Luther and Calvin: Two Interpretations of Genesis 1-3

a.) Are women created in the Image of God?

According to Luther, because Genesis 1:26 stated that, "Let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, etc," both male and female had this God given power over the rest of the animals. Because male and female were created together in Genesis one, it was clear that they both were in the image and likeness of God, and this gave them superiority over the rest of the living creatures on the planet. He also pointed out that they BOTH had "a most perfect knowledge of God," and that "Eve had these mental gifts in the same degree as Adam." Thus, Luther not only believed that women were created in God's image, but that they were as equal in knowledge and authority as men. He does demonstrate, however, that in certain of aspects of life, men are superior than women, and women are superior to men in others.

According to Calvin, however, he believed that being made in God's image was restricted to "government, in which the man has superiority over the wife." He explained that Paul meant this nothing more than that "the man is superior in the degree of honour." Thus, Calvin did not believe women were created in the likeness of God. He also pointed out that the glory of God "shined forth in human nature, where the mind, the will, and all the senses, represent the Divine order." Thus, Calvin believed that woman was created in the image of God, but was not equal with Adam in every aspect of life. According to Genesis 3, the husband rules over the wife, and thus, was superior to her.

b.) Why were women added to the created world?

According to Luther, Eve was created for many different reasons, not just one. In Genesis 1, he elucidated the male and female were created together so that they both would have dominion over all living creatures, over the land, and would partake in "the divine image and the divine similitude." In other words, both were created in the image and likeness of God, and for this reason, they would rule over everything. Luther also argued that they were created together so that they would have an inseparable relationship together, so that they may help one another in all aspects of life, not just procreation. For it was said, in Gen 2:18, "The Lord God also said: it is not good that man is alone; I shall make him a helper which should be before him." Luther explained that "the woman was so created that she should everywhere and always be about her husband." However, Luther also explained that after the fall, the act of sex became sinful, demonstrated by Adam and Eve's shame of their nakedness. As such, the only reason why sex had a negative connotation was due to the acquired attributes from eating the fruit. Woman was made as a helper for man, just as man was a helper for woman. Both needed the other to procreate, and both needed the other to rule over everything. Because God said it was not good for man to be alone (and because God is always right), man and woman were meant to be together, in life and reproduction. He also explained that women were a building of God, through "procreation and other services that are necessary in the household" they built the home, and the husband could house themselves in the woman (have sex with) and experience great pleasure and joy." Without the women, there would be no household, no children, and no sexual pleasure, and thus, woman have an equally significant role in nature. He even stated that a woman, in every aspect in life besides gender, is a man.

According to Calvin, woman was created as a helper for man. He believed that women, in "a second degree," were created in the image and likeness of God, but were also created to assist man throughout life. Because God elucidated that it was not good for man to be alone, and thus not be married, women were created as a "companion and an associate to the man, to assist him to live well." However, unlike Luther, he indicated that there was a marked distinction between male and female, and that the "man excels the woman." Thus, women were created as a support system for the man during marriage, and their vocation in life was to help the husband, and "instruct in their duty." In other words, the woman's main vocation was to be a wife to the husband. He also pointed out, however, that "the obligation for both sexes is mutual," and thus, the woman's main role was a helper, and the husband's main role was a leader to the wife. Thus, Calvin, unlike Luther, believed in a distinction between the sexes, rather than an equality. It was a mutual relationship, with man as the leader, and the woman as the helper, much like a doctor (a male dominated vocation) has a nurse (a female dominated vocation).

c.) The interpretation of "one flesh"

According to Luther, "one flesh" represented both the act of sex and the institution of marriage. Without the woman, man was not able to procreate. The two were created together so that they may help one another in all aspects of life, but mainly reproduction, since it was not possible without the existence of women or man. "One flesh" also meant that the wife and the husband possessed the same attributes and abilities, since woman was created from man. Thus, the two do not differ in any other aspect other than gender. They were created separately so that they could help one another to successfully live their lives.

According to Calvin, "one flesh" meant that, through women, mankind was completed, and thus, was very similar to the body of Christ. Though man lost a part of himself when his rib was taken, he gained something far more useful, an "associate for life." He was rendered imperfect, but through her, he was completed. Thus, women are a basis for the existence and perfection of man. Thus, women were a helper, a wife, and an associate. He interpreted that one flesh meant that, through marriage, mankind was completed.

d.) Why did Eve eat the fruit?

According to Luther, the snake decided to confront Eve because she was the sex that he could more easily tempt. This was because Eve was inferior to Adam in this context. If the snake had spoken to Adam in such a way, he would have killed the snake and everything would have been done with. But because Eve lacked this physical strength, she was a much easier being to tempt. Next, Luther explained that the snake was extremely cunning, and it first decided to attack the faith in the Word. Eve distorted God's command not to eat the fruit, and thus, the snake tricked the women into wavering the language God presented to Adam. This, according to Luther, was merely a demonstration of the cunning nature of Satan and the snake. He next attacked the women by stating that the Tree offered knowledge. This made the tree much more desirable to Eve, and made her question the Word of God, which she had already distorted. He explained that root of sin was dearth of belief in the Word and turning away from God. Satan's abilities, he explained, were nearly as powerful as God's, and thus, had incredible means of manipulating humans. Thus, Eve's failure was not a demonstration of her evilness, but rather of Satan's uncanny ability to cause all mankind to sin. Thus, Eve ate the fruit because Satan tricked her into doubting the word of God, and making her believe that the Tree offered a source of knowledge.

According to Calvin, Eve had been assaulted by Satan, and, like Luther said, Eve could not resist this attack. The snaked caused her to doubt that the Tree would impose death, and thus, the woman was merely mistaken by her "perception of the true danger of death." She did not wish to disobey God, but Satan's assault caused her to doubt the word of God. His abilities were thus very influential and powerful. What Calvin also pointed out was that Adam's sin was more at fault to the fall of man, since he disobeyed God because of women's allurements, rather than Satan's powers. Thus, Adam was tricked by the woman, one who did not have powers as great as Satan, and thus his sin caused the introduction of sin into the world.

e.) What is the effect of the events in Gen 3 on human relations?

According to Luther, the Fall caused the inequality between men and women. God created a government between the man and the woman in order to fix what the serpent had broken. He argued that Eve and Adam were created equally, and they both were to have dominion over all things, and were to mutual help one another lead a successful life. Neither in body or soul was Eve inferior to Adam, but after the fall, God thought it was necessary to create a social hierarchy in order to prevent another event in which Satan tempted the humans. Both Adam and Eve kept their respective sexes, but God needed to create this hierarchy in order to protect humans from Satan's grasp. He even saw the fall as somewhat of a blessing, considering Eve kept her role as a source of procreation, and she was still in fact a woman and was to remain with Adam, rather than be separated from him. Luther believed that the fall caused women to have to be ruled by their husbands. But it was through her that men were created, who were able to "crush the head of Satan." Therefore, the pains of pregnancy were still a blessing, since this natural ability of women was a powerful miracle in itself.

According to Calvin, the hierarchy between man and woman existed both before and after the fall. Before the fall, the snake assaulted the woman, not the man, a clear indication that the woman was inferior to the man. As a helper, woman was inferior to man, who was the leader. However, through the fall of mankind, this inequality between man and woman was even more persistent. In other words, the social hierarchy had widened, and now the woman was to be ruled by their husbands. Thus, they were not just a helper, but a slave. Her thoughts and desires would be toward her husband, and only her husband, and the husband had the God-given power to rule over her. It was no longer a form of mutualism, in which they both help one another. Now, woman was in servitude for the husband, rather than just being a helper to her leader, man.