I. Woman at Creation

A. Woman has personal equality with man as an image-bearer of God (Gen. 1:27-28; 5:1).

Allowing for biological distinctives a woman has the same human nature, qualities and abilities as a man. Maleness and femaleness, though distinct, are fully harmonized (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 8:4-8; 1 Cor. 11-12).

B. Woman has a distinctive role function within this equality (Gen. 2:18).

The priority of the male in creation reflects God's appointed order for His creation not male superiority. Man has the responsibility of headship (cf. 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:21), and woman has the responsibility of being a "fitting helper"(Gen. 2:18). Each supplies what is lacking in the other. They are complementary because they are distinct.