Were women created to rescue men from their sexual temptations?

Recently, some pastors have agreed that Eve was created to rescue Adam, but insist that she was created to rescue him from sexual temptations. For evidence of this, listen to Christianity Today’s coverage of Mark Driscoll in their podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. It is important to remember that when God created Eve in the Genesis 2 creation narrative(2:15-23) , it is in the context of rescuing Adam from governing the garden alone. In this narrative, the animals were created as options for governing partners with Adam.  Of course, none were sufficient. So, God created Eve. Taken out of the man, Adam recognizes her as his counterpart and expresses great delight in her creation.

“This one at last, is bone of my bones

    and flesh of my flesh;

This one shall be called ‘woman’

    for out of man this one has been taken.”

Genesis 2:22 (NAB)

Eve, made of the same spiritual and physical “stuff” as Adam, was created to co-govern God’s creation with Adam, not to rescue him from sexual temptations.

Further, when we look at biblical sexuality, a picture of equality and mutuality is reinforced. Sexuality is integral to discussions of our relationship with God, our relationships in marriage, and our relationships with community.

Biblical Sex Part 1

Part 1 uncovers the disconnect between complementarian patriarchy and its expectation of equality in its most intimate expression, sex.  It then explores the biblical “sex” passages.

Biblical Sex: Patriarchy’s Greatest Enemy (Part 1)

This is part one of a three-part series exploring the egalitarian nature of sex and intimacy as it is portrayed in Scripture. Go on to and part three. Patriarchalism in most of its forms, whether in “soft complementarianism” or in the blatant sexism of popular Christian authors such as Douglas Wilson, Mark Driscoll, and others, has always found itself in a tight corner of the bedroom.

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Biblical Sex Part 2

Biblical Sex: Patriarchy’s Greatest Enemy (Part 2)

This is part two of a three-part series exploring the egalitarian nature of sex and intimacy as it is portrayed in Scripture. Catch up on or go on to . There’s a lot of talk about the Song of Songs in Christian evangelical circles-at least when it comes to marital love and sexuality.

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Biblical Sex Part 3

Part 3 covers Paul’s thoughts on marriage, especially in relation to the mutuality found in 1 Corinthians 7.

Biblical Sex: Patriarchy’s Great Enemy (Part 3)

This is part three of a three-part series exploring the egalitarian nature of sex and intimacy as it is portrayed in Scripture. Catch up on part one and Contrary to popular Christian belief, 1 Corinthians 7-not Ephesians 5-is the longest and most substantial chapter on marriage in the New Testament.

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