“Oneness” - Broadway Church of Christ€¦ · “Oneness” Spring Series 1 Lesson 1 “From...

“Oneness”SpringSeries1Lesson1

“FromCreation”Objective:ToexaminetheScripturesinordertoseekunderstandingandguidanceonhowwearetoworktogetherasthepeopleofGodusingallthegiftsandresourcesthatGodhasbestowedupontheChurch.ThroughthecenturiestherelationshipofmenandwomenandtheirservicetoGodhasbeenhotlydebatedandcontinuallyexamined.WeconsiderwhatweareundertakingheretobeacontinuationofthatdebateanddialogueaswecarefullyandprayerfullyseektheguidanceofGodthroughHisWordandHisSpirit.WearepeopleoftheBookanditistothebookthatwelookforanswerstoourquestions,nottotraditions,toscience,ortosociety.Materials:TheBible,Ancienttranslations,Commentaries,bothancientandmodern,Books,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternet,inscriptions,Ancientletters,AncientDocuments,lecturesandotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.Procedures1. ToexplorethemessageofGodinthehopeofunderstanding

morefullyitsmeaningKirstasitwasunderstoodbytheoriginalaudiencesofScriptureandwhattheywillhaveunderstoodasGod’swillfortheirlivesincommunity.

2. TounderstandhowScripturehasinspired,challenged,andeducatedpeopledownthroughthecenturiesguidingthemnotonlyintheirpersonallives,butintheirvocationasimage-bearersofGod.

3. WewillseektoKindouthowbeliefshaveplayedaroleinthehistoryofChristianityandhowtheycontinuetoimpactourexistenceandservicetoJesusChristintheworldtoday.

4. Wewillprovideasheettotakehomeasareminderofwhathasbeenexaminedandtoprovideadditionalopportunitiesforconsiderationofthesemattersandtheirapplicationinordertoliveoutdailyoureternaldestiny.Thissheetcanbeusedasadiscussionguideforsmallgroupdiscussion.  

PAGE OF SPRING SERIES 1 - DURATION - 7 WEEKS1 25

Aswecometoanyissueofpractice,orbelief,regardingthe

KingdomofGodwesurelymustseektounderstandthedirections

andteachingsofourKing.Especiallyinourtradition,among

ChurchesofChrist,ithasbeenunderstoodthatofthehighest

earthlyauthorityinregardtosuchquestionsistheWordofGod.

Wehaveinthepastunderstoodthis,andstilltodaythisisvery

muchourunderstandinganddesire,thoughattimeslessour

actualpractice.WearepeopleoftheBookandwemustlookto

theBookforouranswers.Asweapproachthistopicofstudy,

Scripturewillstandatthecoreofourdiscussionsasitstandsat

thecoreofourmotivationsforlookingatissuesthatconcernour

workingtogetherasGod’scommunityoffaith.

OneofthedifKicultiesinvolvedinthisendeavor,however,is

foundindeKiningwhataninterpretationandunderstandingof

ScriptureactuallymeansfortheChurch.Wetodayareseparated

bymanycenturies,andbysigniKicantculturaldifferencesfromthe

audiencesforwhichthesewritingswereinitiallyproduced.

Throughoutthehistoryofthechurchtherehavebeenmany

differentmethodologicalapproachesusedinthequestto

comprehendthemessageofScripture.Inourownerathe


historical-criticalapproachhasbeenthemostwidelyaccepted

andcertainlyhasbeenthemethodologythathasbeendominate

amongChurchesofChristthroughouttheirhistoryasamodern

movement.

Thehistorical-criticalmethodologygrewoutoftheAgeof

Enlightenment.Thisagevaluesreason,logicandsystematic

methodology.Withsuchanapproachcomesacertainamountof

baggagethatwillcertainlynothavebeenbornebytheoriginal

audiencesofthesesacredtexts.Ourperceptionofhowtheworld

worksasawholeisjustoneexample.Theywouldnothave

sharedourmodernconceptualunderstandingofhowtheworld

operatesatall.Forhistorical-criticalmethodologytobetruly

goodmethodologyitmustconsidermatterslikethisandahostof

othersaswell.Thingslikeidiomsthatareuniquetoaparticular

languageandculturearealsoimportant.ReadingScriptureforus

todaycanactuallybefraughtwithagreatmanypitfalls.Weare

readingadocumentproducedinanotherlanguage,foranother

culture,inanotherera,inanotherplace.Opportunitiesfor

misunderstandingaboundandwithoutcarefulresearch,

consideration,anddetailedanalysis,weareboundtocomeoffthe


railsandmisstheoriginalpointintendedbythoseScripturesand

thereforetomisunderstandthemessageofGodforthatoriginal

audience,andthereforealsoHismessageforustoday.

Hopefully,wearenotsoarrogantastobelievethatwehave

God,andHismessageforus,allKiguredout,sothatweunderstand

perfectlyandpreciselywhatHemeansandwhatHewantsfromus

ineachandeveryinstance.Forthoseofyouwhoaremarrieddo

youfullyunderstandyourspouse,isthereneverany

misunderstanding?Ifyoucananswereachofthesequestionsin

suchamannerthatyouhavethesethingsKiguredoutperfectlyI

wouldsaythatyouareeitherdeluded,orthatweneedtotalkso

thatyoucansharewiththerestofhumanityyourgreatwisdom

andunderstanding.Godisfarmorecomplexandfarmore

difKiculttounderstandthanyourspouse.Certainlyapartofwhat

makesGodwhoHeis,isthefactthatHeknowsandunderstands

farmorethanwedo.Godisinsomanywaysstillmysteriousto

us.HiscapacityforinKiniteloveisoneofthoseways;alovethat

knowsnoboundsandmovesGodtoperformunfathomable

sacriKicesonbehalfofHisbeloved.


Allofthesethoughtsmustactasapreludetothisstudy,

indeedtoallgoodstudyofScripture,whichseekstoexplorethe

willofGodandHisdesiresandgoalsforHischildren,Hisimage-

bearers,asparticipantsinHisKingdom,andasparticipantsinHis

plansofredemptionforHiscreation.WeseekHisfaceandHis

willwithallofourbeingandwithallofourheart,whileweknow

thatwhatweseekisloftyandgrandbeyondevenourwildest

imaginations,itisstillourgoal.WemustapproachGod,andthe

seekingofHisface,withacertainhumilityandwiththe

realizationthatinourweaknessesandlimitedunderstandings

thereareagreatmanyopportunitiesformisunderstanding.(We

approachthepresenceofGodasweseekHiswillwithreverence

andhumility,knowingthatHeseekstoguideusandthatHesent

HisHolySpirittoaidusinthistask.)Pleasebeprayerfulandopen

toHisSpiritasweexaminetheScripturesforthewillofGodin

ourlivesasHispeople.Wewillexaminemanyintricatedetails

andourhopeandprayerisforunity.Aunitythatcanonlycome

throughtheintercedingofGod’sSpirit,aunitythatisthetrue

markofthepresenceofGod,aunitythatstandsneartoHisheart.

GodhasadesireforourrelationshipwithHimandwitheach


othertobecomeasone.InunitywehaveanopportunitytoreKlect

HisnaturemorefullyandbearHisimagemorecompletelyinthis

darkanddamagedworld.Weseektohonorthewordsdelivered

intheprayerofJesusgiveninJohn17:21-23:Ipraytheywillbe

one,Father,justasyouareinmeandIaminyou.Ipraythat

theyalsowillbeinus,sothattheworldwillbelievethatyou

sentme.22I’vegiventhemtheglorythatyougavemesothat

theycanbeonejustasweareone.23I’minthemandyouare

inmesothattheywillbemadeperfectlyone.Thentheworld

willknowthatyousentmeandthatyouhavelovedthemjust

asyoulovedme. 1

Aswebeginthisstudywewillstartwithcreation.Godhad

adesign,aplan,forHiscreation.WetrustGod,weknowthatHe

knowswhatisgood,desirable,andwhatisgreatbeyondevenour

wildestdreams.WestartwithHiscreationoftheKirsthuman

beingsandtheirpurpose.AtGenesis1:26wehaveaverse

indicatingthatGodsetsouttocreate“ahuman,”“an

earthling,”(Onemadeoutofthedustoftheground-ָאָד֛ם-Adam-

ἄνθρωπον-AnthroponinGreek)inHis“image”(צֶ֫לֶם-tselemin

CEB.1


Hebrew-εἰκών-ikoninGreek).TheHebrewwordusedat1:26

for“image,”(צֶ֫לֶם-tselem)indicatessomethingthathasbeen“cut

out,”“molded,”“painted,”ormadeinthe“semblance,”or“image”

ofsomething.

ItisfoundsixteentimesintheHebrewScriptures.Five

timesitisusedofmankindascreatedintheimageofGod.Twice

itisusedofthegoldencopiesthatweremadebythePhilistinesof

miceandtumorsthatafKlictedthem(1Samuel6:5,11)whenthey

capturedtheArkofGod.Twicethiswordisusedofaghostly

imagelikeaphantom(Psalm39:6andPsalm73:20).Themost

frequentusageofthiswordiswhenitisusedtorefertoanidol. 2

OnehastowonderwhyGodwouldthenusesuchawordto

describeHismakingofhumanbeings.IsGodmakinganidolof

Himself?Sooftenwhathumanbeingsdoisinsomewaymimicry

ofwhatGoddoes,onlycounterfeit,notthereality.Anidolmade

bythehandsofmeniscertainlynotreallylikean“image”madeby

God.ThereisnonegativeconnotationtowhatGoddoesin

makinganimageofHimself.Whoelsecouldactuallymakean

imageofGod?

R,LairdHarris,ed.,TheologicalWordbookoftheOldTestament,vol.2(ChicagoIL:MoodyPress,21980),pp.767-768.s.v.צֶ֫לֶם.


Therearecertainlytimeswhentheword“image”(צלם-

tselem)isusedtonamethatwhichiscreatedasaphysical

representative,animage,oratype,sometimesofpagangodssuch

asatAmos5:26 3Greek),-typos-τύποςHebrew:-tselem-צלם)

Ezekiel7:20 (εἰκών-ikonGreek);and16:17 (εἰκών-ikon4 5

Greek).SometimesitreferstomoltenimagesNumbers33:52 6

choneutosχωνευτόςidolon,-εἴδωλονHebrew:-tselem-צלם)

[moltenidol]-Greek),ortopaintedpicturesofmeninEzekiel

23:14 (εἰκών-ikonGreek).AtanexcavationinNorthernSyriaa7

statuewasfoundofKingHadduyiti,ofGuzana.Theinscriptionon

thestatueinAramaicindicatesthatthestatueisthe

“likeness”(demuta)and“image”(tselem)oftheking. Thesetwo8

wordsstandassynonoms.Theyareinterchangablewithone

YouwilltakeupSakkuthyourking,andKaiwanyourstar-god,yourimages,whichyou3madeforyourselves.CEB

Fromtheirbeautifulornament,inwhichtheytookpride,theyhavemadehorribleand4detestableimages!Therefore,I’vedeclareditanuncleanthingforthem.CEB.

YoutookthebeautifulgoldandsilverjewelrythatIhadgiventoyou,andyoumademale5imagesforyourselfandprostitutedyourselfwiththem.CEB.

youwilldriveoutalltheinhabitantsofthelandbeforeyou.Youwilldestroyalltheircarved6Oigures.Youwillalsodestroyalltheircastimages.Youwilleliminatealltheirshrines.CEB.

butshewasevenmorepromiscuous.Shesawmencarvedinwallreliefs,imagesof7Chaldeansoutlinedinvermilion,CEB.

MosheReiss,“Adam:CreatedintheImageandLikenessofGod,”JewishBibleQuarterly39:38(2011),pp.181-186.


another.Hebrewoftenwillusewordsinthismethodfor

emphasis.

However,atPsalm39:6 andPsalm73:20 9-tselem-צלם) 10

Hebrew:εἰκών-ikonGreek)thewordistranslatedas“anempty

semblance,”“ashadow,”or“aghost.”Herethewordconveys

somethingthatismoreetherealthansolid.Thiswordhasaricher

diversityofmeaningthanatKirstitmightappeartohaveandits

meaningisnotstrictlyconKinedtothatwhichisphysical,solidand

corporeal.CertainlyScriptureteachesusthatGodisnottobe

foundinthatwhichismerelyphysical.GodisSpirit. Our11

tendencyistofocusonthephysical,despitethefactthatthe

earliestusagesofthistermintheHebrewScriptureswould

challengeustoseemorethansimplythephysicalifwe

understandanythingatallofthenatureofGodasbeingSpirit.

InGenesis5:3weareinformedthatSethisinthe

“likeness”(ּדְמּות-demuta)and“image”(צלם-tselem)ofAdam,

hisfather.InGenesis9:6weonceagainKindtheword

Surelypeoplegothroughlifeasmereghosts.Surelytheyaccumulateworthlesswealth9withoutknowingwhowilleventuallyhaulitaway.”NET.

Theyarelikeadreamwhenoneawakes;onawakingyoudespisetheirphantoms.NRSV.10

John4:24.11


“image”(צלם-tselem-Hebrew:εἰκών-ikonGreek),thistime

usedofmankindasbeingspecialincreation. Humanbeings12

mustnotbekilledbecausetheybeartheimageofGod.Thereis

noindicationherethatitismerelybecausemankindphysically

lookslikeGod.Inmanywayshumanbeingsresembleclosely

primatesthatlivewithusonthisplanetandyetwearenottold

thattheyreKlecttheimageofGod.

InHarris’saccountofthemeaningoftheword“image”in

Genesis1:26heindicatesthatitisobviousthatbeingmadeinthe

imageofGoddoesnotconsistinman’sphysicalbodywhichwas

formedfromearthlymatter,dust;butconsistsofGod’sspiritual,

intellectual,andmorallikenessthatcamefromtheanimating

breathofGodHimself. ThisthenwouldmeanthatasGod’s13

image-bearerwefulKillthisparticularroleinwaysotherthan

merelythroughphysicalreality,orourbodilyform.Weconveythe

imageofGodthroughlove,compassion,asenseofjustice,

creativity,anethicalnature,andmuchmore.Wecanseethe

imageofGodconveyedinthearts,throughourdesiretoexpress


R,LairdHarris,ed.,TheologicalWordbookoftheOldTestament,vol.2,pp.767-768.s.v.13.צֶ֫לֶם


theforcethatresideswithinus,animatedandsetinmotionbythe

breathofGod.TheimageofGodinusdiffersincrediblyfromthe

falseimagescreatedbyhumanhands,withearthlymaterials.

WhatitmeanstobemadeintheimageofGodhasbeen

debatedcontinuallyforcenturies.Thisdebateispartofthegreat

missionofhumanity,toexplorewhatitmeanstoconveyanimage

thatisascomplexandmulti-facetedasisGodHimself.The

currentpopulationoftheearthis7.7Billionpeople.Ifevery

personweretoequallyfulKilltheirdestinyofdisplayingtheimage

ofGod,atthesametime,eventhen,Ibelievetherewouldstillbe

morefacetslefttodisplay,andexplore:Hisimageisgreater,

larger,morecomplex.

Theonlyhumanbeingevertofullyconveythe

“image”(εἰκὼντοῦθεοῦ)oftheinvisibleGodisHisSon,Jesus.In

Him,theimagewentbeyondtheearthly,physicalappearance,this

waswhatPaulmeantinColossians andhisphysicalappearance14

isreferencedinIsaiah. Hisobedience,Hislove,andHis15

Colossians1:15-16TheSonistheimageoftheinvisibleGod,theonewhoisOirstoverall14creation,1:16Becauseallthingswerecreatedbyhim:bothintheheavensandontheearth,thethingsthatarevisibleandthethingsthatareinvisible.Whethertheyarethronesorpowers,orrulersorauthorities,allthingswerecreatedthroughhimandforhim.CEB.

Isaiah53:2Forhegrewupbeforehimlikeayoungplant,andlikearootoutofdryground;15hehadnoformormajestythatweshouldlookathim,nothinginhisappearancethatweshoulddesirehim.NRSV.


willingnesstosufferforothersreKlectedtheimageofGod.In

JesusweareabletoseeGodasHetrulyis,withoutour

preconceivednotionsandmisunderstandingsgettingintheway.

HebecameGod’srepresentativeonearth:healingthesick,raising

thedead,andfreeingpeoplefromthedominationofdemons.

ManytimespeoplehaveseenasharpdisparitybetweentheGod

oftheOldTestamentandtheGodoftheNewTestament.Some

havearguedthetwoarenoteventhesameGod.Jesushelpedto

clarifythisconfusionanddistortedthinking.Hebroughtan

understandingofthenatureofGodthathadneverbeforeexisted.

InJesus’words,actions,andpresenceweareKinallyabletoseethe

heartofwhoandwhatGodis;weareabletoseeHisimagefully.

Genesis1:26makesitclearthatwhatdistinguishes

mankindfromtheanimals,whosharethesixthdayofcreationas

theirpointofinception,isthathumanbeingsare“made”inthe

“image”ofGod.AsIindicatedearlieravarietyofanswershave

beenproposedforwhatitmeanstobemadeintheimageofGod.

1.Somehavesaidthatitconsistsmerelyofthephysicalform.2.

Somehaveindicatedthatitisthespiritualqualityofmankindthat

ismeantbythisterminology.3.Thetermmayindicatean


immediaterelationshipbetweenGodandman.4.Somewould

saythatmanisnotactuallymadeinthe“imageofGod”sinceGod

hasnoimageofHisown,butismadeasGod’simage,orratherto

beGod’simage,todeputizeinthecreatedworldforthe

transcendentGodwhoremainsoutsidethephysicalworldorder.

Thiswouldthenmeanthatmankindisrepresentativeratherthan

arepresentation. 16

Ithinksooftenweseekasimple,eitheroranswerandin

realityitisboth/and;inotherwordsallofthethingslistedabove

areapartofwhatitmeanstobeartheimageofGod.Iwantto

focusourattentionontwocrucialaspectsofbeingmadeinthe

imageofGod.FirstinGenesis2:7wearetoldthatGod“breathed”

intothatdustanditbecamea“livingbeing”(חַּיָֽהנֶ֥פֶׁש).Whatitis

tobemadeinthe“image”ofGodcomesfromthe“breath”ofGod

Himself.Godmadeallofcreation,butonlyinhumanbeingsare

wetoldofHisformingthemfromthedustofthegroundandthen

breathingHisownbreathintowhatHehadformed.

Noticesecondly,inGenesis1:27wearetoldthatGod

createdhumankindinHisimage;“maleandfemalehecreated



them.”TheimageofGodisreKlectedinthis“community”ofmale

andfemale,notsimpleinasingularphysicalform. Somehave17

seeninthefactthatthemalewasmadeKirstthatHeistherefore

theleader,thesuperiorofthetwobeings.Iforderistrulythe

criticalmatterthenalltherestofcreationmustbesuperiorto

mankind,becauseeverythingelsewascreatedbeforemankind.If

whatislastissuperiorthenitisthewomanwhowasthe

crowningpinnacleofcreation.WeseemsointentuponKindinga

hierarchalorderherethoughitisnotthefocusofthetext.Rather,

itseemsthefocusisthatGodcreatedamanandawoman,and

bothweretobeHisimage-bearerstotheworld,together.This

KirstchapterofGenesisgivesnoindicationofhierarchy,or

superiority,orofanythingbutsymmetryandunityamongthetwo

humanbeings.BothwereintheGardenofEdenandbothserved

asimage-bearers.SoGodcreatedhumankindinhisimage,in

theimageofGodhecreatedthem;maleandfemalehe

createdthem. 18

WalterBrueggemann,Genesis,intheInterpretation:ABibleCommentaryforTeachingand17Preachingseries(LouisvilleKY:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2010),p.34.

Genesis1:27CEB.18


Thesetwobeingscomplementedoneanotherandserveda

purposetoeachotherandtocreation.Theyalsowereboth

subservienttothecreator,God.At1:28Godblessesthemboth

andgivesboththesamecharge(allpluralverbshere;theyare

giventhesecommandsasacommunity),to“befruitfuland

multiply,andOilltheearthandsubdueit;andhavedominion

overtheOishoftheseaandoverthebirdsoftheairandover

everylivingthingthatmovesupontheearth.” Thereisno19

indicationofhierarchy,ofeitherthemanoverthewoman,orthe

womanovertheman,butonlythemanandthewomanwho

togetherareto“rule”(ָרָדה)overallthelivingcreaturesofthe

earthcomplementingandpartneringwitheachotherinthistask,

representingthesovereigntyofGodovertheearth.GodHimself

standsoverallasitssolesovereign.HumansserveGodasHis

image-bearers,torepresentHimtoallofcreation,asaGodof

majesty,power,love,compassion,beautyandjustice.Maleand

femalebearthatimagetogether.

Justasearthlykingswouldattimesleavebehindthem,after

theirconquestofaland,imagesinordertoremindtheresidents

Genesis1:28CEB.19


ofthatlandofthesovereigntyofthatkingoverthatland:Ina

similarwayhumanbeingsstandasGod’srepresentativesonthe

earthremindingcreationofGod’ssovereignty.TheyserveasHis

“sovereignemblem.”Humanbeingsarecalledtobetheimageof

God,asHisrepresentativesforHisclaimtodominion,sovereignty,

andtomaintainhisruleovertheearth. Thisconcepthasbeen20

greatlymisunderstoodbythepeopleofGod.Theirconceptof

dominionwasoneofharshness,dominationandattimes

downrightabuse.Jesuscametocorrectourmisunderstandingof

dominion,byshowingusadifferentway.Weseethisexpressed

beautifullyinPhilippians2:6-11Thoughhewasintheformof

God,hedidnotconsiderbeingequalwithGodsomethingto

exploit.7Butheemptiedhimselfbytakingtheformofaslave

andbybecominglikehumanbeings.Whenhefoundhimself

intheformofahuman,8hehumbledhimselfbybecoming

obedienttothepointofdeath,evendeathonacross.9

Therefore,Godhighlyhonoredhimandgavehimaname

aboveallnames,10sothatatthenameofJesuseveryonein

heaven,onearth,andundertheearthmightbow11andevery

GerhardvonRad,GenesisACommentary,inTheOldTestamentLibraryseries,Revisededition20(PhiladelphiaPA:TheWestminsterPress,1972),p.60.


tongueconfessthatJesusChristisLord,tothegloryofGod

theFather. Jesus,astheperfectimage-bearerofGod,fulKillsHis21

missionbyleadinginserviceandobedienceasareKlectionofthe

natureofGod.

ToooftenwehavebeengreatlyinKluencedbyour

fascinationwithGreekphilosophy,whichdeeplyinKluencedthe

Enlightenmentandourcurrentunderstandingofhierarchy.Of

particularinKluencewasAristotle(Born384B.C.-Died322B.C.),

calledbysomethefatherofscience,becauseofhismethodology

ofsystemizingstudy.HeandmanyothersfromGreeceandRome

havehadadramaticeffectonthethoughtprocessesand

methodologiesofstudywithintheworldandwithinthechurch.

TheriverthatrunsthroughGreeceandRomecarriesmuch

sedimentthathasbeendepositedwithinthebeliefsystemsofthe

church.WemustaskhowmuchthisinKluencehascreatedforthe

modernchurch,traditions,thatwerenotapartoftheearly

church?

ThissingletextofAristotleperhapshashadmoreinKluence

onourmodernperceptionsthanitshouldhavehad.Aristotle

CEB.21


wrote,“Also,asbetweenthesexes,themaleisbynaturesuperior

andthefemaleinferior,themalerulerandthefemalesubject.

Andthesamemustalsonecessarilyapplyinthecaseofmankind

generally;13thereforeallmenthatdifferaswidelyasthesouldoes

fromthebodyandthehumanbeingfromtheloweranimal(and

thisistheconditionofthosewhosefunctionistheuseofthebody

andfromwhomthisisthebestthatisforthcoming)-theseareby

natureslaves,forwhotobegovernedbythiskindofauthorityis

advantageous,inasmuchasitisadvantageoustothesubjectthings

alreadymentioned.” Thispassagestatesaclearandunwavering22

beliefinthesuperiorityofmalesoverfemales,thestrongoverthe

weakandthecleveroverthelessclever.Hisargumentseems

muchmorecloselyalignedwiththeviewsoftheworldthanwith

theviewsofGod.InScripturewearetoldrepeatedlyofGod

defendingtheweak,thepoor,thewidow,andtheorphan. 23

MartinLuther,thegreatreformerofthechurchseemsto

haveboughtintoReformationtheideasandconceptsofAristotle

tooashesays:“Menhavebroadandlargechestsandsmall,

Aristotle,Politics1254b13-14.H.Rackham,trans.,Aristotle:Politics,inLoebClassicalLibrary,vol22264(CambridgeMA:HarvardUniversityPress,1932),pp.21-22.

Exodus22:22-27;Deuteronomy10:18-19;14:28-29;24:17-22;Psalm82:3-4;Isaiah1:17;23Jeremiah5:28;Micah2:9;Zechariah7:9-10;Malachi3:5;James1:27.


narrowhips,andmoreunderstandingthanwomen,whohavebut

smallandnarrowbreasts,andbroadhips,totheendtheyshould

remainathome,sitstill,keephouse,andbearandbringup

children.” TheequalworthascribedbyGodatcreationhasbeen24

heavilyerodedthroughthecenturiesnotonlyinthewiderworld,

butalsowithinthecommunityofthechurch.

WhatcanwelearnfromthisearlypartofGenesis?Wecan

learnthattheimageofGodisborneinboththemaleandthe

female.Wealsolearnthattheyaredifferentandyetboth

complementoneanotherastheyserveasGod’simage-bearers.

Bearingthatimageinvolvesboththephysicalandthespiritual.

Jesusgivestheperfectpictureofbeingan“image-bearer”asPaul

describesinPhilippians2.HisLordshipisnottyrannical,or

oppressive,butserving,self-sacriKicing,andloving.

NowhereinGenesis1doweKindthehierarchy,orinferiority

asstatedbyAristotleandLuther.Theywerewrong,andare

wrong.Maleandfemaleareofequalworthandequallyimage-

bearersofGod;theyareequalandyetsomehowdifferent.We

MartinLuther,TheTableTalkorFamiliarDiscourseofMartinLuther,trans.W.Hazlitt(Neuillysur24Seine,France:UlanPress,reprint,2012),p.299


knowthattheyaredifferent.BothintheiruniqueandGod-given

waysbeartheimageofGod.  


Synopsis AswecometoanytextwithinScripturewemustbeaware

ofthevarietyofinKluencesthatcanleadustoawrong

understandingofthatScripture.Weareseparatedbycenturies,

byculture,andbylanguagefromtheoriginalaudiencesof

Scripture.Thesechallengescanbeovercometosomedegreeby

carefulconsiderationandexaminationofwhatweknowfromthe

time,theculture,andthelanguageoftheoriginalaudience.Even

then,ourtaskisdifKicultandmustbeapproachedinhumilityand

prayerfullyseekingthehelpofGod’sSpirit.Atthecoreofour

hopesandaspirationsisthedesirethatwewillexpresstheunity

thatGodcallsHispeopletoshareasamarkofHispresence.

ThisstudybeginswiththeveryKirstaccountofthecreation

ofhumanity.Maleandfemalearesaidtohavebeencreatedinthe

imageofGod.Thereisnoindicationinthetextofanyhierarchical

rankingamongtheminthispassage.Theyarebothcommissioned

withthesametaskofbeingfruitfulandmultiplyingandas

standingasGod’ssovereignimageinrulingtheearthasHis

representative.TheyareasacommunitytostandasGod’simage


andactasguardiansandmastersofalltheearth.This

commissioncomestothemafterGod’sblessingtothem.

Veryofteninthechurchmaleandfemalehavebeen

interpretedthroughthelensofancientGreekphilosopherslike

AristotleandreformerslikeMartinLuther.TheinKluenceofGreek

andRomancivilizationhasheavilyinKluencedtheinterpretations

andpracticesofthechurch.Thatlensstandsoutoffocuswith

whatwasoriginallygiventothepeopleofGod.Theresidueof

GreeceandRomeweighsheavilyuponmodernunderstandingsof

theancienttextsofScripture.ThroughtheReformationandthe

EnlightenmenttheinKluenceofthesesourceshaveincreasedin

brightnessandintensityoftenobscuringtheoriginalmeaningof

thetextandcausingourpracticetoreKlecttheseGreekandRoman

understandingswhentheyshouldnotdoso.Thisthencausesus

tofailinourtaskofstandingandexploringwhatitmeanstostand

asGod’simage-bearersintheworld;ataskthatistobereKlected

inboththemaleandthefemalegender. 


Questions

1. Whataresomewaysthatinterpretingthingsfromanothertime,culture,andlanguagecanprovechallenging?

2. Whataresometools,ortechniquesthatcanbeusedtoovercomethedifKicultiesofunderstandinganothertime,culture,orlanguage?

3. WhydoyouthinkitisimportanttounderstandwhatapassageofScripturemeanttotheoriginalaudienceasapartofunderstandingwhatitmeansforustoday?

4. WhydoyouthinkitissoeasyforustomisunderstandthewillofGodforourlives?

5. Whenyouthinkoftheword“image”whataresomethoughtsthatcometoyourmind?Why?

6. DoesGodliveincommunity,oralone?Howhaveyoucometothisunderstanding?

7. Whataresomewaysthathuman-beingsmightdemonstratetheirroleofbeingsovereignovercreationthatwouldreKlectthenatureofGod?

8. WhataresomewaysthatweasGod’srepresentativesintheworldshouldreKlectHisnaturemorefully?

9. WhataresomewaysthatyouseeinthelifeofJesusadifferentunderstandingofsovereigntyexpressed?

10.WhataresomewaysthatbeingmadeintheimageofGodshouldchangethewayyouliveyourlifeeachday?

11.WhataresomewaysthatcommunityexpressestheimageofGodinwaysthattheindividualcannot?


12.WhydoyouthinktherehasbeensuchastrongtendencyinthechurchtofollowGreekideasthatarenotapartofScriptureorthehistoryofGod’speople?

13.WhatdoyouthinkitmeansthatmaleandfemalebothreKlecttheimageofGod?

14.WhataresomewaysthatyouhaveseenthechurchreKlectingtheconceptthattheimageofGodisbornebyboththemaleandthefemale?

15.WhataresomequestionsthatarestillleftinyourmindwithregardtohumanbeingsbearingtheimageofGod?


ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? ItisimportanttoknowthatbothmaleandfemalearemadeintheimageofGod,notthemaleonly,orthefemaleonly.ItisimportanttoknowthatthecalltobeartheimageofGodintheworldisman’shighestcalling.ItistheirdestinytoactasGod’srepresentativestogether,inunity,totheworld.ItisimportanttoknowthatoftenourmodernperceptionsofBiblicalthingshavebeenimpactedbythoughtsandunderstandingsthatcomefromoutsidetheBible.Thesethoughtsandconceptsareancienttous,butnotapartoftheoriginalunderstandingsofScriptureandGod’speople.WhataresomewaysthatyouseektounderstandthewillofGodforyourlifetoday?WhereisGodinthesewords? GodisinthesewordschallengingustofulKillourdestinyasHispeople,asHisimage-bearerstotheworld.HechallengesustoruleinHisnameandthereforeinthewaythatHewouldrule.HecreatedabeautifulearthKilledwithgoodnessandorderandHechallengesustobeagentsofgoodnessandorderinthisworld.WhataresomewaysthatyouthinkthechurchshouldmorepowerfullyreKlecttheimageofGodintotheworld?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? Understandingonesreasonforexistenceisimportant.OnlyinunderstandingthereasonforexistencecanonecometounderstandwhattheyarecalledtodoinordertofulKillthatcalling.IflifeismerelyaboutcomfortandexistencethenitwillmeanthatIwillpursuethosethingsthatbringmecomfortandinsuremycontinuedexistence.IflifeisaboutbeingGod’srepresentativeintheworldthenthatwillchangehowIspendmytimeanditwillchangethethingsthatIpursue.Whatisdeterminativeindecidingyourdirectioninlife?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? TheWordofGodischallengingustofulKillourdestinyasimage-bearers,asGod’srepresentativesinthisworld.Itdoesnotmatterwhetherwearemale,orfemalethechallengeisforbothgenderstopulltogetherinunitytoconveytheimageofGodincreation.WemustsurelybeginbyrecognizingtheequalworthofbothgendersbeforeGodasexpressiveofHisnature.FailuretodosodividesusfromthebeginningandstopsusfromexpressingHisnature.GodistheGodwhodefendstheweak,thepoor,theforeigner,andtheorphan.HowisyourlifechangedbyyourcallingfromGod?


Date post:	25-Oct-2020
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