TOPIC 05 OF 47
Man and Woman
Created in God’s image, with dignity and a calling to love.
THE MAIN TRUTH
Men and women are a special creation of God.
Watch this topic
Infographic
Explore the biblical teaching about man and woman in this visual overview. Select the image to open it at full size.
The teaching
From the book · pages 13–15
Men and women are a special creation of God. God made male and female with equal worth and value. He designed us with complementary differences in our bodies and abilities.
The first man, Adam, was created from the dust of the earth. God designed man to be a strong, responsible, life-giving provider— to father children and build a family. Eve, the first woman, was made from the man. God designed woman, the glorious climax of creation, to receive the provision of the man with her loving, supportive partnership and encouragement and, as a mother, to bear children and nurture a family. Marriage and family are the foundation of community and society.
God created man and woman in his image to freely receive and reflect his self-giving love and to represent his creative reign by exercising dominion over the earth. God instituted and blessed the marriage union between a man and a woman as an earthly picture of his heavenly purpose for humanity: Christ, the Bridegroom, united with the Church, his Bride.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
The passages connect male and female creation with God’s image, marriage, and mutual responsibility. Read the account of creation alongside the picture of Christ’s love for his Church.
12 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Genesis 1:26-27 ↗
“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion’ . . . Male and female he created them.”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 02
Genesis 2:7 ↗
“The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 03
Genesis 2:18 ↗
“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is a suitable partner for him.’”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 04
Genesis 2:22 ↗
“The LORD God built a woman from the rib that he had taken from the man and brought her to the man.”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 05
Genesis 2:16-17 ↗
“The LORD God gave a command . . . ‘You may freely eat from every tree in the garden, but you shall not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. . .’”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 07
Genesis 2:24 ↗
“For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will remain united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Book page 14
SCRIPTURE 08
Mark 10:6-9 ↗
“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Book page 15
SCRIPTURE 09
Genesis 1:28 ↗
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.’”
Book page 15
SCRIPTURE 10
Psalm 127:3-5 ↗
“Indeed, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward from him. Sons born during one’s youth are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”
Book page 15
SCRIPTURE 11
1 Corinthians 11:7-12 ↗
“For a man . . . is the image and glory of God, but woman is man’s glory. For man is not from woman, but woman from man, and man was not created for the woman, but woman for the man . . . Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man comes through woman, and all things are from God.”
Book page 15
SCRIPTURE 12
Ephesians 5:31-32 ↗
“‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.”
Book page 15
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
45-Minute Study Guide: Man and Woman
A printable study that weaves the doctrinal statement together with all of its supporting Scripture passages, plus opening discussion, application questions, and prayers.
Download the Complete Bible Study (PDF)PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
How does creation in God’s image establish the worth of men and women?
How should responsibility within family life reflect self-giving love?
How can a congregation honor both married and unmarried people as valued members of Christ’s body?
A prayer
Father, help us honor every person you have made. Shape our relationships by the faithful, self-giving love of Jesus and strengthen the families in our care. Amen.