Genesis 3:16 presents male rule as an adverse consequence of humanity’s disobedience (“he will rule over you”). But Jesus came to deal with the disobedience and its consequences. So, to prohibit leadership by women is to oppose Christ’s redeeming work. Galatians 3:28 says that in Christ there is not male and female. But many Bible teachers interpret Genesis 1–3 differently. They emphasize that before the disobedience Adam is more prominent than Eve and that after the disobedience God calls out to Adam first (3:9). These and other features seem to teach that leadership is male. The complementarity of men and women is said to mean that only men are leaders and protectors. This workshop will show that, when we read Genesis 1–3 on its own terms, it does not teach that leadership is male. It is consistent both with full complementarity and with Galatians 3:28.
