If men and women are equally created in God’s image, does that mean they are the same?

No. When Paul says in Galatians 3:16 that we “are all one in Christ,” he is not saying that all Christians are the same. Rather, Paul is saying our differences, whether religious, social, or physical, are not an obstacle to the gifts or calling of God, or their service in the church. In fact, Paul is proclaiming how radical Jesus’ work was. Though Jesus came as a free, male Jew—important religious distinctions at the time—he emptied these distinctions of their religious superiority and domination over others. Though Jews were the first to receive the Gospel, then Gentiles, this order did not impact their oneness in Christ, nor their place in God’s Kingdom. Christ opened the door for people in all their unique religious, social, and male or female identities to come and serve before God as equals. 

Further, the Church’s doctrine of the Trinity demonstrates that God is relational with three persons—the Father, Son, and Spirit—in an intimate and connected dance of relational oneness. God knew that in creating humanity in his image, humanity also needed relationship. And so, in Genesis 2, as God reviewed the work that the garden would require, He said that “it is not good for ‘adam to be alone.” God then creates Eve, calling her ezer, or “a strong rescue,” to partner with Adam in governing and caring for the garden. (Find more details in Lesson 2, “My Bible Says Eve is Adam’s Helper.”). Scripture emphasizes their oneness in physical and spiritual substance, as well as their need for relationship with a distinctly “other ” person. Like the relationship in the Trinity, they are two equal yet distinct beings of the same substance (physical and spiritual). They are also meant to interact with one another in mutuality. Though men and women are made of the same substance, they are not the same—just as the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus are not the same, yet they are equal. 

This is a historically thorny issue for Christians that we are just beginning to sort out in this generation. It may be helpful to look at race to help us understand the issue of gender. When we look at people from different races, we can “see” with our eyes that we look different from each other. But we also know that difference does not make one inherently more capable of performing a task or role, just as green-eyed people are not better leaders than brown eyed people. On the other hand, we recognize that the differences we “see” have often caused people to have lived experiences that are unique and different from our own. These different lived experiences often bring different perspectives. In respectful relationship, these differences can provide us with a richer and deeper understanding of our world, our scriptures, our work, and our God. They make us stronger. Likewise, with men and women, there is no denying that our bodies are different, which gives us different lived experiences, and different perspectives and insights. Together, in respectful and equal relationships, these differences make us a richer, stronger, and deeper community.