The Biblical Role of the Pastor's wife - South African Theological ...

of Lazenby. On this point, I believe Fitzpatrick is truer to the biblical evidence
than Lazenby. Both man and woman equally represent God. Each human
being is created to bear God’s image, therefore this could not be limited to a
husband and wife relationship. Single Christians need to understand they are
created in the image of God. However, the completeness found in the
marriage relationship must be considered, as a Christian couple become one
(Gen. 2:23; Eph. 5:31) they become the image of God in unity.
3.1.2 Summary
It is evident from scripture as well as different scholars that God created
both male and female in His image. He created them equal and distinct; He
created them for unity and purpose. We, as male and female, bear the image
of our Creator. Our likeness is that of God’s, in the way we unite with our
spouses, rule of creation and reflect God’s character. With this as a
foundation, let us explore the unique purpose of woman.
3.2. The Purpose of Woman
In Genesis 2, the author describes God’s creation of woman from man’s
side. By pointing out the unique creation of the wife, who is first and foremost
a woman, the author of Genesis desires to emphasise her purpose and
intimate relationship to her husband. Ortlund (1991:100) points out that God
within the perfection of His creation found that there was “one deficiency in
Paradise. The man needed ‘a helper suitable for him.’” Ortlund claims that
God did not immediately produce a suitable helper, He first allowed Adam to
name all the animals and find that there were no creatures suitable for him, a
process of self-realisation. Genesis 2:19-20 indicates that God first formed out
of the ground all the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Once the
creatures were all named it was clear that no suitable helper was found for
Adam.
God created woman from the very flesh of man. Using one of man’s ribs
God formed woman indicating his equal, match and partner in life (Shelley,
1988:5). Eve was created as Adam’s partner, equally in God’s image and
called to glorify God (Fitzpatrick, 2003:35). The identification of one as a
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