 it states that “man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife”, showing the reverse side of the woman being superior. If the author were writing the text in order to show the dominance and strength of men, why would the man cling to his wife and not the reverse?