I mentioned over the summer that I am working on a study of Genesis by Tim Keller. I also think I mentioned he makes a number of comments on gender. In the first few lessons, his commentary on the roles of males and females on “subduing the earth” (involvement in society and culture) and on males and females in marriage are so different than other teachings I have heard on these subjects.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Not only do we learn that work itself has great dignity, but we also learn that all kinds of work have dignity. If your world-view does not grasp the goodness of material creation, then ‘manual labor’—labor which is more physical and which involves more contact with the ‘stuff’ of natural world—will be seen as lower and beneath us. Greek philosophy was one source of this view of work, but the current era of global capitalism has given us new resources for despising work like farming or teaching or caring for children. ‘Information’ work now pays far better than manufacturing, etc. Also, although feminism has been rightly seeking to open up the public-work world for women, it has unfortunately demeaned child-rearing and domestic work because it is non-paying.”

“Genesis 1:26 confirms the equal dignity of male and female. Both are said to be created in the image of God from the beginning. Both genders, not just males, are given “dominion” over the earth in Genesis 1:28. [God blessed them and said…, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over….].It means that only as males and females together in full participation can we carry out our mandate to build civilization and culture. This is in contrast to the traditional view that “woman’s place is in the home.”

“Besides this explicit statement of equality, these verses also hint that the sexes are complementary. Immediately after making us male and female (v. 27), God says: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…” (v. 28).”

(He goes on to say this is something we cannot do alone.)

“Thus, male and female are equal in dignity but different in many traits and functions. We are equal but not inter-changeable or equivalent. There is a tendency for the ‘liberal’ mindset to emphasize the first of these truths and a tendency of the ‘conservative’ mindset to emphasize the second of these truths. But they must be both believed together.”

Another noteworthy point Keller makes is that the word used for “helper” (as in, females were created as helpers (ezer in Hebrew) to males) is used almost every other time in the Bible to describe God Himself. Therefore, it cannot denote inferiority. The Biblical concept of a helper, then, is one who helps out of strength in a supportive way.

Sifting one’s way through modern culture’s views on gender and marriage is challenging. I am thankful for these teachings.