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thereby demanded that a man should work away from his own home, not only was the
husband-wife relationship affected, but the family unit also. However, we note with
thankfulness, that at least one aspect of `protection' is afforded by "the word" (Eph.v.26).
If husband and wife ("one flesh") live in obedience to that word, recognizing the specific
positions that each have been given in the purpose of God, then they fulfil all that is
possible, and this is irrespective of the conditions imposed by any society.
In that relationship, the husband is preserver, protector, provider and deliverer. He
must exercise this role as best he can in the circumstances he finds himself, and according
as the will of the Lord is revealed unto him. His aim and object, with respect to his wife,
should be to shield her from anxiety and moral defilement, presenting her without "spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing".
No.6.
The Failure in Eden.
pp. 187 - 191
The failure in the garden of Eden has already been touched upon in this series, but
since it has a number of lessons to teach which are relevant to the subject of "male and
female", it must be given some consideration. Before looking into this however, there is
an important truth which ought to be noticed, and which affects an understanding of the
God-ordained positions of man and woman.
Identification.
The human race has come into being in such a way that all mankind are identified with
Adam; an important truth upon which the Apostle Paul has built great doctrines. This
identification can be felt from such a passage as Acts 17: 26:
"He made of (ek, out of) one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the
earth" (R.V.),
and it is also resident in Rom. 5: 12-21, where the "one man" Adam is contrasted with
the "one Man", Christ.
But `identification' is also behind some of Paul's arguments concerning "male and
female", so much so that Adam, in a sense, stands for man as a whole, whilst Eve
represents woman. Consider, for example how Paul rests his case concerning all women
upon the experience of Eve in Eden:
"I suffer not a woman to teach . . . For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression"
(I Tim. 2: 12-14).
Similarly, in I Cor. 11:, he argues that a woman ought to worship with her head
covered, from the facts of Eden: